It Is Time For The Party To Be Over

As everyone knows, in America we have 2 prominent political parties: The Democrat Party (a.k.a. “Dems”) and the Republican Party (a.k.a. “GOP”).

Particularly in recent years, both these parties have let us down.  By not doing what they promised and by doing what they promised not to do.  And, by presenting us with second-rate candidates, often candidates that nobody really wants in office — although many still feel compelled to vote for what they consider “the lesser of two evils”, lest their votes be “wasted”.

So, what are political parties really all about, and, why do we have them?  Indeed, do we even need them?  Let’s analyze a bit:

For starters, I submit that “Political Party” is just a more palatable name for “Political Machine”.  How many of us instinctively feel distaste when we hear or read the term “Machine Politics”?  How many of us, when confronted with the term, immediately envision such things as: ward healing (community activism); ballot box stuffing; voter fraud (dead people “voting”, people voting multiple times, etc.); voter intimidation by thugs working for the “political machine”; vote buying and other forms of bribery?

The truth is that political parties exist for their own benefit, not for the benefit of the voters or the nation as a whole.  Surprising to many, Political parties are not a part of our constitutional government.  They are private businesses, and they should be treated as such — obliged to obey laws, subject to anti-trust rules, and taxed, just like any other business.  Wait, you say, at least they are not for profit businesses.  Right.  And the Pope is a Muslim.

I contend that our present Democrat/Republican duopoly actually harms the political process in several important ways:

1. They use their power, power they have seized, to exclude additional political parties from meaningful participation in the process.  For this, they should be brought up on anti-trust violations.
2. Each of the duopoly parties present voters with what I call a “package deal” (they call it a “platform”).  In voting for candidates of either party, you vote for their entire “package”, even if you have significant objection to parts of it.  Given the 2 party limit, most voters are very likely to have such objections to both party “packages”.  Let me use myself as an example.  I am libertarian in my political leaning.  As such, I tend to be fiscally conservative, socially liberal, and favor small, limited government.  Should I try to support the GOP, I am turned off by the attempts at social engineering and by the influence that religion has in the party.  Should I try to support the Dems, I gag on their wish to grow government and to throw money, my money, at every conceivable problem.  Should I try to support the Libertarian Party (which I do), I am marginalized because the duopoly keeps that party, and a number of others, from full participation in the political process.  However, I suspect my political views are very similar to those of a majority of Americans, if only they were given the opportunity to express those views.
3. They use their power to keep good candidates from becoming viable candidates, simply because many good candidates do not want to associate themselves with certain of the platform “planks” of the duopoly.
4. Our political process has begun to resemble that of most communist countries.  They allow only 1 viable party (the Communist Party) while we allow only 2 viable parties (the duopoly).  Hence, there is only a 1 party difference in what those with a choke-hold on the political processes of the two systems will allow – much too close for my comfort.
5. The idea that our elections are open and honest is a myth.  The notion that there are fundamental differences between the duopoly parties is rapidly becoming a myth as well.

What can be done about this mess?  A lot!  First, it is not logical to propose that the duopoly parties actually be disallowed.  Not in a country that prizes and protects the right of free assembly.  But, we can seriously limit their duopoly power in a number of ways, including:

1. Remove the straight party ticket selection from all voting devices.  All this does is make it easier to buy or coerce the votes of the uninformed (they only have to remember one simple thing to do when they get to the polls).
2. Remove party designations from voting devices for the individual races.  This should have the effect of forcing voters to vote for candidates, not for parties.  If you were too dumb to write down the names of the candidates you want to vote for before coming to the polls, or did not even know who the candidates were to begin with… well, I guess that would just be too damn bad would it not?
3. Level the playing field for access to the process.  For instance, if the Green Party has to petition to get on a given ballot, then the Democrat and Republican parties should have to as well.  The notion that the duopoly parties have some natural right to access while all others must work for it is nonsense.  Likewise, all candidates that have qualified to be on the ballot should have equal access to any and all public debates between peer candidates, these debates being little more than free campaign advertising anyway.
4. Treat the organized parties – all of them – like the business entities they are.  That is, make them follow the same laws and rules that other businesses are subject to.
5. Add the new selection “None of the above” to ballots for all elected offices.
6. Add a new amendment to the US Constitution that says “Congress shall pass no law respecting the establishment of a political party”.

If we intend to take back control of our constitutional republic, then a logical first step is to take back control of the process by which those who govern are selected.

Get mad, get involved and don’t take it anymore!!  Demand change that will make a real difference.

If anyone reading this has good reasons why the two party system, as it currently exists, should be preserved, I would be most interested in hearing them.

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