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To: Protagoras
Nice idea, but it has a basic flaw (and it's a basic flaw with most 3rd parties.)

Your six planks (which I happen to like) are national planks. You're still forcing the local politician to side with either the Republicans or Democrats. And, for the most part, it's local politicians who have the power to influence their constituents the best.

In order to make lasting change to the Republic we need to elect Senators and Representatives that hold our values. The President, while an important person in our government, is really quite limited in power (only 2 4 year terms) Senators with unlimited 6 year terms and congress critters with unlimited 2 year terms (and the power to tax), IMHO, wield the greater power.

So let's say I want to be a congress critter from the great state of Washington. I have no name recognition and no money. So my first step is to run for city council and county supervisor. How can I use those 6 planks of this new party to help me?

I get elected and spend a term or two as city council, and run for mayor. Again, those 6 planks are too narrow in focus for my job. I side with one of the major parties in order to get financing and support.

I do well, and decide I want to run for state office. I still like this new party concept, but they can't really help me out. I need money. I stick with the major party.

Now I have enough experience to run for a national office. I've built up a lot of political capital as a major party candidate. It becomes gut-check time. Do I now abandon the party that helped me get here? Politics isn't about principles, it's about how do I keep power, or how do I get to the next higher office. A 3rd party isn't going to do it. I need to stay loyal to my party if I want a chance of winning.

At least, that's how I see it.

In order for there to be a viable 3rd party in this country right now, one of the 2 major parties will have to split (which is quite possible).
28 posted on 06/30/2004 9:12:14 AM PDT by birbear (Kinda cold.... kinda sticky....)
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To: birbear
Nice idea, but it has a basic flaw (and it's a basic flaw with most 3rd parties.)

In my view, candidates need not abandon their parties, nor ignore other local issues.

They would be selected based on their seeking endorsement and living up to the narrow goals. In lieu of a suitable candidate or one who has lied about his or her commitment, the party could run their own.

One issue at a time. Get going in the right direction. The world can be changed, we can regain our freedom, one issue at a time.

33 posted on 06/30/2004 9:19:09 AM PDT by Protagoras (government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." ...Ronald Reagan, 1981)
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