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A New Political Party

2K views 22 replies 16 participants last post by  DanYo 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've been into politics for quite a few years now (I'm 49) - as in following, not participating.

I'm a conservative, both socially and fiscally. If you are a liberal person, I hope you don't hate me by now. I don't want to hate you if you are.

I just wanted to share a few observations, and hope you maybe agree.

There are two sides to every story - including political story. Unfortunately, at this point, it seems we have the far left and the far right going it at it thru media and political positions. Their side is right, the other side is the devil's spawn. This country goes to one side, then to the other, and keeps repeating that pattern. It's like a bunch of people on a small boat, all going to one side, and when they see that the ship is about to take on more water, runs to the other. All you have is a boat rocking back and forth, side to side, and not going anywhere.

And that's a shame, given the enormous challenges we have in this country, with enormous debt, educational issues, energy issues, and so on.

I have considered a new party….I would call it the "Traditionalist Party". It wouldn't be like the Republican or Democratic parties, but it would be right of center, because that's how more Americans identify.

So what would be the difference from the established parties?

Compromise.

I've written a platform already for some issues, here's a sample:

1) Global Warming. I don't know if it's man made, if it's a naturally occurring atmospheric event, or even if we can fix it. The left wants us to tax the hell out of businesses to force them to limit carbon emissions. The right says global warming is just a natural event, and the left just wants to destroy business. My take? I don't think the left wants to purposely destroy businesses, but I think it doesn't hurt for companies to reduce pollution where they can, as long as it's not crazy expensive.

2). Spending on social welfare. The left wants more, wanting to provide everything for everyone, while the right wants to cut back a lot. I don't think most people have a problem helping out those that can't help themselves ever, such as the mentally retarded, or those just knocked down, like the guy that lost his job. But the left needs to realize that we don't want people dependent on the government, but on themselves, and the right should seek to eliminate waste in the system, as opposed to reducing benefits. If you get the waste out, you'll have more money; if you get people that really don't need to be on the system out of it, even more money.

3). Green Energy and Oil. The left wants to jump completely off oil, coal and gas, and move us to renewable or green energy. The right wants to keep burning what really is fuel that gives off pollution. The left needs to realize we can't just flip a switch and run on solar power tomorrow, that we need oil, coal and gas right now. But the right needs to understand that if we can make that migration to wind, solar or other renewable/green energy, that it can reduce the cost of energy to their homes and/or businesses by a LOT, thus putting more money in their pocket, and getting out from the Middle East's thumb in the process. Possible solution? The government offers up a $100 million reward to the first company that can make a 50% efficient solar panel, one that is cost efficient. I think left and right both would like the idea of generating your own electricity for the cost of the solar panels. If you think that offering a reward like that is a joke, recently some institution, possibly the government or a college, offered $10 million to the first group that could do a better job at cleaning up spilled oil in the water, as in the large BP spill recently. The winning group had a large tank to demonstrate they could improve efficiency, and they did - by 50%.

So there, just some ideas for how the parties should cooperate. I'm sick of the name calling, the finger pointing, and the lack of getting problems solved.

We're America; we can do a lot better.
 
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#3 ·
When there is compromise the fodder of demonize ceases to exist.

That is what today's political landscape is all about.

Politicians don't want compromise and quite frankly, neither do I.
 
#5 ·
Not what I'd prefer but better then what either party is offering. I'm maybe a little left of center but would take your stance over that of the far left. Only problem is, to the far right you'll be a democratic sympathizer and to the far left you'll be too conservative; either way you'd have my vote.
 
#6 ·
I have to make this short, I need some rest.
I think a new party would still have people and those people if sent to DC would become like any other people we send to DC.
I think the way to fix both parties is to take the money out of politics. Our government for the people, by the people has given way to government for the money, by the monied. I think today's D party is about where the R party was a couple of decades ago. Like universal health care, on the Nixon wish list.
To your points, global warming, is happening. Taxing it isn't going to slow it down anymore than ignoring it. The solution to it is unpalatable to anyone except someone like Goebbels. We need to accept change, do what we can to alleviate the human costs that will come, and move on.
Spending on social programs is a necessary part of a regulated free market. If capitalism is to work it needs balance. Demand drives supply. People who are good at making money will make money and those who aren't can't be left to their own devices. Bolshevism didn't start in a vacuum.
The reason we burn oil is because it's the cheapest thing going. When it becomes costlier than other energy we will move in mass to whatever that turns out to be. Once again, if that movement leaves ninety-nine percent with nothing then we will burn whatever is handy.
If we keep sending people to do a job, and we keep getting the same results, that we don't like, maybe it's time to examine the process. There is a reason that hundreds of lawyers spend millions each chasing a job that pays thousands, and it isn't because they are bad at math.
 
