I keep thinking about the question if a 3rd party may be part of the resistance to the corrupt-oligarchy-regime--not a backburner project after our pluralistic democracy is rebuilt. As I listen to Attorney Qasim Rashid and also Anand Giridharadas and Ruth Ben-Ghiat discuss the situation, https://the.ink/p/watch-how-to-fight-moral-collapse-ruth-ben-ghiat?r=518mt6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false, I hear that the corrupt-Regime is using the weaknesses of the 2-party system to undo our pluralistic democracy (with the combined power of the MAGA-takeover of the Republican party, white Christian nationalism (many adherents who also want the destruction of the government), technobros, broligarchy, and pro-Putin/strongmen folks.) This isn't my area of expertise; I'm grateful for the discussions while people also protest publicly & with every creative way we find for opposing the regime. Together.
Or, perhaps the focus may be more timely for infusing the Democratic party so that leaders can pivot, resist, & both be comprised of & engage younger leaders. Yet I think we need a multiprong approach with the people rising up in protest as well as making political changes to strengthen the weaknesses that the corrupt-oligarchy-regime preys upon. The checks & balances aren't working with the 1-party system right now of the Democrats with the MAGA-republican party acting as part of the regime. And the electoral college needs to be revised for its weakness also. See https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/america-we-need-to-talk-new-movement/comment/100392394
I would argue that eliminating the electoral college is critical - it’s the reason slavery lasted as long as it did and why civil rights were delayed 100 years after the Civil War. A third party won’t mean shit if a House dominated by the duopoly gets to select the POTUS because of an insufficient electoral vote count for the candidates.
As the Democrat Party fades into the night 3rd parties willemerged to fill the void. 3rd party options will get stronger as both Republicans and demolishocrats gradually loose power.
I moved over to the Working Families Party. They are a progressive coalition party. Sometimes they run their own candidates, and sometimes they back Democrats, etc. Lots of potential here. Very rational and strategic folks...
That's not true. They are a Democratic Party subterfuge. There's nothing Progressive about it. They are angled at keeping the DNC and their donor class influence in place. That's the case. All you have to do is look at their record of candidate endorsed and the lack of platform. There's nothing legitimate about it. The DNC and its donor class will do any and everything to stop the progressive Wing from setting policy platform. In 2020, their entire energy expenditure was keeping a progressive from the white house. Elizabeth. That's why Bernie was allowed in after costing them 50 million dollars in 16, splitting the progressive vote ,that's why Bloomberg got in the very day she was leading the poles and that's why Joe Biden came off of the porch swing. That's why I Whip Clyburn sold his soul.
Please understand, I'm not attacking you I'm exposing you to reality. What they say for print is completely irrelevant . It's their actions that matter. Their policy proposals are not best policy practice. That's the key to good government. A legitimate platform contains only best policy practice no matter the policy. And, obviously represents the electric in a legitimate way.
Rasheed, I love you and what you stand for. But when you bash "Democrats" I feel pain and I don't think it serves us. There is no such thing as Democrats. Please tell us when someone, Democrat or not, is fighting the good fight. And please name names of "corporate Democrats" and point out how they are letting us down. Somebody please point out the connection between their funding and their weakness.
If some of our Democrats can successfully fight off this continuing resolution (with its poisonous stowaways) that will be a sign of strength and courage.
Holding the party you support accountable for good governance and fulfilling the oath of office is hardly 'bashing"... The Crux of the matter is not holding them accountable for such a formation action is the causation of our current residence. A third world outhouse.
I hope that is simply politically unaware on your part. Otherwise, I would have to accuse you of establishment shilling.
Currently, there are no political opposition party. Ralph Nader was correct. They are partners in an ongoing global criminal enterprise.
Samuel, i think we can benefit by specific criticisms. When you express a negative judgement on a whole group of people, you are not moving the conversation forward. All you did in your response to me is throw negative judgments at me. It's your right of course. We're all angry. One of our weaknesses is expending our anger on the blame game.
