NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know about the rest of my fellow Americans, but I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. Politics in America suck. You basically have the option of picking between two candidates, each from there own political party, but they both have pretty much the same thing to say because if they say anything too controversial, they will piss someone off.

If you ask me, the country needs more people who aren't afraid to say what they mean. If you are running for President and you are pro choice, just say straight out, "yes, I am pro choice, but no, I probably won't be able to do anything about it because congress won't let me". That's just a personal rant though, allow me to get back to the subject at hand.

I think there should be a new political party. One of common sense and compromise instead of the business and scandel. I say, instead of sending politicians and businessmen up for president, we send regular joe "blue collar" schmoe. Blue Collar Joe can make a cabinet of advisors to help him with the job, but when it comes to governing the country, let's leave it to someone who has to deal with the every day shit. If we can get rid of the everyday shit then what else is there? Another good argument for this is, morality. I'm sorry, but look around us and you can see for yourself that there's two types of people (socially speeking, of course) that get in trouble or break the law: People with too much money, cuz they don't need to care, and people with not enough money, cuz they got nothing to loose. Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, but like I said, look around you.

Alls I knows is that the official party name better have the words "bull", "moose", and "spunk".

I don't know about the rest of my fellow Americans, but I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. Politics in America suck. You basically have the option of picking between two candidates, each from there own political party, but they both have pretty much the same thing to say because if they say anything too controversial, they will piss someone off.

If you ask me, the country needs more people who aren't afraid to say what they mean. If you are running for President and you are pro choice, just say straight out, "yes, I am pro choice, but no, I probably won't be able to do anything about it because congress won't let me". That's just a personal rant though, allow me to get back to the subject at hand.

I think there should be a new political party. One of common sense and compromise instead of the business and scandel. I say, instead of sending politicians and businessmen up for president, we send regular joe "blue collar" schmoe. Blue Collar Joe can make a cabinet of advisors to help him with the job, but when it comes to governing the country, let's leave it to someone who has to deal with the every day shit. If we can get rid of the everyday shit then what else is there? Another good argument for this is, morality. I'm sorry, but look around us and you can see for yourself that there's two types of people (socially speeking, of course) that get in trouble or break the law: People with too much money, cuz they don't need to care, and people with not enough money, cuz they got nothing to loose. Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, but like I said, look around you.Your right the american people need other choices.The two mian partys mostly ruin america anyway.They shoul but 4partys on the ballot:eek:

Sorry, but a third party just won't happen.


The Republicans managed to pull it off, and the Populists nearly did but shot themselves in the foot when they nominated for President the same guy the Democrats did.

Socialists were a flash in the pan, as were the Reform party(nice try Perot, good effort but next time carry at least one state)

Green Party is just a joke.

i would highly reccommend the book Executive Orders by Tom Clancy. Here's what happens in the book before to get you up to speed. Some nutjob jap crashes a 747 into the capital building while Jack Ryan is being confirmed as Vice President. EVERYONE is killed (pres, joint chiefs, all of congress, all supreme court, and all the secretaries of stuff like treasury, defense, etc.) Jack Ryan is the ONLY survivor and he has to start the gov't over again and he's just a normal guy mostly and he actually makes the gov't work so normal people have an effect. Very good Read.

Funny one of the few things democrats and republicans do agree on is that they don't want compettetition...thus the system is setup to screw the blue collar guy you were talking about...

I Have An Idea. The American Communist Party. That'd Be Fun To Watch.

Already one, it does about as well as the nazis around election time...

Already one, it does about as well as the nazis around election time...
Hmm... So Neither The American National Socialist Party Nor The Communist Party Has A Snowballs Chance In Hell Of Ever Getting Anyone On The Senate. Ok Then, The American Technocratic Party!

I think all countries are in need of better political parties. I know the UK is.

I think all countries are in need of better political parties. I know the UK is.
Hell Man, At Least You Brits Don't Have To Pick From Just Two Political Parties!

Hmm... So Neither The American National Socialist Party Nor The Communist Party Has A Snowballs Chance In Hell Of Ever Getting Anyone On The Senate. Ok Then, The American Technocratic Party!

Now that's an idea :D

Hell Man, At Least You Brits Don't Have To Pick From Just Two Political Parties!

1997- present: Labour
1979-1997: Conservative
1974-1979: Labour
1970-1974: Conservative
1964-1970: Labour
1951-1964: Conservative
1945-1951: Labour

Yeah... we have real variety here.

