As with everything...the world is changing...I guess it always is, but the new dynamics of power population and information seem to require a big rethinking on how we 'party' in our politics.
I don't pretend to have the first inkling of what that might look like. And I think big players in social media will have to be involved in credentialing information (maybe there's a better word for this- but I refuse to call it censorship), which will make folks like Zuckerberg their own political party by default. This is a problematic reality we may need to work with.
But it is clear that the current system no longer serves its intention - which was, at its heart, majority rule. As we see today, half the population is being convinced that the majority-elected president is illegitimate AND small bands of GQP (thanks for that label BTW) across the country are dismantling the very election system needed for majority rule...all made possible by the dissemination of lies....
I'm not saying anything new here, but the current system is allowing this. And the dissemination of misinformation to promote it (via the echo chambers of social media, failures in education, and the work of downright bad actors) has become a big issue that will need to be accounted for if we seek to produce changes even half as brilliant as the founding fathers.
To your question, Susan, I’d suggest that a simple review of Republican Platforms back when they had such things (B.D.) would be the place to go for a retooled Grand Old Party, though I’d personally prefer that they go back before George Wallace made them seek his followers post-‘68 (plus the smaller government trickle-down swamp draining didn’t seem to work.)
I'm wondering why we need political parties at all. Free politicians up to work with all like-minded colleagues without assigning party labels. Free them up to vote their conscience instead of down party lines. Force voters to pay attention to individual candidates rather than lazily voting by party year after year.
I do wish our government had better measurements of progress and accountability for achievement. I believe there are some high level goals & objectives most could agree and act on if it weren't for political party games.
Caucuses are so entrenched going back to the Federalists v the Democratic Republicans that it’s impossible to even mount a third party campaign, both because of their available resources and their collective power, which is why those from Sanders to Lieberman “caucus with” the Democrats (the Republicans having no room for the. non-IBM pinstripe-suited male WASP, even in drag like Liz or disguise like Tim.
I’d hoped the Biden wing could become the “New Conservative” Democrats and the Warren/AOC wing the “Progressive” Republicans of TR’s time (as the original Progressive Presidential candidate), but this DJT variant of the pandemic seems surprisingly virulent and - dare I say - resilient, snowflakes though they be.
Plus, in my opinion, Biden is defying all expectations. He's not a conservative Democrat and he couldn't that wing of the party now if he tried. I'm pleasantly surprised but...
I am not so creative a thinker that I can imagine how that would look. I do agree that political parts can (and do) operate as feeding troughs for people who have too much power already. How would be organize? Around particular causes? Principles? I wish I'd paid more attention in civics now.
I just think of all other parts of society where people come together to accomplish things without having two sides. Ideas get discussed and decisions are made based on consensus, majority support, or a leader's preference. Aside from sports teams and politics, outside support doesn't come based on the team, but the goals, ideas, methods and results. There are a lot of people who voted for Trump and would continue to vote for others like Trump, only because they are life-long Republicans who would never consider voting Democrat, just because. They don't look deeply at issues. They are cheerleaders who have picked a team so anything against that team is an enemy. Whatever that team's leader says, no matter how outrageous, they go along with it because it's better than the alternative (the other side). It's an ignorant way to operate, in my opinion. No parties means no labels and no teams. Imagine....(starting to sound like a John Lennon song!)
And yes, organize by causes and maybe instead of arguing which side is right, they could all brainstorm and come together on how to actually accomplish something instead of earning points for the team.
Maybe "We reward prosperity hub hub."
I like it!
Bother, that should have been "hubba hubba". :D
This happens to me ALL THE DAMN TIME. Plus? That's how I read it ,"hubba hubba." Going down for my nap now...
A truly 'conservative' move by the GOP would be to adopt the party platform of 1956. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/oct/28/facebook-posts/viral-meme-says-1956-republican-platform-was-prett/
They might as well become Democrats.
Wow. I hadn’t seen this.
