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JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:02 PM
You know how people tend to flock to political parties that hold their views, right? You won't see any Libertarians join the Socialist Party and, vice versa, that's just how it is. How about creating a political party that accepts all Americans? How about one that allows its members to shape the party at its conventions? Wouldn't that appeal to everyone? Wouldn't the views of each state branch represent the state? And people could fight to push their own views within the party so I'm proposing a political party with a tent big enough to fit every American in. A political party where every member can shape the party and mold it the way they want.

Wouldn't that be something? Maybe... The American Party.

Opinions, please?

I guess it could be summed up into an "open tent party"

My original idea was to create a new Libertarian Party (open to moderates) but I don't want to hurt the work of the LP for the last 30 years.

BuddyRey
10-24-2007, 02:07 PM
Awesome idea!!! "The People's Party" maybe???

constituent
10-24-2007, 02:08 PM
I came up w/ an idea once for "the life party"

how war is anti-life, prisons are anti-life, taxation is anti-life...

basic things people generally agree on as sorta foundational
ideals to build off of.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:16 PM
Awesome idea!!! "The People's Party" maybe???

Wow, thanks. I thought this would be yet another thread of mine that would go ignored :D "The People's Party" is a good one. But the basic premise here is to be an open tent party in order to appeal to all Americans. This would mean that the party could target ALL Americans and not have to marginalize and gear itself towards a specific population.


Main national branch with bylaws
national convention that changes platform and other things may go on (nominations)

state branches
state conventions where state parties vote on platform and whatever else


A party for the people.

note - we can always be more libertarian leaning while still appealing to the American people as a "party of the people" ;) example: we can have a libertarian platform, libertarian minded people in positions of power and still say "well, our bylaws are representative of our membership" so we wouldn't have to really stand by any principle as a political party ;)

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:22 PM
I came up w/ an idea once for "the life party"

how war is anti-life, prisons are anti-life, taxation is anti-life...

basic things people generally agree on as sorta foundational
ideals to build off of.

Yeah, but you'd be alienating the war mongering neo cons, the religious right and the socialists :p

foofighter20x
10-24-2007, 02:23 PM
LOL... The People's Party...

The GOP has an elephant.
The Dems have a donkey...

This party has The Rock. :p :D

oh... and the People's Pie. ;)

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:26 PM
LOL... The People's Party...

The GOP has an elephant.
The Dems have a donkey...

This party has The Rock. :p :D

oh... and the People's Pie. ;)

Why the rock? lol. We wouldn't even need a platform, we should just let candidates share their ideas when vying for the nominations of the party. It would be like a party of independents. The voters that like what they hear will vote for the candidate they want and the winner will win the nomination of the party... of course, we probably wouldn't have primaries for a while lol

Let's use Presidential nomination as an example:

let's say we have five candidates vying for the nomination of this party. Well, their views will probably differ from each other a LOT but, you know what? The members of this party would be able to choose and the decision would be representative of the party, so we would always have something different to choose from. Understand?

Wendi
10-24-2007, 02:32 PM
A party of independents... o man... talk about shaking up the way things are done. I'd love to see it happen. Right after we get RP elected ;)

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:35 PM
A party of independents... o man... talk about shaking up the way things are done. I'd love to see it happen. Right after we get RP elected ;)

ha yeah. The party would strive for PERMANENT ballot access in every state and it allows individuals to run on their own platforms.

Original_Intent
10-24-2007, 02:41 PM
A party of independents... o man... talk about shaking up the way things are done. I'd love to see it happen. Right after we get RP elected ;)

It is too bad the name "Independent American" Party is already taken.

Independent of foreign entanglements.
Independent to stand on our own two feet without cradle to grave nanny statism
Independent of any Political Party dogma.

Sadly, once such a party was formed, if it was successful the same power hungry types would be attracted to positions of power within the party, they would start making stupid rules to try to stifle out those in the party who they disagreed with.

Just like "Animal Farm" :(

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:41 PM
I guess you could say its a party for independents BUT not limited to this. Everyone...every platform..that's my thoughts on this. We'll have a national party, then, as I've said before, we'll have braches in each state that will grow and grow.... hell, we don't even need a party platform at all lol and we'll get ballot access in EVERY state once we fulfill the necessary requirements.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:42 PM
It is too bad the name "Independent American" Party is already taken.

Independent of foreign entanglements.
Independent to stand on our own two feet without cradle to grave nanny statism
Independent of any Political Party dogma.