#7 ·
but it would be right of center, because that's how more Americans identify.

What you propose isn't new, it's what we used to call moderate Republicanism in the latter part of the 20th century.

Devil's Advocate …

My take? I don't think the left wants to purposely destroy businesses, but I think it doesn't hurt for companies to reduce pollution where they can, as long as it's not crazy expensive.

Expensive to whom? What if it is expensive to one company or industry but benefits the economy overall?

The left wants more, wanting to provide everything for everyone

Yeah, that's not a compromise position, that is a conservative talking point and proselytizing.

The left wants to jump completely off oil, coal and gas

Again, a talking point.

offered $10 million to the first group that could do a better job at cleaning up spilled oil

The X Challenge, open to private firms only. The prize was $1 million.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm sorry to say that I dont think your new party will make the hysterical headlines that sell newspapers, and hence will not get any attention from the media.

It's looking like both Obama and Romney will be pushing upwards of a "billion" dollars through their campaign war chest this fall. All the players with big bucks to contribute, are already signed up with their team and have a lot of interests vested there in… and (shocker) have real expectations to have their backs scratched by their party pics, win or lose. What reason do they have to sign up with your new team, and risk alienating theiir current pets?

I am truely sad to say that I believe the country is broken beyond repair. In my estimation, the divide between conservatives and liberals is beyond bridging….. and that our diversity has NOT made us strong, but rather made us weak.

I saw an interesting report a couple years back that ranked which countries were the most stable. Interestingly, the U.S. did not make the top 10. Norway, Sweden, Austrailia, Switzerland and Japan were on the list. Countries that were realatively isolated and homogenious.

Looking at countries that are falling apart… the balkans, Iraq, Afganastan…. they always seem to break up along the lines of language, tribe, race and religion… back into homogenious groupings.

Another interesting artricle that came out about a year and a half ago, reported a leaked Russian inteligence forecast, in which they predicted that the U.S. was going to break up into five seperate countries…. I found it interesting to see their estimated dividing lines.

There used to be grand unifying ideas that brought Americans together. The only value I see that is even close to meeting this criteria today is "freedom".... but that means drastically different things to different people. And politically, both the Democratic and Republican parties are (imo) different flavors of statist…. and that is the antithises of freedom.

The "great recesion" of 2008 may have been just a warm up excercise. As I see things, the goverment has done nothing to rectify the problems that got us into trouble and the can was just kicked down the road another couple years. I don't see the unity or leadership that pulled the country out of the great depression of the 30's… so when the real party starts, we could be doomed to collapse

I hope I haven't offended anybody with this post. That was not my intent… though I realize that the majority of people, both on the right and left, most likely disagree with me.
 
#11 ·
ssnvet, spot on. Sad really. In this hyper-partisan environment the people loose and the politicians and their masters win, just as planned.

I think a centrist party could do a better job of managing things (compromise isn't a dirty word in politics, it's the only way anything gets done) but it will still be more of the same, just a bit smoother.

Years ago I read a short story by Arthur C Clarke (2001 guy). It talked about a society where they realized that anyone who wanted to run for office was automatically unqualified to hold office. They went to a system where they randomly drafted citizens to serve for a few years, then they want back home and other were randomly chosen to take their place. I think that might work better than what we have.
 
#12 ·
If you support Norman Goldman's platform, it would fix a lot. End corporate welfare, fair tax system, end the global empire and bring American jobs back home. Anyone who will run on it will win!
 
#13 ·
Pashley: Here is a shocker, as others can testify when any of my stories were read out loud, I AGREE WITH YOU! Out with the numnutts and, bring in the new, maybe we'll get something done. As Howie says - VOTE!
 