If they're negative that's the real world condition. I simply pointed out what's going on. We're done here I can't stand people like you you're the reason we are a s*** hole.
Seriously? Look, I said nothing that is an attack or an insult to anyone. I simply told you the dynamic of how this should work. My God. You really stumbled into it there. Even if I give you the point of my address being less than polite, the dynamic is truth and reality. It would behoove you to digest it. realize my forward, blunt and middle class sensibility style can come off as rude or somehow uncouth. Which I don't understand by the way but, when I point out a dynamic that needs corrected and offer the solution I can't stand those people that think that makes me the a******. Careful on your reply to this or we're through. You're a true Democrat if there ever was one. Completely lacking any political acumen whatsoever. Forever the party of Will Rogers.
The only people to blame are the members of the electorate. We suck. Completely failing at our job. There's no blame game here. I am exposing you to reality. If you don't have on your big girl pants and can't deal with that then you need to leave.
We are in Canada and have started a group to enter the fight. Fascism and the Trump agenda is gaining ground here as well. Thank you for sharing such good information.
Great discussion and lots of good points - thank you for jumping into this topic! I was encouraged to read so many good comments of people thinking this through and sharing your ideas for a path forward.
I think there might be opportunity to advance the conversation by talking more about first principles - what are the highest guiding ideas - and about clearly what people want the party to accomplish. Last thought has to do with actual results, not feelings of frustration. I’m very empathetic to the sentiments that got us here, and join in on condemning how the current system isn’t working. I’m really interested in focusing on what defining actions will separate us from other movements that’ve not worked with as much success as originally envisioned. I love the input here. Thank you.
That is incredibly insightful. I think you’re dead-on accurate. Current MO makes everything rocket surgery; simplicity is the hallmark of effectiveness. Great points!
America Needs a Movement That Works, Not Just Another Party
Americans are fed up. The Democratic Party is weak, corporate money owns both sides, and Trump’s authoritarian creep is accelerating. So what now? A third party? A takeover of the Democratic establishment? Something else entirely?
History tells us this. Change does not start in Congress. It starts with us. Civil rights, labor rights, and LGBTQ+ rights did not begin with politicians. They began with people who refused to accept the status quo.
Any new political force, inside or outside the Democratic Party, must be built on real solutions, not performative politics. It must reject corporate money and fight for working people, not donors. And most importantly, it has to win.
No more waiting. No more excuses. We either build something that works or we watch democracy crumble.
Representative democracies are reactionary by nature. Peaceful mass civil disobedience is the only way to make statistically significant major change. You nailed it when you pointed out our history, the suffragettes and gaining the right to vote, obtaining prohibition, relieving us of prohibition, ending this Vietnam war, abolition, civil rights, on and on.... Part of me is in doubt. I'm not sure the majority of our citizens want true freedom. It requires responsibility. Great responsibility. Not something the average 'Murikkkan is seeking.
I'm not from the US, but I recognise how policies affect everyone on the planet.
I am confused though, with this article about creating a new party, standing for humanitarian and climate justice. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression such a party already exists, led by Jill Stein?
By ‘Putin’s lapdog’ do you mean she's anti-war, anti-empire and pro-peace?
I don't view Putin as a threat, as long as we uphold our side of bargains. We need to stop the killing, everywhere, especially in the name of ethno-superiority.
Cut out and ignored in 2016. Again in 2020. THAT is the Democrat Party. I have little hope they're going to grow a spine in the next few months. We change things, but we need to hear from them that they've got OUR backs in this very dangerous regime. We're not hearing from them enough (sure, a few here and there). What about joining with WFP and expanding into other states? (Working Families Party).
You people are so bad at the agent prop game. It's not about the people. It's about the platforms. Neither one of those people advocate for changing the platforms. Therefore we accomplish nothing. And we have a shitload to accomplish if we want to save complex life form on Earth and restore the Republic.
No one who is real would be proposing moderates at this point. My God. The only possible policy positions and political ideology that has a chance of moving us down the path of restoring our Republic is Progressive. You know, like the Framers, Jesus, Eisenhower.....
