Devotion to political parties. A thought.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." -- Letter To Francis Hopkinson, Paris Mar. 13, 1789

Old Tom was a wise man. Any thoughts?

I see political parties, particularly the two we seem stuck with, as, at best, a necessary evil. Both are jampacked with opportunists, time servers, criminals, and just plain nincompoops.

[libertypirate]

1. Parties are designed to give identities....

Even when the identities don't look at the problems and only work to recreate their identities.

There are two distinct groups of Americans the minority of Americans who own most of the value, and the majority that do not. The parties don't want to identify this as the problem.

[IrateCitizen]

2. The problem is when people see parties as a SOLUTION

When, in fact, they are part and parcel of the problem.

I've managed to continue to vote for Democrats by losing the idea that they are somehow a positive force for good. They're not. Rather, they're the party that currently represents a LESSER IMPEDIMENT to the realization of the goals of peace with justice.

When it comes to groups whose primary goal is competing for political power, they will always be filled with opportunists and nincompoops. The best strategy is to not delude yourself to the contrary, and to continue to place faith in and organize among your fellow citizens.

[cestpaspossible]

4. Parties are a tool. If you don't use the tool, someone else will.

Kind of like: "If you don't pay attention to politics, rest assured that politics will pay attention to you."


Slavishly or mindlessly voting a party ticket is not what I'm talking about, what I'm talking about is getting involved and pushing for the things and people you believe in. THAT's what someone else will do if you don't. And then you will have no one to blame but yourself for the choices you are confronted with in the voting booth.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Couldn't agree more.

I've been voting Democratic for the last 30 years. Which required some deft noseholding. Only departed twice, in '68, and sat on my hands because my rep hold sold out to the NRA.

But, "The lesser of two evils" charade has grown mighty thin, and looking at what it has now resulted in, I'm determined to vote for the best candidate in the future, and ignore the party affiliation.

[cestpaspossible]

3. "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."

Jefferson tried in vain to fight 'factionalization', but he died a Democrat. Teamwork helps win the game.

[blindpig]

6. on the other hand

nowadays you often hear "I don't vote for the party, I vote for the man". I believe this to be an artifact of our television culture. Needless to say that image of "the man" can be manipulated any which way the image techs choose. Harder to do that with a party which has no face but does have a history that has affected people. That we are stuck with entrenched parties who represent little more than intramural teams of the elite and a system rigged against 3rd party intrusions doesn't change this.