As with everything...the world is changing...I guess it always is, but the new dynamics of power population and information seem to require a big rethinking on how we 'party' in our politics.
I don't pretend to have the first inkling of what that might look like. And I think big players in social media will have to be involved in credentialing information (maybe there's a better word for this- but I refuse to call it censorship), which will make folks like Zuckerberg their own political party by default. This is a problematic reality we may need to work with.
But it is clear that the current system no longer serves its intention - which was, at its heart, majority rule. As we see today, half the population is being convinced that the majority-elected president is illegitimate AND small bands of GQP (thanks for that label BTW) across the country are dismantling the very election system needed for majority rule...all made possible by the dissemination of lies....
I'm not saying anything new here, but the current system is allowing this. And the dissemination of misinformation to promote it (via the echo chambers of social media, failures in education, and the work of downright bad actors) has become a big issue that will need to be accounted for if we seek to produce changes even half as brilliant as the founding fathers.
To your question, Susan, I’d suggest that a simple review of Republican Platforms back when they had such things (B.D.) would be the place to go for a retooled Grand Old Party, though I’d personally prefer that they go back before George Wallace made them seek his followers post-‘68 (plus the smaller government trickle-down swamp draining didn’t seem to work.)
If they look to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address (https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/pdf/passage/5161/presidential-addresses-and-messages-023-the-second-inaugural-address-of-president-abraham-lincoln-washington-dc-march-4-1865.pdf), Grant’s First where he argued for the 15th Amendment (https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-4-1869-first-inaugural-address), and TR’a... well, everything except his jingoistic and racist policies.
This is awesome. Thank you.
I'm wondering why we need political parties at all. Free politicians up to work with all like-minded colleagues without assigning party labels. Free them up to vote their conscience instead of down party lines. Force voters to pay attention to individual candidates rather than lazily voting by party year after year.
I do wish our government had better measurements of progress and accountability for achievement. I believe there are some high level goals & objectives most could agree and act on if it weren't for political party games.
Caucuses are so entrenched going back to the Federalists v the Democratic Republicans that it’s impossible to even mount a third party campaign, both because of their available resources and their collective power, which is why those from Sanders to Lieberman “caucus with” the Democrats (the Republicans having no room for the. non-IBM pinstripe-suited male WASP, even in drag like Liz or disguise like Tim.
I’d hoped the Biden wing could become the “New Conservative” Democrats and the Warren/AOC wing the “Progressive” Republicans of TR’s time (as the original Progressive Presidential candidate), but this DJT variant of the pandemic seems surprisingly virulent and - dare I say - resilient, snowflakes though they be.
Plus, in my opinion, Biden is defying all expectations. He's not a conservative Democrat and he couldn't that wing of the party now if he tried. I'm pleasantly surprised but...
I am not so creative a thinker that I can imagine how that would look. I do agree that political parts can (and do) operate as feeding troughs for people who have too much power already. How would be organize? Around particular causes? Principles? I wish I'd paid more attention in civics now.
I just think of all other parts of society where people come together to accomplish things without having two sides. Ideas get discussed and decisions are made based on consensus, majority support, or a leader's preference. Aside from sports teams and politics, outside support doesn't come based on the team, but the goals, ideas, methods and results. There are a lot of people who voted for Trump and would continue to vote for others like Trump, only because they are life-long Republicans who would never consider voting Democrat, just because. They don't look deeply at issues. They are cheerleaders who have picked a team so anything against that team is an enemy. Whatever that team's leader says, no matter how outrageous, they go along with it because it's better than the alternative (the other side). It's an ignorant way to operate, in my opinion. No parties means no labels and no teams. Imagine....(starting to sound like a John Lennon song!)
And yes, organize by causes and maybe instead of arguing which side is right, they could all brainstorm and come together on how to actually accomplish something instead of earning points for the team.
That would be a beautiful world but it would involve letting go of ego. A lot.