Now that's an idea :D
Hmm.... Maybe Not. If You've Seen Lemon Demon's "When Robots Attack", You Know What I Mean. ...We'll Be Eaten Alive By Robots!... But It Would Be Fun To Live In A Post-Apocolyptic World Where Humans Are Constantly Hunted By Robots! Viva La Resistenance!

1997- present: Labour
1979-1997: Conservative
1974-1979: Labour
1970-1974: Conservative
1964-1970: Labour
1951-1964: Conservative
1945-1951: Labour

Yeah... we have real variety here.
Oh, Really? Well Then, My History Teacher Is A Lying... *Tries To Think Of A Deragetory Term For Women That Isn't What Brits Think Means Female Dog*
She Says That The Political Parties In Britian Fight It Out Every Election Year. She Says It Comes Down To The Wire. I Guess Not.

Your right the american people need other choices.The two mian partys mostly ruin america anyway.They shoul but 4partys on the ballot:eek:
And You Should Take Spelling And Grammar Lessons!

I don't exactly know what you mean... Usually parties are formed to represent the populations views in their sovereign institutions, namely parliament. What segments of the american population think they are severely under or badly represented by their government and have done nothing in 200 years of democracy? Are there representative views other than those expressed (or feigned) by the bipartisan system parties? I fail to perceive them from across the Atlantic. Other than whenever a ficus decides to run for an election.

Oh, Really? Well Then, My History Teacher Is A Lying... *Tries To Think Of A Deragetory Term For Women That Isn't What Brits Think Means Female Dog*
She Says That The Political Parties In Britian Fight It Out Every Election Year. She Says It Comes Down To The Wire. I Guess Not.

Not really, the last couple of elections have been landslide Labour victories, but there are other parties mentioned on the ballot paper. It's not as bad as in America, but it's not exactly a free-for all either.

I have an idea....the Andrew Jackson Party!

Look at the amaizing Andrew Jackson! Causes guns to misfire, puts the Democrats in the White House, starts the patronage system, takes down the Bank of the US while paying off the country's debt, only person to ever be censured by the US Senate, increasing tarrifs and keeping the states from rebelling all in his 8 years of Presidency!

Don't like those tax and spend liberals, or those spend and spend conservatives? Join the Andrew Jackson Party, because we're not left, we're not right - we're up! This is a political organization for all of those who are tired of the wimpy, whiny, do-nothing political parties we have these days.


Its either that or the Militant Centrist Party....

1997- present: Labour
1979-1997: Conservative
1974-1979: Labour
1970-1974: Conservative
1964-1970: Labour
1951-1964: Conservative
1945-1951: Labour

Yeah... we have real variety here.
How about Sweden?

1996-Current Socialist-Democrats
1991-1994 Moderaterna (part of the Opposition, a coalition of right-wing parties effectively sharing power)
1982-1991 Socialist-Democrats
1976-1982 Opposition parties (seriously, they're pretty much the same)
1936-1976 Socialist-Democrats

That's a total of 59 years of Socialist-Democratic rule in the last 70.

Also, in 2002, the Donald Duck Party recieved 11 votes :p

We have Labour and Conservative but we have the LibDems Deciding in a tie-break. Which forces Labour and Conservatives to stick to there Ideals cos LibDems really hate flip-Floppers :D
But recently cos Labour it teh Uber Suxxor majority they can abandon ideals and head right-wing

the US has about 20 political parties (see www.politics1.com)... most are too small to make a major difference, but Ive been a member and voter of the Libertarian Party for 18 years now...Ive also run for office 3 times...just dont give up hope

Oh, Really? Well Then, My History Teacher Is A Lying... *Tries To Think Of A Deragetory Term For Women That Isn't What Brits Think Means Female Dog* [Thatcher? *ahem*]
She Says That The Political Parties In Britian Fight It Out Every Election Year. She Says It Comes Down To The Wire. I Guess Not.

In britain, as a whole, we do have a generally better political system: rather than two conservative parties we have several different parties, with each region able to choose its own Member of Parliament.

So while we have labour and conservatives as the ruling party, each MP gets a say - just the governing party decides what legislation is put forward.

The 3 main parties we have a New Labour (Left of centre), Conservatives (Right, becoming slowly centrist) and the Liberal Democrats (Left).

The votes are usually split between them, mainly labour 1.7-2/4 and tory 1.5/4, while the liberals getting around 1/4 of the vote. (Estimates)

Other parties such as the Green Party, Plydd Cymru (wales) and the SNP (scotland), UKIP and RESPECT do often get votes as well - and if enough in their area vote, they get a MP (like Bethnel Green and Bow who have a RESPECT MP. i shant mention the BNP as their policies are not even worth mentioning. (EDIT: I forgot to mention the Teddy Bear Party, and the Monster Raving Loony Party).