Sadly, once such a party was formed, if it was successful the same power hungry types would be attracted to positions of power within the party, they would start making stupid rules to try to stifle out those in the party who they disagreed with.

Just like "Animal Farm" :(

This is why we won't have a platform :)

princessredtights
10-24-2007, 02:43 PM
What about the Liberty Party?

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:44 PM
What about the Liberty Party?

Yeah, like it.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:51 PM
*Party appeals to all Americans
*No platform; so party is abuse proof
*provides members with real choices when deciding on candidates to vote for in primaries
*allows candidates to get automatic ballot access (if party fulfills the state's requirements; such as "certificate of existence" after obstaining certain % of votes)

foofighter20x
10-24-2007, 02:52 PM
Why the rock? lol.

I guess you never watched late 90's pro-wrestling... ;)

The Rock: a.k.a. the People's Champion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rock_(entertainer))

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 02:54 PM
I guess you never watched late 90's pro-wrestling... ;)

The Rock: a.k.a. the People's Champion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rock_(entertainer))

I have lol I just didn't get it at first ha. Yeah, he used to parade around as the "people's champion," and said things like 'If you smell... what the Rock is cookin'! I preferred Kain (Ron Paul supporter, btw)

princessredtights
10-24-2007, 03:07 PM
Yeah, like it.

is it too close to Libertarian?



I do think that American's are waking up ... (most anyway!) ;)

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 03:12 PM
is it too close to Libertarian?



I do think that American's are waking up ... (most anyway!) ;)

No, it's good. I think if a party like this caught fire it could really transform politics in this country. A party like this drains supporters from every party and just would do tremendously among independents. Provides members with a set of candidates to choose that will vary in political views and a party like this provides candidates with a VOTER BASE and access to ballots. I think we can create a viable machine here

princessredtights
10-24-2007, 03:18 PM
I am attending a meeting tonight that was put together by one of the neighboring meetings (the Vancouver group). The speaker will be leading a discussion on what he calls "the Freedom Movement" ... There are so many facets to what is happening beyond RP -

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 03:25 PM
ohhh. I'm just wanting to start something new, I don't know about all of that :p

1. we can recruit ALL Americans; no platform
2. We can fight for permanent ballot access - this would give an incentive for new candidates
3. voters will have choices that they probably wouldn't have in any of the other parties
4. provides candidates with a voter base
5. debates... they would be some interesting debates for sure - lively! :D

http://www.slate.com/id/2148346/ here's a cool article I have found

Zarxrax
10-24-2007, 04:07 PM
I saw an article the other day about this party or candidate or something in some European country that was going to be run by the people. As I remember it, the people would basically vote for things online, and then they would do whatever the result of the vote was. It was pretty interesting, I wish I could find it again.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 04:11 PM
I saw an article the other day about this party or candidate or something in some European country that was going to be run by the people. As I remember it, the people would basically vote for things online, and then they would do whatever the result of the vote was. It was pretty interesting, I wish I could find it again.

That's not my idea...but ok. How do you like this idea? Having a platform that is voted on would open the party to abuse when ideologues flood the party in order to change the platform to fit their own. So how about NO PLATFORM and just being a wide open party?

Zarxrax
10-24-2007, 04:16 PM
So how about NO PLATFORM and just being a wide open party?

Isn't that basically just like registering as Independent?

JosephTheLibertarian
10-24-2007, 05:22 PM
Isn't that basically just like registering as Independent?

No. You don't have a voter base or automatic ballot access as an independent ;)

freedominnumbers
10-24-2007, 05:35 PM
It's gotta be "The Freedom Party" with the American flag as the symbol.

Then all the campaign tv and radio ads can end with "A vote for anyone else is a vote against Freedom".

jgmaynard
10-24-2007, 07:22 PM
My Dad was a Goldwater Republican who voted Libertarian in the last couple elections. He always said the "Libertarian Party" sounded too much like "Libertine," and that the LP should rename itself the "Freedom Party." So, I like the name "Freedom Party." :D

JM

noxagol
10-24-2007, 08:38 PM
Sounds like a good idea, I'm game.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-26-2007, 08:16 PM
Sounds like a good idea, I'm game.

You're in? Okay. It's pretty simple. Any American joins no matter their political beliefs. We hold debates for candidates that are running for the party's Presidential nomination and we hold a national convention to nominate the candidate that will lead the party into the general election.

state level: governorships, senate seats, seats in congress, local stuff.... if a seat is uncontested, then the individuals will be nominated right then and there. If it's being contested, then, we'll hold debates, the candidate that wins over most of the party wins the nomination of the party. That's the rough draft. Delegation system? Not all sure about that, I'd prefer a direct vote, but we'll see.

