Party Time!

Dirk · Sep 20, 2009

If an emergency presidential election were called tomorrow, which party would you vote for, if any? Discussion of choices is encouraged, obviously.

If you're not American, vote anyway. Most on the forum are, so this will give some perspective of what your political opinions are.

I have a list:

Democratic Party
Republican Party
Socialist Party USA
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Constitution Party
Worker's World Party
America First Party
Socialist Equality Party
Moderate Party
Peace And Freedom party
America's Independent Party
Socialist Workers Party
Reform party
Marijuana Party
Party for Socialism and Liberation
Prohibition Party

Ones i previously missed out:

Surfers Party
Green Nazi Party

I believe i missed a few out. Do mention your favourites if it's an issue and i'll add 'em on. Any party of the US you like. Forget tactical voting.

David · Sep 21, 2009

You missed the Surfers Party and the Green Nazi Party.

I'd vote (from the list, I'd likely vote for an independent in an actual election if tactical voting was a non-issue) SP USA and I don't even like them. American political parties suck, so I'm an independent.

myp · Sep 21, 2009

For me it is not about the party- I really think that is the wrong way to vote. I would vote for the candidate who supports the ideas that I believe are the best for the nation- the person that cares about the issues and the future. That candidate for me would be the one who supports free markets, believes in the Constitution, and is anti-war (obviously these positions are a very general overview of what policies I support and I would look as closely as I could to each of the candidates particular positions before supporting them.)

deanhills · Sep 21, 2009

myp said:
For me it is not about the party- I really think that is the wrong way to vote. I would vote for the candidate who supports the ideas that I believe are the best for the nation- the person that cares about the issues and the future. That candidate for me would be the one who supports free markets, believes in the Constitution, and is anti-war (obviously these positions are a very general overview of what policies I support and I would look as closely as I could to each of the candidates particular positions before supporting them.)

I've lost confidence in that "traditional" system of voting, as I think it has become so automatic and institutional that that is the reason why we are having the problems we are having. We need to go back to party politics, something "new" is needed. Bottomline, the traditional way of voting for "leaders" from two parties is in a "rut". We are also getting very poor pickings, especially when one looks at the last candidates that had been on offer. We need new leaders, REAL leaders, and I think these can only be found by going into other parties and trying to pick them out.

I checked up on some of the parties that stood out, and the one I can best identify with is the Libertarian Party:

The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11, 1971. In the 30 states where voters can register by party there are over 200,000 voters registered with the Libertarian Party, making it one of the largest of America's alternative political parties. Hundreds of Libertarian candidates have been elected or appointed to public office, and thousands have run for office under the Libertarian banner.

The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects that group's particular brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration across borders, and non-interventionism in foreign policy that respects freedom of trade and travel to all foreign countries.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

Dirk · Sep 23, 2009

I agree with what David said. Ideally i would support an independent candidate, because i feel they would be more responsive to what their constituents want.

From the list, i agree with myp absolutely. It is more about individual candidates.

And in that vein, i would vote for the Republican Party. Or i would if Ron Paul were running for the Presidency. However, in the next election, he has said that he won't. I agree with Ron Paul on almost every point.

In which case, probably the Peace and Freedom Party. Because it is flexible in its definition of socialism. But i disagree with the general party line.

Ultimately, i'd probably continue my apathetic view of politics and elections.

David · Sep 23, 2009

Dirk said:
I agree with what David said. Ideally i would support an independent candidate, because i feel they would be more responsive to what their constituents want.

From the list, i agree with myp absolutely. It is more about individual candidates.

And in that vein, i would vote for the Republican Party. Or i would if Ron Paul were running for the Presidency. However, in the next election, he has said that he won't. I agree with Ron Paul on almost every point.

In which case, probably the Peace and Freedom Party. Because it is flexible in its definition of socialism. But i disagree with the general party line.

Ultimately, i'd probably continue my apathetic view of politics and elections.

As socialist Repub?!

As I've already pointed out, they're really a (highjacked) socialist party anyway, so...

deanhills · Sep 24, 2009

David said:
As socialist Repub?! As I've already pointed out, they're really a (highjacked) socialist party anyway, so...

I still think Dirk should start his own party. How about calling it "The Left"? Sorry, I've just stolen that from "Die Linke" in Germany but it has presently caught my imagination.

Dirk · Sep 24, 2009

deanhills said:
I still think Dirk should start his own party. How about calling it "The Left"? Sorry, I've just stolen that from "Die Linke" in Germany but it has presently caught my imagination.

I do like Die Linke. They are very good as an umbrella group for all ideologies on the left. It's good for giving a collective voice to the left. The bad thing is, there're often even larger differences between factions on the left than there are between left and right. But it does make the left stronger, makes it a more viable alternative when it comes to voting, and Die Linke has so far been very successful in keeping large-scale disagreements aside and allowed individuals more freedom in expressing their personal ideals while still keeping a healthy inner debate. It is a big achievement. And i have a lot of respect for Oskar Lafontaine because of it.

Dirk · Sep 24, 2009

David said:
As socialist Repub?! As I've already pointed out, they're really a (highjacked) socialist party anyway, so...

So you've said - it's quite true. It's interesting how they've suddenly turned so anti-socialist and ditched their anti-war past almost completely. I also love how Americans are often claiming it was always so. Very Nineteen-Eighty-Four-esque!

I'd vote Republican - or more accurately Ron paul - because i agree with his social policies almost entirely. But:

- He's not running next election.
- I'm not American.

David · Sep 24, 2009

Sometimes I fell like emailing the folks at FOX 'News' the Republican platforms and going, 'So how is socialism bad?'.