Centrism is the mark of illegitimacy in it two party system. A giveaway to partnership as opposed to political opposition.
Ms Harris seemed to base her platform to the middle class. left in the cold were lower, poverty and below poverty line income people. the gop massive gerrymandering, tactics like in Georgia where a few could file complaints against hundreds of voters, unhoused who have no address to register, bomb threats, the lack of ability for many to get enough time off work to vote…. in Australia it is a requirement for citizens to vote. Elsewhere voting day is a national holiday. the democrats keep moving their tent further from center chasing republicans. several seem to me to be closer to republicans (per their statements and votes). Climate change, Healthcare for all, protection of the natural resources, etc. are what i’d love for my grandchildren.
An American party, and the only requirement is firm adherence to our constitution and a willingness to name it. TRUMP IS THE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. The power of naming it. America is under attack by Russia. Trump is a Russian asset. Russia, Putin, Trump, Vance, Musk are all a part of the same criminal syndicate, Russia. Knowing these things, we can now predict that there will be no true ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump and Putin’s intention is wiping democracy off the face of the earth. Russia will not stop its aggression and attacks on Ukraine for good. If Russia agrees to a ceasefire, it will not be honored. Trump’s allegiance is to Putin. Eyes wide open. If we name it we can see it and respond accordingly.
I keep thinking about the question if a 3rd party may be part of the resistance to the corrupt-oligarchy-regime--not a backburner project after our pluralistic democracy is rebuilt. As I listen to Attorney Qasim Rashid and also Anand Giridharadas and Ruth Ben-Ghiat discuss the situation, https://the.ink/p/watch-how-to-fight-moral-collapse-ruth-ben-ghiat?r=518mt6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false, I hear that the corrupt-Regime is using the weaknesses of the 2-party system to undo our pluralistic democracy (with the combined power of the MAGA-takeover of the Republican party, white Christian nationalism (many adherents who also want the destruction of the government), technobros, broligarchy, and pro-Putin/strongmen folks.) This isn't my area of expertise; I'm grateful for the discussions while people also protest publicly & with every creative way we find for opposing the regime. Together.
Or, perhaps the focus may be more timely for infusing the Democratic party so that leaders can pivot, resist, & both be comprised of & engage younger leaders. Yet I think we need a multiprong approach with the people rising up in protest as well as making political changes to strengthen the weaknesses that the corrupt-oligarchy-regime preys upon. The checks & balances aren't working with the 1-party system right now of the Democrats with the MAGA-republican party acting as part of the regime. And the electoral college needs to be revised for its weakness also. See https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/america-we-need-to-talk-new-movement/comment/100392394
Tell me when and where and I will show up. What we are doing is not working.
We, in the US, really need to take it to these streets! We need to demand another way.
Yes, some of us may die. Others will carry on for us. These criminals will not go away voluntarily.
Demand!
www.workersstrikeback.org
I would argue that eliminating the electoral college is critical - it’s the reason slavery lasted as long as it did and why civil rights were delayed 100 years after the Civil War. A third party won’t mean shit if a House dominated by the duopoly gets to select the POTUS because of an insufficient electoral vote count for the candidates.
As the Democrat Party fades into the night 3rd parties willemerged to fill the void. 3rd party options will get stronger as both Republicans and demolishocrats gradually loose power.
People
Planet
Peace
dear comrades
Refuse Fascism
Oppose Oppression
All of that depends on removing the barriers to accessing the ballot. Otherwise we would already have it.
I moved over to the Working Families Party. They are a progressive coalition party. Sometimes they run their own candidates, and sometimes they back Democrats, etc. Lots of potential here. Very rational and strategic folks...
I’ve heard they’ve supported establishment Democrats over progressive candidates. Would need to know more before considering WFP as a viable option.