Why would a politician join us? Because, we would be a "big tent" party, we would provide ballot access and also access to our diverse voter base.

Why would people join us? We would accept everyone, no matter their political beliefs, so we would have a lot of choices for people. The picks of the people will truly be representative of the people.

that's how I'm envisioning it.. where are you from?

noxagol
10-26-2007, 08:27 PM
You're in? Okay. It's pretty simple. Any American joins no matter their political beliefs. We hold debates for candidates that are running for the party's Presidential nomination and we hold a national convention to nominate the candidate that will lead the party into the general election.

state level: governorships, senate seats, seats in congress, local stuff.... if a seat is uncontested, then the individuals will be nominated right then and there. If it's being contested, then, we'll hold debates, the candidate that wins over most of the party wins the nomination of the party. That's the rough draft. Delegation system? Not all sure about that, I'd prefer a direct vote, but we'll see.

Why would a politician join us? Because, we would be a "big tent" party, we would provide ballot access and also access to our diverse voter base.

Why would people join us? We would accept everyone, no matter their political beliefs, so we would have a lot of choices for people. The picks of the people will truly be representative of the people.

that's how I'm envisioning it.. where are you from?

Madison County, Illinois.

I have been thinking lately of maybe running for a state government seat and using that possible success to get into the govenor's seat, and using that to get into the president's seat heh. Right now it is like a dizzy day dream to me though. My area is really heavy democratic, and I have no money at all lol. I can't even afford to donate to Ron Paul on anything close to a regular basis. I also don't know if I am old enough, only 23 right now.

And this party is basically how America should be if their were no parties. The nomination would be the actual election in this case. And that is the way it should be really. NO parties, just individuals' ideas.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-26-2007, 08:33 PM
Madison County, Illinois.

I have been thinking lately of maybe running for a state government seat and using that possible success to get into the govenor's seat, and using that to get into the president's seat heh. Right now it is like a dizzy day dream to me though. My area is really heavy democratic, and I have no money at all lol. I can't even afford to donate to Ron Paul on anything close to a regular basis. I also don't know if I am old enough, only 23 right now.

And this party is basically how America should be if their were no parties. The nomination would be the actual election in this case. And that is the way it should be really. NO parties, just individuals' ideas.

Yup, that's the idea. I don't know if I could ever run for anything... I have good ideas, but I have no social skills :p I don't like to be around people all that much, that's why you'll never see me at any of these meet up group meetings.

Anyway. A project like this would be failure proof, you know, accept all Americans, provide the voter with a broad range to choose from and then the people decide who they want representing them. I personally believe in the separation of party and state, but this is how it works ;) you have to be rich to run as an independent

noxagol
10-26-2007, 08:35 PM
Yup, that's the idea. I don't know if I could ever run for anything... I have good ideas, but I have no social skills :p I don't like to be around people all that much, that's why you'll never see me at any of these meet up group meetings.

Anyway. A project like this would be failure proof, you know, accept all Americans, provide the voter with a broad range to choose from and then the people decide who they want representing them. I personally believe in the separation of party and state, but this is how it works ;) you have to be rich to run as an independent

Perhaps we should forge a constitution for this party?

JosephTheLibertarian
10-26-2007, 08:37 PM
Perhaps we should forge a constitution for this party?

Well, I have thought of doing that before I read this


What about party committees, rules, and procedures? "New York for the Explainer" won't need any of that until after the election. In fact, the party won't even get to have an official convention until an NYforE-backed candidate notches more than 50,000 votes in a gubernatorial contest. Once that happens, the party really gets going. It earns a dedicated slot on the ballot for four years and can field candidates for future elections without having to gather individual signatures.

http://www.slate.com/id/2148346/

I guess it's more informal until you get some solid numbers at the ballot boxes.

noxagol
10-26-2007, 08:41 PM
Well, they can't stop us from forming an official unofficial party. And while I'm thinking of it, where be you from?

JosephTheLibertarian
10-26-2007, 08:54 PM
Well, they can't stop us from forming an official unofficial party. And while I'm thinking of it, where be you from?

lol yup. New Jersey.

