Posted on 06/30/2004 8:21:46 AM PDT by Protagoras
Current Political parties try to be all things to all people and end up being nothing to anyone. The differences between the two major parties are essentially those of scope and detail.
A new party may be the answer, but only if it is unlike the others in essence.
No more than six simple planks in the entire platform. Narrow in focus, leaving individual candidates to have differing positions on all issue which are not covered in the six.
Keeping it simple, working 24/7 to enact the narrow goals. Any candidate who wavers would be repudiated.
This party would need the backing of monied, principled, experienced people. Such people exist. Convincing them would be neither easy nor impossible.
It has to start somewhere. Could be here, could be now. Not likely, but possible.
It can't go the way it has been going.
The Republicans have done some things right. But they are going generally in the wrong direction.
The country is going in the wrong direction.
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Well, *equality before the law* is about as specific as you can get, even though it's the premise for almost everything else in the way of true freedom.
Without that concept, which has been lost, thanks to the Left, everything else is lost.
I like your planks anyway, though.
It's been posted, read it and comment, don't pretend it's something else.
I agree. In fact, both of those plus the military could be rolled into 'protect American sovereignty"
What is the mindset which will resonate with people? What is the foundation of this mindset? What is the underlying basis or assumptions which the vast majority of people of goodwill will say 'Right on' to when they hear it? Once you find that formula then all the rest will fall into place naturally.
All 3rd parties fail because their foundations are corrupted or based upon vices or lies.
Correct on all counts.
Think Teddy Roosevelt in 1912. Of course, his deciding his former protege Taft and the Republican party had strayed from what he believed in, turned things into a three-way race. That became a two-way race between Wilson and Roosevelt, and with Taft and the Republican party siphoning off enough votes, Wilson got the win.
Believe me, I would love for a legitimate third or even fourth party to come around and force the GOP back to its roots, but I'm not the only one to say that I'd rather vote Republican than see a democrat win, even if it's for a RINO.
If you can find your Teddy Roosevelt, you've got a shot. Democrats bitched about Nader, but they conventiently forget that a few hundred thousand registered democrats voted for Bush in Florida.
"Were it necessary to bring a majority into a comprehension of the libertarian philosophy, the cause of liberty would be utterly hopeless. Every significant movement in history has been led by one or just a few individuals with a small minority of energetic supporters." – Leonard E. Read
"Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a more just master." – Sallust
"When the government's boot is on your throat, whether it is a left boot or a right boot is of no consequence." – Gary Lloyd
"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." – Stanislaw J. Lec
"The saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time." – Justice George Sutherland (1938)
"I shall exert every faculty I possess in aiding to prevent the Constitution from being nullified, destroyed, or impaired; and even though I should see it fail, I will still, with a voice feeble, perhaps, but earnest as ever issued from human lips, and with extinguish, call on the people to come to its rescue." – Daniel Webster
"Given man's nature, freedom will always be in jeopardy, and the only question that need concern each of us is if and how well we took our stand in its defense during the short period of time when we were potentially a part of the struggle." – Benjamin Rogge
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man and brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot." – Mark Twain
I dearly love Milton Friedman who has probably done more than anyone outside Ronald Reagan to CONVINCE people to move toward more conservative, more libertarian ideas. He has championed many ideas that had NO chance of adoption at the time he first espoused them. He began promoting vouchers for public schools over 40 years ago, and almost no one treated the idea seriously for decades.
But, although Friedman was extraordinarily prolific in developing ideas to promote liberty and a more prosperous republic, he has always understood that the chance to implement ideas lies within the existing parties. He supported Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. To the best of my knowledge, he has NEVER supported the development of a new conservative/libertarian party, even though he knew that neither party would support many of his ideas for decades.
No, I told him straight off. Then I told you.
I know, I know, you think number 6 is funny, but...if we made them do this we could eliminate at least half of them in 1 single wack!!
It's not about a candidate. It's not about any particular election.
It's about a new party with a new focus. It's not about forcing any party back into the fold.
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