That's not true. They are a Democratic Party subterfuge. There's nothing Progressive about it. They are angled at keeping the DNC and their donor class influence in place. That's the case. All you have to do is look at their record of candidate endorsed and the lack of platform. There's nothing legitimate about it. The DNC and its donor class will do any and everything to stop the progressive Wing from setting policy platform. In 2020, their entire energy expenditure was keeping a progressive from the white house. Elizabeth. That's why Bernie was allowed in after costing them 50 million dollars in 16, splitting the progressive vote ,that's why Bloomberg got in the very day she was leading the poles and that's why Joe Biden came off of the porch swing. That's why I Whip Clyburn sold his soul.
Please understand, I'm not attacking you I'm exposing you to reality. What they say for print is completely irrelevant . It's their actions that matter. Their policy proposals are not best policy practice. That's the key to good government. A legitimate platform contains only best policy practice no matter the policy. And, obviously represents the electric in a legitimate way.
Rasheed, I love you and what you stand for. But when you bash "Democrats" I feel pain and I don't think it serves us. There is no such thing as Democrats. Please tell us when someone, Democrat or not, is fighting the good fight. And please name names of "corporate Democrats" and point out how they are letting us down. Somebody please point out the connection between their funding and their weakness.
If some of our Democrats can successfully fight off this continuing resolution (with its poisonous stowaways) that will be a sign of strength and courage.
Holding the party you support accountable for good governance and fulfilling the oath of office is hardly 'bashing"... The Crux of the matter is not holding them accountable for such a formation action is the causation of our current residence. A third world outhouse.
I hope that is simply politically unaware on your part. Otherwise, I would have to accuse you of establishment shilling.
Currently, there are no political opposition party. Ralph Nader was correct. They are partners in an ongoing global criminal enterprise.
Samuel, i think we can benefit by specific criticisms. When you express a negative judgement on a whole group of people, you are not moving the conversation forward. All you did in your response to me is throw negative judgments at me. It's your right of course. We're all angry. One of our weaknesses is expending our anger on the blame game.
If they're negative that's the real world condition. I simply pointed out what's going on. We're done here I can't stand people like you you're the reason we are a s*** hole.
Seriously? Look, I said nothing that is an attack or an insult to anyone. I simply told you the dynamic of how this should work. My God. You really stumbled into it there. Even if I give you the point of my address being less than polite, the dynamic is truth and reality. It would behoove you to digest it. realize my forward, blunt and middle class sensibility style can come off as rude or somehow uncouth. Which I don't understand by the way but, when I point out a dynamic that needs corrected and offer the solution I can't stand those people that think that makes me the a******. Careful on your reply to this or we're through. You're a true Democrat if there ever was one. Completely lacking any political acumen whatsoever. Forever the party of Will Rogers.
The only people to blame are the members of the electorate. We suck. Completely failing at our job. There's no blame game here. I am exposing you to reality. If you don't have on your big girl pants and can't deal with that then you need to leave.
We are in Canada and have started a group to enter the fight. Fascism and the Trump agenda is gaining ground here as well. Thank you for sharing such good information.
Great discussion and lots of good points - thank you for jumping into this topic! I was encouraged to read so many good comments of people thinking this through and sharing your ideas for a path forward.
I think there might be opportunity to advance the conversation by talking more about first principles - what are the highest guiding ideas - and about clearly what people want the party to accomplish. Last thought has to do with actual results, not feelings of frustration. I’m very empathetic to the sentiments that got us here, and join in on condemning how the current system isn’t working. I’m really interested in focusing on what defining actions will separate us from other movements that’ve not worked with as much success as originally envisioned. I love the input here. Thank you.
Consenting to nothing less than quality policy from both keeping members of government.
It's really that simple. We overthink and under participate. Making it incredibly complicated.
That is incredibly insightful. I think you’re dead-on accurate. Current MO makes everything rocket surgery; simplicity is the hallmark of effectiveness. Great points!
America Needs a Movement That Works, Not Just Another Party
Americans are fed up. The Democratic Party is weak, corporate money owns both sides, and Trump’s authoritarian creep is accelerating. So what now? A third party? A takeover of the Democratic establishment? Something else entirely?