You mean bylaws? http://www.lp.org/organization/bylaws.shtml here's the lp bylaws, we can go on them.

voters get: diverse choices, non partisanship of ideas and interesting debates

candidates get: automatic ballot access and a base of voters to convey ideas to...

win/win

we would be sort of be like a connector of things... we connect the candidates to the ballot boxes and people... we connect the people to genuine candidates

We should make the bylaws abuse proof and also a way for the party to nominate a favorite of a different party... maybe another Ron Paul?

noxagol
10-27-2007, 06:09 AM
lol yup. New Jersey.

You mean bylaws? http://www.lp.org/organization/bylaws.shtml here's the lp bylaws, we can go on them.

voters get: diverse choices, non partisanship of ideas and interesting debates

candidates get: automatic ballot access and a base of voters to convey ideas to...

win/win

we would be sort of be like a connector of things... we connect the candidates to the ballot boxes and people... we connect the people to genuine candidates

We should make the bylaws abuse proof and also a way for the party to nominate a favorite of a different party... maybe another Ron Paul?

yeah, always. Don't make them pick one of their own party, because what if it is filled with people they don't like but the second coming of Ron Paul happens to be in another. Choices are the answer to the nations political crisis. Most people are apathetic because they think there is nothing they can do.

I will write something up and PM it to you. I will also talk to my friends about this idea, many share my new found extreme libertarianism, except for my friend the communist (seriously lol).

Primbs
10-27-2007, 09:22 AM
Here is another group of people trying to make another party.

They might not support Ron Paul however.

http://unity08.com/

JosephTheLibertarian
10-27-2007, 10:54 PM
yeah, always. Don't make them pick one of their own party, because what if it is filled with people they don't like but the second coming of Ron Paul happens to be in another. Choices are the answer to the nations political crisis. Most people are apathetic because they think there is nothing they can do.

I will write something up and PM it to you. I will also talk to my friends about this idea, many share my new found extreme libertarianism, except for my friend the communist (seriously lol).

Cool. Yeah, communists are not fond of libertarianism ;) hmm are you proposing a libertarian party? Or? I'll be waiting for that pm :D My original idea was a socially liberal/fiscally conservative party (big tent) but I figured this idea would be more unique and definitely more inclusive.

I ask because of "I will also talk to my friends about this idea, many share my new found extreme libertarianism" so I didn't know what you were implying with that... thanks

Malakai0
10-27-2007, 11:33 PM
If things were equal between parties we wouldn't have a problem. Many euro countries have successful multi-party systems.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-27-2007, 11:36 PM
If things were equal between parties we wouldn't have a problem. Many euro countries have successful multi-party systems.

True. That's because our media and even government sometimes are narrowed in on two parties, so the rest suffer.... they also legislate against third parties, so it's really hampering the system.

JosephTheLibertarian
10-30-2007, 07:32 PM
yeah, always. Don't make them pick one of their own party, because what if it is filled with people they don't like but the second coming of Ron Paul happens to be in another. Choices are the answer to the nations political crisis. Most people are apathetic because they think there is nothing they can do.

I will write something up and PM it to you. I will also talk to my friends about this idea, many share my new found extreme libertarianism, except for my friend the communist (seriously lol).

you never pmed me. Seriously, this is how it will go

1. Create a website and get people signed up through our site, we should also build up our cash reserves.

2. Set up state branches in all 50 states; I guess people would contact us about it

3. Hold a national convention....probably will be a long way aways. Each state party would be in charge of holding their own conventions.

4. think about forming bylaws, we do need tools to keep everything functional. I'm against voting on a platform, but I support bylaws in order to keep everything running smoothly

5. back our candidates

6. link up with affiliated groups err "friends"

and go on from there... once we have enough voters, we can get PERMANENT BALLOT ACCESS!

I wasn't sure if you were more interested in starting a new libertarian party, because you have stated the following:
I will also talk to my friends about this idea, many share my new found extreme libertarianism The only way I'd support a new LP is if we were to go more mainstream :) "big tent" meaning, let's take in the fiscally conservative democrats and the socially liberal republicans (moderates), including indies, not just libertarian-only

murrayrothbard
10-30-2007, 07:47 PM
True. That's because our media and even government sometimes are narrowed in on two parties, so the rest suffer.... they also legislate against third parties, so it's really hampering the system.

Well two parties is pretty much the logical result of plurality voting , i.e winner takes all. European countries can sustain more than 2 viable parties because many of them have parliamentary systems where representation is based on percentage of vote.

As long as the US is based on winner-takes-all voting, the pressure to establish 2 dominant parties is overwhelming.