Dirk · Sep 24, 2009

David said:
Sometimes I fell like emailing the folks at FOX 'News' the Republican platforms and going, 'So how is socialism bad?'.

That would be brilliant. If you did, they'd probably use the popular misrepresentation of socialism, though. Go live by phone and question their definition of socialism. And note different versions of socialism.

Basically, spend an entire programming lecturing their propaganda platform!

David · Sep 24, 2009

Dirk said:
That would be brilliant. If you did, they'd probably use the popular misrepresentation of socialism, though. Go live by phone and question their definition of socialism. And note different versions of socialism.

Basically, spend an entire programming lecturing their propaganda platform!

You know... I think I will do that. It'll have to be by my original method however. I don't have a phone.

myp · Sep 24, 2009

David said:
Sometimes I fell like emailing the folks at FOX 'News' the Republican platforms and going, 'So how is socialism bad?'.

Are you serious? Do you really want to go into this debate because we can create a thread for it- in fact I think I will soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested in my view on things, you can check out a blog post I wrote on this exact topic a bit back: http://www.mirajpatel.com/the-flaws-of-socialism

And @Dirk: You really surprise me sometimes. You said that you support Ron Paul and that is great because I too support him and his ideas, but you do realize that Ron Paul is the complete opposite of socialism right? I know you are still on the fence about what kind of socialism you support, but if it is the statist version than Paul obviously doesn't support those ideas as he is for VERY limited government including no central banking and very few governmental programs. If you are more of the leftist anarchist, those views still drastically differ from Paul's because he leans towards right libertarianism- which is based around the belief of PRIVATE ownership and PRIVATE property- not shared goods as leftist anarchists support. It is great that you support him, but from what I have read from you, I don't understand why.

David · Sep 24, 2009

myp said:
Are you serious? Do you really want to go into this debate because we can create a thread for it- in fact I think I will soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested in my view on things, you can check out a blog post I wrote on this exact topic a bit back: http://www.mirajpatel.com/the-flaws-of-socialism

And @Dirk: You really surprise me sometimes. You said that you support Ron Paul and that is great because I too support him and his ideas, but you do realize that Ron Paul is the complete opposite of socialism right? I know you are still on the fence about what kind of socialism you support, but if it is the statist version than Paul obviously doesn't support those ideas as he is for VERY limited government including no central banking and very few governmental programs. If you are more of the leftist anarchist, those views still drastically differ from Paul's because he leans towards right libertarianism- which is based around the belief of PRIVATE ownership and PRIVATE property- not shared goods as leftist anarchists support. It is great that you support him, but from what I have read from you, I don't understand why.

I know, right. I think the issue is he's a moderate communist who supports leftist libertarianism and as Rep. Ron Paul is the only big name libertarian and as he's not American (and thus not 100% on our politics) he's just latching on. Take out the economics and I like the man, too. Economics are just to big to ignore, however.

Dirk · Sep 25, 2009

myp said:
Are you serious? Do you really want to go into this debate because we can create a thread for it- in fact I think I will soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested in my view on things, you can check out a blog post I wrote on this exact topic a bit back: http://www.mirajpatel.com/the-flaws-of-socialism

And @Dirk: You really surprise me sometimes. You said that you support Ron Paul and that is great because I too support him and his ideas, but you do realize that Ron Paul is the complete opposite of socialism right? I know you are still on the fence about what kind of socialism you support, but if it is the statist version than Paul obviously doesn't support those ideas as he is for VERY limited government including no central banking and very few governmental programs. If you are more of the leftist anarchist, those views still drastically differ from Paul's because he leans towards right libertarianism- which is based around the belief of PRIVATE ownership and PRIVATE property- not shared goods as leftist anarchists support. It is great that you support him, but from what I have read from you, I don't understand why.

I feel, as i've said quite a few times, actually over the last two days, that politics is more divided along libertarian/authoritarian lines than left/right.

And besides, social issues are far more important to me than economics, when it comes right down to it.

I support Ron Paul from a purely scientific point of view, because i actually have far more in common with him than i do with some of the left. I agree with his social policies, such as his anti-war stance and that for the legalisation of cannabis - though i think that the old law should be repealed, rather than new legislation introduced. I also agree with him in minimal or preferably no Government intervention in the economy. However, he represents private ownership of property, well as i agree with the abolition of property.

David · Sep 25, 2009

As I've said, the economics keep me from supporting him.

If a leftist libertarian was to rise to his lever on the other hand...

deanhills · Sep 27, 2009

David said:
As I've said, the economics keep me from supporting him.

If a leftist libertarian was to rise to his lever on the other hand...

I agree. Economics have to be a major issue. How can anything else ever have a chance to work without having it sorted out. Is there any politician that you can identify with along the "economics" line?

David · Oct 3, 2009

The only high ranking 1 would be Sen. Sanders (a socialist). But he's a Vermontian and I'm a Floridian so that doesn't do me any good.

deanhills · Oct 6, 2009

David said:
The only high ranking 1 would be Sen. Sanders (a socialist). But he's a Vermontian and I'm a Floridian so that doesn't do me any good.

Probably time that someone starts a new party in Florida anyway. I seem to be bumping into quite a number of discontented citizens of Florida.

David · Oct 6, 2009

deanhills said:
Probably time that someone starts a new party in Florida anyway. I seem to be bumping into quite a number of discontented citizens of Florida.

We have self-serving politicians that think nothing of selling off our state to make a quick buck for themselves. Latest example? Florida only has water to last until '13. The gov't just sold off rights to mine the water to a water bottling company in California.

Party Time!

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