In light of last night's taping of IRTN with Matt AND in reading all of the comments in various U.S. lefty sites, I've been thinking.
Perhaps Barack Obama is really who he appoints and who he invited to preach to us on Inauguration Day.
And if that happens - if the various progressive constituencies who helped put Obama in the White House become dangerously disillusioned, maybe it's time we finally take the bull by the horns and form a viable third party.
I think we could make a genuine appeal to disaffected Democrats and say to them we are forming a party that represents real progressive ideas - a radical, if you will, departure from the corporate centrism of the Democratic Party.
I've got it!
We could call it The "New Democratic Party of the USA."
How's that for orginality? NDPUSA
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If Jack thinks it's a good idea, maybe he can send us some of his brain trust down here to get it started.
Hey there Keith,
As you're probably aware, there are several third parties already in the US: Libertarian, Green, Constitution, and -- let us not forget -- independent candidates like Mr. Ralph Nader.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media in the US shuts out these alternative voices, and the (privately owned) Commission on Presidential Debates ensures that they're not included in the only nationally televised debates.
The playing field is rigged. And the two party corporate duopoly is working in lock-step to make sure that doesn't change.
Every four or eight years it will shift from one corporate-controlled party to the other, meanwhile they both work to ensure that no third parties ever get a chance to reach a broad public.
It's unfortunate, as it was third parties that brought the US many of their great advances, like women's right to vote.
Phillip.
Phillip,
Of course you are right. Part of this was tongue in cheek, but part of this is dead serious on my part. I would like to UNITE the Greens and the Naderites and the disaffected Democrats into a viable third party. I would like to do this but I am not wealthy, younger or media connected - in fact I was pretty much ceremoniously thrown out of the US media (both print and radio). But I'd work my ass off in support of such a movement.
cumpi
As a mere foreigner I hate to rain on your picnic, but I suspect one would get farther by infiltrating the "parties" in the US than by trying to get a third one off the ground.
I do recall a Latin American friend saying that in the US political parties (partidos) are more like football matches (partidos) than like real political parties. But hey, nobody's perfect. I wish I had an answer. Extraparliamentary action? Like the Shministim in Israel?
Hey there Keith, There was such an effort (at least the glimmer of it) in this past election when "Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader agreed with Ron Paul on four key principles central to the health of the nation."
You can find the agreement here: http://www.votenader.org/weagree/
Until the US build a viable third-party movement, there will be no real progressive agenda presented during elections. And until we reform the media there will be no chance of reforming democracy.
Phillip.