Third Party Thinking

I don't know if this is what ProfMarcus had in mind for good news, but whenever I see a cogent argument for abandoning the two party system for a multiparty system, I am encouraged. I think the Prof would be as well.
Hats off to Greenhut. Read his whole article at the OC Register.

A pox on both their parties
I'm leaving the GOP, but not for the Democrats
By STEVEN GREENHUT
Senior editorial writer and columnist

Last weekend, I announced my not-so-Earth-shattering decision to leave the Republican Party. In the era of George W. Bush, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger, I simply have had enough.

Me too, Dude.

[...]
Here's my chance to elaborate a little further.

The country has devolved so much into a two-party system that many folks believe that if you abandon one party, you must necessarily take up common cause with the other one. Yet if a restaurant gives you a choice between eating food laced with rat poison or with arsenic, you might want to eat somewhere else, even if it's a long drive until the next rest stop and even if the new restaurant hasn't gotten great reviews.
So ... no, I have not become a Democrat. I haven't criticized Democrats too much in recent months, mainly because it's so pointless.

Thank the Gods that there is still some good old American common sense. The restaurant analogy is perfect.
He gives a good technical explanation of why the Dems aren't an alternative as well. Mostly because they want to continue making gov't larger and more intrusive.
He also points out the new twist, Repubs want big intrusive gov't now, too.

[...]
That's why I stuck so long with the Republican Party, seeing it as – in a two-party system – the only counterbalance to the above-outlined lunacy. But the GOP has become just like the Democrats in pandering to special interest groups, advocating for large government, supporting new entitlements and social programs. Sure, Republican socialism goes only two-thirds as far as Democratic socialism. And, sure, Republicans are half-hearted about the new wasteful domestic programs they propose. But Republicans have their own agenda that truly excites them. It's even more expensive than the Democratic agenda, in terms of dollars and liberty.

Republicans seem to unite on one thing: support for war. Whenever America attacks a nation – an increasingly common phenomenon, under either party's watch – Republicans are in the front row, cheering. Never mind that the founders opposed a foreign policy devoted to slaying foreign dragons.

That last sentence is a great point. The Founders all felt war was a trap that would break the back of liberty. War was for the defense of home and property, not a foreign policy tool.

[...]
There are great people in both parties, and some good ideas that come from members of those parties. But, in general, I'd say a pox on both houses.

Now, for the answer to the question that most people have asked me: What party am I joining? Nothing wrong with registering as "Decline to State" and avoiding any new entangling alliances. But I'll hang around the GOP long enough to vote in the Republican primary for Rep. Ron Paul, the only consistent defender of freedom in Congress. Then I'll probably re-register as a big "L" Libertarian, if they don't mind having me. I've got some issues with the Libertarian Party – i.e., I wish it were more serious about fielding winnable candidates in local races, and it has sported some weird candidates on the ballot at times. But it's filled with good, albeit cantankerous folks who love freedom. So I should fit in pretty well.

I reiterate, me too, Dude. I think the Libertarians have a great overall political philosophy. I have the same concerns as Greenhut, but the problems are very workable.
Here is the key. The time for the Libertarian party to begin a very vocal run for '08 is NOW!
They can't wait to start raising money and fighting the inevitable court cases the Repubs and Dems will launch against them. The two parties always try to prevent Libertarians from even being heard, let alone get on a ballot.
This next election is the right time. Americans are ready for the most real and meaningful change to come along in 90 years, a new multiparty system.
Remember, E Plurbus Unum.

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