#14 ·
When Octo-Mom gets $2000 a month in food stamps … that is a bit much

..
From TMZ.com:
By TMZ STAFF

Octomom Nadya Suleman-who is pulling in $2,000 month in food stamps thanks to California taxpayers-spent $520 on a Brazilian blowout, and 2 cuts … TMZ has learned.

Octo's hairstylist Stephanie tells us … she went to Octo's house on April 18 to cut her hair and do a Brazilian blowout-a chemical straightening treatment. Octo owed Stephanie for an earlier haircut, and the grand total came to $520. Octo also paid Stephanie $80 for hair products. Mind you-Octo wrote the check at a time when she was in dire need of welfare.

Stephanie-who went to cops yesterday and filed a report claiming the 14 kids were living in squalor-tells us she couldn't believe Octo was spending this kind of loot on haircuts when her plumbing didn't work.

Stephanie says a plumber had been to the house recently and told Octo it would cost $150 to fix the pipes, but Octo declined, saying it was too expensive. As a result, the kids have to use portable training toilets in the backyard.

Read the full post to see what she did with her kids during the cut!

link
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
When Octo-Mom gets $2000 a month

Here's a couple of little known tidbits…..

If you claim that you are addicted to drugs (legal or illegal) you are eligible for Social Security disablility benefits. My BIL the state police detective has busted many drug offenders (and his group only gets involved when it's a crime against a person, so we're only talking about assault, murder, etc… type of crimes) and he says without exception, every one has been on disability.

If you are a commercial truck driver and you also happen to be an alcholic, you are protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act. We had a case in my state this past year, where a big rig driver was arrested for DUI while driving in to work, and when his employer fired him… he sued and won, becasue they discriminated against him over his "disability"

Then there's the guy two years back that cut off half of his foot with a lawn mower one Saturday afternoon while cutting his front lawn…. and the state supreme court ruled that he was eligible for workers comp. benefits (at his employers expense).

it just goes on and on…..

The culture of "make someone else pay for your problems" is killing this country…
 
#16 ·
It's still my personal opinion that most Americans want to do the right thing. Call me an eternal optimist. They just don't wake up in the morning thinking how good it is that America is failing.
There is, and always will be, a small percentage of the population that insists on living off others, be it government, churches, families, whatever. In hard times this percentage grows, but within even this group there are people with some pride who would work if the economy was strong enough to support their often meager offerings for making money. I do get upset at the college trained people who do not want to start at the bottom like the last three or four generations - they want the $70,000 job right now. To me, you always have to pay your dues, no matter what you do. I no more want a doctor working on me who graduated two months ago than I want an accountant doing my taxes with his still wet diploma hanging on his office wall, or a mechanic fixing the computer in my car who got out of Miller-Motte 30 days ago. No, thanks…
I find most social media to be mind-destructive, and would love to go back to the era of life where you had to actually go out and learn, not depend or believe what all those millions of "experts" on the internet say everyday. Facebook has 900 million members and Zuckerberg can't figure out how to make any money off them so he launches an IPO which is failing. Well, too bad… let it fold. The world lived just fine before Facebook, it will live on well after we laugh about how it worked. I hate talking to people with my thumbs. Cell phones are OK, but smartphones, (which I am forced to carry for my day job), are the biggest pain in the toosh in my lifetime. But I digress…

Most of the United States success over the last 100+ years has been due to innovations. We are inventors, and doers. Now, with our failing school systems and our falling to 17th place in education on the planet, we do not have as strong of ability to invent and innovate anymore. After spending 16 months in Shanghai, I got a real eye-opener on how sharp the average college graduate is coming out of Chinese universities. Not much on leadership, but sharp on most of the engineering and sciences. Scary…

With all that being said, and of course there is lots more: wars, environment, water usage, oil, overseas competition, yada, yada, I still tell people that the biggest problem we have in this country is people have gotten lazy about knowing what our government employees are up to. If you depend on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, or any other single or even dual television station pick to get your knowledge of what is going on in this country, you are woefully inadequate to vote, IMHO.
So I tell people to use whatever intelligence they have to REALLY study what is going on with this country and the direction it is taking, and make their decisions on voting from there.
No matter which way you decide to vote, at least you took the time to learn what is REALLY going on. Warning: It will probably piss you off from all angles, both conservative and liberal.
 
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