History tells us this. Change does not start in Congress. It starts with us. Civil rights, labor rights, and LGBTQ+ rights did not begin with politicians. They began with people who refused to accept the status quo.
Any new political force, inside or outside the Democratic Party, must be built on real solutions, not performative politics. It must reject corporate money and fight for working people, not donors. And most importantly, it has to win.
No more waiting. No more excuses. We either build something that works or we watch democracy crumble.
Representative democracies are reactionary by nature. Peaceful mass civil disobedience is the only way to make statistically significant major change. You nailed it when you pointed out our history, the suffragettes and gaining the right to vote, obtaining prohibition, relieving us of prohibition, ending this Vietnam war, abolition, civil rights, on and on.... Part of me is in doubt. I'm not sure the majority of our citizens want true freedom. It requires responsibility. Great responsibility. Not something the average 'Murikkkan is seeking.
I'm not from the US, but I recognise how policies affect everyone on the planet.
I am confused though, with this article about creating a new party, standing for humanitarian and climate justice. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression such a party already exists, led by Jill Stein?
The green party was legitimate until Jill stein. She's just a Putin lap dog accomplishing multiple tasks at her position within the party.
It's not really adding parties per se as removing the barriers to accessing the ballot by other parties that already exist or would like to exist.
By ‘Putin’s lapdog’ do you mean she's anti-war, anti-empire and pro-peace?
I don't view Putin as a threat, as long as we uphold our side of bargains. We need to stop the killing, everywhere, especially in the name of ethno-superiority.
I agree with your second paragraph!
That is not accurate. Jill is not a lapdog!
Cut out and ignored in 2016. Again in 2020. THAT is the Democrat Party. I have little hope they're going to grow a spine in the next few months. We change things, but we need to hear from them that they've got OUR backs in this very dangerous regime. We're not hearing from them enough (sure, a few here and there). What about joining with WFP and expanding into other states? (Working Families Party).
It's an intentionally disingenuous DNC plant. Bad idea.
I’ve heard the same.
The Democrats - the opposition party?
Don't make me laugh.
I’ve said since the Trump times, I believe our only chance is a moderate split ticket: like a R Larry Hogan/D Mark Warner ticket.
You people are so bad at the agent prop game. It's not about the people. It's about the platforms. Neither one of those people advocate for changing the platforms. Therefore we accomplish nothing. And we have a shitload to accomplish if we want to save complex life form on Earth and restore the Republic.
No one who is real would be proposing moderates at this point. My God. The only possible policy positions and political ideology that has a chance of moving us down the path of restoring our Republic is Progressive. You know, like the Framers, Jesus, Eisenhower.....
Centrism is the mark of illegitimacy in it two party system. A giveaway to partnership as opposed to political opposition.
Ms Harris seemed to base her platform to the middle class. left in the cold were lower, poverty and below poverty line income people. the gop massive gerrymandering, tactics like in Georgia where a few could file complaints against hundreds of voters, unhoused who have no address to register, bomb threats, the lack of ability for many to get enough time off work to vote…. in Australia it is a requirement for citizens to vote. Elsewhere voting day is a national holiday. the democrats keep moving their tent further from center chasing republicans. several seem to me to be closer to republicans (per their statements and votes). Climate change, Healthcare for all, protection of the natural resources, etc. are what i’d love for my grandchildren.
An American party, and the only requirement is firm adherence to our constitution and a willingness to name it. TRUMP IS THE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. The power of naming it. America is under attack by Russia. Trump is a Russian asset. Russia, Putin, Trump, Vance, Musk are all a part of the same criminal syndicate, Russia. Knowing these things, we can now predict that there will be no true ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump and Putin’s intention is wiping democracy off the face of the earth. Russia will not stop its aggression and attacks on Ukraine for good. If Russia agrees to a ceasefire, it will not be honored. Trump’s allegiance is to Putin. Eyes wide open. If we name it we can see it and respond accordingly.
breaking the economy to disprove democracy as valid.