Scotland has a sort of bi-party government with the Liberals in power in the Scottish parliament, while Labour in the British parliament.

As well as the personalities and the strength of the leader, people here also - sometimes vote for the policies - especially foreign policy.

I fear at the next election the Tory's will win, as we have a radical as their party leader, and he's absolutely brilliant at creating a new Image (from last years facist image). I have great respect for him - but its the party i dislike.

the US has about 20 political parties (see www.politics1.com)... most are too small to make a major difference, but Ive been a member and voter of the Libertarian Party for 18 years now...Ive also run for office 3 times...just dont give up hope

First edit your link...you've got the closing ) caught up in the link so that anyone who can't figure out how to copy and paste can't find the web site. ;)

This is actually a better link which takes one right to the party descriptions:
http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

And for those who don't want to bother:

Libertarian Party - The LP, founded in 1971, bills itself as "America's largest third party." Libertarians are neither left nor right ... they believe in total individual liberty (pro-drug legalization, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-home Ed Clark for President (Libertarian) 1980schooling, anti-gun control, etc.) and total economic freedom (anti-welfare, anti-government regulation of business, anti-minimum wage, anti-income tax, pro-free trade, etc.). The LP espouses a classical laissez faire ideology which, they argue, means "more freedom, less government and lower taxes." Over 400 LP members currently hold various -- though fairly low level -- government offices (including lots of minor appointed officials like "School District Facilities Task Force Member" and "Town Recycling Committee Member"). Typically, the LP fields more local candidates than any other US third party -- although the LP has clearly been eclipsed by the Greens in size since 1996 in terms of having the largest third party following and garnering the most media attention. Former 1988 LP Presidential nominee Ron Paul is now a Republican Congressman from Texas -- although Paul is still active with the LP. The LP's biggest problem: Ron Paul, former NM Governor Gary Johnson, PJ O'Rourke, the Republican Liberty Caucus and others in the GOP are working to attract ideological libertarians into the political arena -- arguing they can bring about libertarian change more easily under the Republican label. LP Presidential nominee Ed Clark carried over 921,000 votes (1.1%) in 1980. Subsequent nominees for the next dozen years, though not as strong as Clark, typically ran ahead of most other third party candidates. LP Presidential nominee Harry Browne carried over 485,000 votes (5th place - 0.5%) in 1996 and 386,000 votes in 2000 (5th place - 0.4%). The LP has affiliates in all 50 states. The LP web site features a link to the World's Smallest Political Quiz ... take the quiz and see if you're a libertarian (a bit simplistic -- but interesting just the same). Keep up on the latest from the LP by reading the Libertarian Party News online. The College Libertarians also maintain a web directory. A "reform" faction (anti-Browne) within the party attempted to wrest control in 1999-2000 away from the incumbent leadership (pro-Browne), alleging that the controlling faction among the incumbents have serious ethical conflicts of interest as to which favored consultants receive the bulk of the LP's money (note: the incumbents denied the allegations and held control of the LP's top posts ... but this internal dissention is likely to continue for a long while). Michael Badnarik is the LP's 2004 Presidential nominee. Other related sites are: American Liberty Foundation (Browne's group) and GrowTheLP.org (LP outreach).

and yes, I'm Libertarian, registered with the party, even though there are stances the party takes that I wholely disagree with.

Ok...so after looking over all the posts here, I think we can pretty much all agree on one thing. It's time for change, and a new poltical group that is more in tune with the needs of today might just be the answer.

I noticed that the libertarian party was brought up, which isn't really surprising to me. If I had to give myself a label as of right now, I would probably say that I, myself, am a libertarian. However, that is only because it fits me more than Republican or Democrat, which isn't saying much. I just don't think pulling government out of everything is a very good idea. At least, not in the sense of the way Libertarians would intend it. Government shouldn't be a "bad" thing that you want out of your hair. Government should be what binds us together as a nation, and with other nations. Government should reflect the general opinion of all its people, not the specific opinion of some of its people.

Let's take an issue like abortion, for instance. I pick this because it's supposedly a great contoversy. I say hogwash. This is an easy compromise. The majority of America can be satisfied with this: Abortion is only legal to those cases in which the child is the unwanted result of a sexual assult, or if the life of the mother is in danger and a C-section is not a safe alternative.

