The “Other” Party

 "The two parties should be almost identical so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy." - Carroll Quigley, from Tragedy and Hope

As I travel around and meet people as part of my run for U.S. Congress next year, one of the first questions I am most frequently asked is: "Are you a Democrat or a Republican?" Of course, I politely answer I am running as a private citizen, and explain why I am dissatisfied with both parties. Pretty much everyone I talk to understands my reasoning, even if they think running without a party is fruitless. All too often, I hear in reply defensive answers such as "Well, I am a registered ____ just because I want to vote in the primaries."

Some people don't stop there though. Multiple times I have been asked why I don't spin off and start my own party. The first time I was asked this I was caught aback, as I had never even considered it. It is, of course, dreadfully apparent that the Republicrats ruthlessly control politics in the United States. Third parties, whom I wish all the luck in the world, have not been able to break their chokehold.

One of the more interesting facts about the Demolicans is that they zealously guard their enrollment numbers, which seems quite odd until one realizes they are a government-sponsored monopoly that controls the salaries of well over 20% of our "work force" per the BLS and strongly influence the actions of government. Try to find out, and if you make out better than I have, please leave the link below. One figure that is probably pretty accurate is that census.gov in Table 1 here reports 206 million voters for the November 2008 election, but keep in mind the following is just an estimate. In 2004, the founder of USA Today (who, for the record, is registered third party) estimates the number of Democrats as 72 million, Republicans as 55 million, and registered third party or independents as 42 million while the voter base was 202 million.

By subtraction, this leaves us with 33 million unregistered but eligible-to-vote citizens in 2004. So, in reality, this might be the stark truth the monopoly does not want all of America to know - those who are either apathetic or discontented with the two-party, one-headed system are larger than either of the Establishment parties. Please see the figure for this estimate in graph form. This 2008 article based on a NY Times piece, without listing any figures or specific evidence (have to love the secretive reporting style), states that Republican enrollment slumped since 2005 at the expense of more Democrats and independents which does seem to make sense in light of the recent Democratic victories in U.S. Congress and the White House.

So here is my great idea, feel free to steal it: somebody start the "Other" Party. Platform, principles? Nope. Support for party candidates? Nope. Just a party, a parking place if you will, for Americans disaffected with the current system. This group could be targeted and wooed by the third parties for recruitment (great for advertising income!), but anyone joining the "Other" Party would just be making a statement to vote with their feet and say, 'No one represents me, and the choice between the Democrats and Republicans is a sham.' This is similar to marking a ballot as "Abstain" or "None of the Above" - which, by the way, will never happen for as long as the Establishment is in power.

As best I know, this idea is new, as even independent parties like America's Independent Party have their own unique platforms and are not truly for unaffiliated independents. Members of the "Other" Party could change affiliation whenever and therefore vote in a primary if they wish, but every citizen who joins would be sending a very clear message that there is something very, very wrong with our political system. Plus, if the Democrats and Republicans are starved of their numbers, the Establishment will wither away.

This may be wishful thinking, but if unemployment goes over 25% (it's closer to 21% now, not 9%, watch out as the government fudges the numbers), economic unrest may have a chance at destroying dualopoly. Today the Associated Press announced that, for the first time since 1975, there will be no COLA (cost-of-living-increase) for the elderly living on Social Security next year. While the government claims this is because there is no inflation, au contraire! I retort and reference the reader to my article "The Real Interest Rate" which claims that current Social Security paychecks should be roughly twice as high to make up for the purchasing power paid in.  A lack of COLA increases that alienates our citizens senior is just another reminder that control of retirement by the Establishment must end. The younger generation must be able to opt out, and the contracts made to those who contributed to social security should be upheld as best as possible.  More detail on this belongs in another article, however.

Again, I do acknowledge this article may be just wishful thinking on my part, but as T.E. Lawrence once said:

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."

Stay free and keep acting!

Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution

August 24, 2009

P.S. Two recent interviews with the author can be viewed here (with Clyde Cleveland, author of Common Sense Revisited) and here (with Ken Van Doren on The Voice of Liberty). 

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Jake Towne is running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's 15th District in the 2010 election as a citizen unaffiliated with any political parties. Jake also writes at www.LibertyMaven.com and www.CampaignForLiberty.com. A master campaign presentation for internet viewing is available. A novel campaign website built by Raging Debate, TowneForCongress.com has recently opened. [Reach the Author Here!]

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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As always, unlike the NFL, the author grants full permission to allow any accounts of, rebroadcasts, retransmissions, repostings of this article to your blog or anywhere else in order to promote the Restoration of our Republic.

Veritas numquam perit. Veritas odit moras. Veritas vincit. Truth never perishes. Truth hates delay. Truth conquers.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito. Do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it.

Summary of Articles and Bibliography for Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution (8/7/2009)

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Jake Towne's Health Care Platform

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