Unity08: A new political movement
I have always wondered how only two parties can represent the opinion of 250 million people. That's why when Ross Perot started a movement, I was delighted, but was quickly disillusioned. I had hopes on people like John McCain and Sam Nunn, but it seems that the hold of these two major political parties is very strong.I was amazed to learn that, unlike India, United States has no independent Election Commissioner! The body that oversees our electoral process has two co-chairmen: a Democrat and a Republican. Even here, there is no representation, or hope of one, from any other third party.
It seems that there's an alternative movement afoot. A bipartisan group has started a website, http://www.unity08.com. According to Newsweek, "this Internet based third party is spearheaded by three veterans of the antique 1976 campaign...", two Democracts and a Republican, and are "...joined by the Independent former Governor of Maine, Angus King".
Unity08 plans to have an Internet convention in mid-2008, and delegates will be chosen in January 2007. They plan to have a Republican and a Democract (or an Independent) candidate, in whatever order, on the ticket for the 2008 Presidential election.
This site (party) has just been launched, and it is too early to tell how successful it will be. However, Internet is THE medium of the early 21st century, just like Radio and TV were of the 20th. It is not a question of IF Internet will be a major influence in elections, but WHEN.
I urge you all to check out this site. You can become a member of this party even if you are registered to any other party. You can also sign-on to become a delegate. Donations are welcome, and you can pay by any major credit card. I did.
posted by Barry O'Toole | 1:03 PM
3 Comments:
Unity08 is not a party - in fact, this is the one thing that could most benefit the organization. As you mentioned Sam Nunn and John McCain never ran in November because the grip of their party was too strong - we (Unity08) are not asking candidates to abandon their own political identity, but to join with others for the betterment of the United States.
Thanks for your great plug of Unity08 - we hope that you continue to read more at the official website, Unity08 or at my own blog, The American Moderate Party.
Technology is great. I recieved your comment within a couple of hours of posting this blog. I stand corrected, but I do wish we had an alternative in a form of a third, and maybe even a fourth, party. The critics of this notion argue that a two-party system affords stability and points to places like Italy who have several political outfits. I believe that most Americans are moderate, maybe a bit to the left or a bit to the right, and we need a voice for us. If that comes to pass, which is just a matter of time, the Republicans and Democrats will only represent the fringes. Maybe one of these parties will cease to exist, like the Whigs. The United Kingdom has three major parties, and they are a pretty stable lot.
But we have to start somewhere, and I think that you all are doing a good thing. My best wishes.
Yes, I am a huge fan of a multi-party system. I believe that minority-majority governments can provide better results because they are forced to have a sense of (sometimes false) unity.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Zarif, and come back often.
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