If each of us were to inventory our stance on various positions we would find that it would be truly difficult to identify ourselves as either liberal or conservative. Even when we look back on our lives we may find that we vacillate on a given issue as we learn more about the issue and even ourselves. Labels such as liberal or conservative have long been used to polarize politics and hopefully we have matured to the point of seeing beyond these tactics.
Paradoxically we are seeing radical positions on certain issues defined as conservative simply because the party that identifies itself with conservatism has adopted that position and and a conservative position on a particular issue defined as liberal because of the party's label.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Democratic Republican Party
I find the name Democratic Republican Party quite appealing for many reasons. It emphasizes the republican nature of our federation while acknowledging the democratic aspects. It also signifies a truce or a "burying of the hatchet" on so many of our devisive issues to focus on those requiring urgent attention.
I am quite fond of our two party system and believe it would function quite well if it were healthy, yet we seem to have encountered some problems that may be difficult to solve without a moderating influence. The name "Democratic Republican" does not communicate a radical departure from that system and suggets a much needed coalition of ideologies.
I am quite fond of our two party system and believe it would function quite well if it were healthy, yet we seem to have encountered some problems that may be difficult to solve without a moderating influence. The name "Democratic Republican" does not communicate a radical departure from that system and suggets a much needed coalition of ideologies.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Trust- The Best Foundation
If I were to identify the one single reason to begin a new political party it would be Trust. Almost daily we read or hear of politicians of both major parties involved in some form of corruption whether it be voting in favor of corporations and banks in lieu of the interests of their constituency or insider trading in information not publicly available. Behaviour that should be rare and admonished when it does arise is simply business as usual. In that both major parties are entrenched in the current methods of doing business, it would seem productive to create a third major party with the intent to get things back on track.
Trust is something that once lost can not be easily regained so it would be of the greatest necessity preserve the trust of the party, its officers and representatives. The cumulative trust of the party is built upon the individual reputation of its members so every measure to preserve that trust must be undertaken, beginning with the recruitment of candidates and including measures to sanction various forms of behaviour while in office.
Candidates, within lines of feasibility, should be trusted to perform the duties of their office upon the platform that they presented to secure election. Any radical departures from that platform should have the reasoning and foundation for that departure spelled out clearly and concisely and presented to their electorate for discussion and approval. Recently we have seen a number of candidates run on platforms of job creation and, when elected to office after securing the trust of their electorate in that platform, orchestrate a complete departure by concentrating their efforts on other issues that were not part of their campaign promises and actually undertake measures to impede job creation. This is simply not acceptable as it only serves to violate the trust in our representatives. Our candidates must be reliable to "perform as advertised".
Another way to lose the electorate's trust is to present to them "pie in the sky" promises that are either not possible or just not feasible nor desirable to the population at large. Currently we have a perfect example of this with one candidate for the presidency promising to eradicate five major government agencies, slash Congressional pay and sell off federal lands and assets. Either he is intentionally misleading his base or has neglected to consider that neither of these proposals are within the constitutionally outlined powers of the president. When a candidate presents such radical proposals he/she undermines his/her credibility as well as that of his party.
Many consider the widest avenue to political corruption to be our system of campaign financing. A fledgling party, especially one purporting to be an agent of reform, must remain constantly vigilant to avoid the pitfalls associated with this aspect of the election process. Until the entire system is reformed safeguards must be established within the party to prevent our individual candidates from falling prey to special interests due to campaign financing.
Many of us are fed up with the lies, distortions and smear tactics that seem to be the norm in today's political process. A politician that would begin their career by dishonest measures cannot be relied upon to conduct themselves with honesty while in office. One engaging in these tactics brings great discredit upon them self and their party as well.
We as a nation cannot resign ourselves to the status quo for in doing so we deprive ourselves of the many opportunities that await us when we have rehabilitated our ailing political system. Little or no incentive exits for either of our parties to repair the many problems we have been experiencing so it would seem logical to initiate a third party with a focus in doing so. To avoid disillusionment it should be understood at the outset that this will not be an easy or quick accomplishment. This is an endeavor that should be embarked upon with patience. Our system did not reach it's current state overnight and it should not be expected that its restoration will take place overnight either. It will take some time to establish a reputation and gain the trust of the electorate but a steady approach should prove the quickest route to reform.
Trust is something that once lost can not be easily regained so it would be of the greatest necessity preserve the trust of the party, its officers and representatives. The cumulative trust of the party is built upon the individual reputation of its members so every measure to preserve that trust must be undertaken, beginning with the recruitment of candidates and including measures to sanction various forms of behaviour while in office.
Candidates, within lines of feasibility, should be trusted to perform the duties of their office upon the platform that they presented to secure election. Any radical departures from that platform should have the reasoning and foundation for that departure spelled out clearly and concisely and presented to their electorate for discussion and approval. Recently we have seen a number of candidates run on platforms of job creation and, when elected to office after securing the trust of their electorate in that platform, orchestrate a complete departure by concentrating their efforts on other issues that were not part of their campaign promises and actually undertake measures to impede job creation. This is simply not acceptable as it only serves to violate the trust in our representatives. Our candidates must be reliable to "perform as advertised".
Another way to lose the electorate's trust is to present to them "pie in the sky" promises that are either not possible or just not feasible nor desirable to the population at large. Currently we have a perfect example of this with one candidate for the presidency promising to eradicate five major government agencies, slash Congressional pay and sell off federal lands and assets. Either he is intentionally misleading his base or has neglected to consider that neither of these proposals are within the constitutionally outlined powers of the president. When a candidate presents such radical proposals he/she undermines his/her credibility as well as that of his party.
Many consider the widest avenue to political corruption to be our system of campaign financing. A fledgling party, especially one purporting to be an agent of reform, must remain constantly vigilant to avoid the pitfalls associated with this aspect of the election process. Until the entire system is reformed safeguards must be established within the party to prevent our individual candidates from falling prey to special interests due to campaign financing.
Many of us are fed up with the lies, distortions and smear tactics that seem to be the norm in today's political process. A politician that would begin their career by dishonest measures cannot be relied upon to conduct themselves with honesty while in office. One engaging in these tactics brings great discredit upon them self and their party as well.
We as a nation cannot resign ourselves to the status quo for in doing so we deprive ourselves of the many opportunities that await us when we have rehabilitated our ailing political system. Little or no incentive exits for either of our parties to repair the many problems we have been experiencing so it would seem logical to initiate a third party with a focus in doing so. To avoid disillusionment it should be understood at the outset that this will not be an easy or quick accomplishment. This is an endeavor that should be embarked upon with patience. Our system did not reach it's current state overnight and it should not be expected that its restoration will take place overnight either. It will take some time to establish a reputation and gain the trust of the electorate but a steady approach should prove the quickest route to reform.
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