Political Parties, Third Parties

If you are unhappy with the present situation with the domination of politics by two parties that no longer represent the people and their economic well being, what can you do?

Many have tried to organize third parties, which is actually a contradictory term, since it lumps all other competing parties under the one heading of third parties. These efforts have failed, not for lack of work or commitment by those dedicated to the cause, but in my opinion, more out of a fear of the majority of the voters to vote outside their normal party boundaries.

Let's be honest with ourselves people, the two dominant parties are too busy bickering when Congress is in session to accomplish any thing positive. Not enough people are willing to join a new party, and the people who are willing to join an alternative party are so diverse in many ways, that the fail to coalesce into a political power because of an unwillingness to find a common ground.

All is not lost, yet. The people are the power of this nation, not the politicians, but we must take back that power. It is easy to sit on the couch, watching TV, and complaining, but you get out of it what you put into it.

Either become active in local politics with the party you have been voting for and make your voice be heard, rather than gathering around the "leaders" like sheep bleating on their way to the slaughter; or help start a party big enough to challenge the Republican and Democratic parties.

It won't be easy, but it must be done in order to restore the government to a position of working together party to party, to accomplish any true reform in taxes, medical regulation, and many other problems that are of great concern to us.

All of politics is compromise, by necessity, as our elected leaders must represent every one of their constituents, not just those who voted for them particularly. It is immature and childish for adult people to behave in the way that many of us have when we don't get what we want from the elected.

The President, whether he or she is your choice or not, represents all of us. So also do the Congressmen and Senators represent everyone in their district, not just those who voted for them. If they don't act in a way that is beneficial to all of us, we must hold them, and the respective political parties responsible. This doesn't have to wait until the next election cycle, start now. Write your Senators and Congressmen now; deluge them with mail, flood their e-mail accounts; but do so respectfully, and make sure you let them know what your position on current issues are instead of letting their aides have an undue influence, as well as letting the lobbyists have all the influence instead of us.

Become your own lobbyist. Form neighborhood groups and lobby; let you neighbors all have the opportunity to have their say. There is no rule that says that neighbors of opposing viewpoints can't express both sides of an issue in one letter, making it clear that all of you are demanding responsibility and ethical behavior in Washington, D.C.

Politics,Politics,Politics

Well, the Primary cycle will soon be over and the endless campaigning will be ratcheted
up.

No matter what party you choose, or if you are an independent, please pay attention to the candidates past record, as it is an indicator of their thinking. Remember also, you don't have to vote a straight party ticket.

Both major parties are in serious need of reform, they have lost touch with reality and no longer represent the people, but represent the party.

Not a registered voter? Get to you local voting registrar's office, or give them a call, some even have e-mail; ask for a registration form and register to vote.

See ya at the polls in November.

Whose vote is it anyway?

Every election cycle, especially Presidential elections, you hear people
complaining about how some independent candidate "stole" votes from
their preferred candidate.

Take for example the case of Ralph Nader running for President as an
independent, and the subsequent complaining by Democrats that Ralph
"stole" votes from the Democratic candidate.

Let's be very clear about one thing: the vote belongs to the people, each individual
voter having the right to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. Once they
have cast that vote, you could then say that that vote belongs to the candidate for
whom they voted.

Please, vote your conscience; and if you are not comfortable with voting for a
candidate presented by either major party, feel free to vote for a third, even a
fourth party candidate of your choice.

The Constitution of the United States of America did not establish a two party system
and there is no reason we have to choose from either of the two major parties in "lesser
of two evils" scenario.

Do not feel like your vote has been wasted if your candidate of choice does not win,
you cast your vote as you wished, and it is going to take a lot of us voting for candidates
that may lose to start a tide going out that will sweep business as usual out to "sea".