I have to agree with the Libratarians on some issues, though. Government has no business in marriage. Gays are people, and by saying they can't get married is going back 50 years and telling a black person to move back to the back of the bus. Seriously...do we need to get rid of teaching history in schools? Cuz I thought the whole point of teaching history is so they didn't grow up and make the same mistakes.

Legalizing Marijuana. Yeah...I'm not gonna lie. I dunnit. I'm not gonna tell you how many times or if I enhaled though. Why? Because I never hurt anyone so it's none of your business. All you need to know is I was as responsible as I could be about it, considering the fact that it was illigal to even possess it. Having said that, I'm sure what I'm about to say won't be too terribly shocking to you. I am for the legalization of personal usage of Marijuana, but only in the privacy of your own home, and not until you're like 21 (or maybe to be seen as an incentive to graduate college or serve a contract in the military). I'm still against anything more being legal though (ie crack, heroine, LSD, PCP, coke, shrooms, etc.)

Oh...and I thought of a name for this political party. It sounds like something that may have already been thought of though, but I was thinking since the party's primary goal is to bring more people together with compromise and understanding (and seeing as how the other political parties kinda all follow a trend relating to government related root words, ie Republic, Democratic, Liberty) I think our name should be Unitarians from the root word "United".

And You Should Take Spelling And Grammar Lessons!
That's funny Mr. Everything-Must-Be-A-Proper-Noun.

:p

Also, in 2002, the Donald Duck Party recieved 11 votes :p

11 votes... in the whole country? Damn, they make the Monster Raving Loony Party look successful. ;)

Hmm... What Should I Be... A Commie? An Indie? A Green? I'm Thinking Green.

Let's take an issue like abortion, for instance. I pick this because it's supposedly a great contoversy. I say hogwash. This is an easy compromise. The majority of America can be satisfied with this: Abortion is only legal to those cases in which the child is the unwanted result of a sexual assult, or if the life of the mother is in danger and a C-section is not a safe alternative.






Way to oversimplfy an issue.

Way to oversimplfy an issue.



How complicated does it need to be? You have to face the fact that you can't make every person out of however many millions of people there are in this country completely happy. It's called compromise (sp).

I have an idea....the Andrew Jackson Party!

Look at the amaizing Andrew Jackson! Causes guns to misfire, puts the Democrats in the White House, starts the patronage system, takes down the Bank of the US while paying off the country's debt, only person to ever be censured by the US Senate, increasing tarrifs and keeping the states from rebelling all in his 8 years of Presidency!

Don't like those tax and spend liberals, or those spend and spend conservatives? Join the Andrew Jackson Party, because we're not left, we're not right - we're up! This is a political organization for all of those who are tired of the wimpy, whiny, do-nothing political parties we have these days.


Its either that or the Militant Centrist Party....

I'll go with the Militant Centrist Party. It's about time they took up arms and overthrown those bastards to the far side of each spectrum. It's alright to lean to one side, but not to drift all the way over to the far-right, far-left, or far whatever else. Balance is the key. But smart balance. Basically common sense should be used.

Balance is the key. But smart balance. Basically common sense should be used.

I totally agree.

I totally agree.

But democracy is the only system that even hints at achieving balance, and its easily corrupted by money and media etc.

the US has about 20 political parties (see www.politics1.com)... most are too small to make a major difference, but Ive been a member and voter of the Libertarian Party for 18 years now...Ive also run for office 3 times...just dont give up hope

Resistance is (probably) futile. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverger's_law)

At least one of two things needs to happen:

1) One of the major parties needs to die, and the Libertarians need to be strong enough to take its place (Edit: the Greens will accomplish this before the Libertarians do). While the Libertarians may gain power, this is still a two-party system, and thus a broken system. The ultimate problem remains.

2) A complete switch from single member first-past-the-post to a proportional party list electoral system, adopted by each state along with what will essentially amount to a near complete reforming of Constitutional government. Good luck. :)

Resistance is (probably) futile. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverger's_law)

At least one of two things needs to happen:

1) One of the major parties needs to die, and the Libertarians need to be strong enough to take its place (Edit: the Greens will accomplish this before the Libertarians do). While the Libertarians may gain power, this is still a two-party system, and thus a broken system. The ultimate problem remains.

2) A complete switch from single member first-past-the-post to a proportional party list electoral system, adopted by each state along with what will essentially amount to a near complete reforming of Constitutional government. Good luck. :)

or 3) a party takes up existence as a local or regional party, like the vermont progressive party, or the greens in places like san fran and madison. this also amounts to a two party system really, because it mainly works where one of the major parties already absolutely dominates and the other is essentially dead.