Argument for a third Party

A third party? Most people think those who would support or form third parties are on the fringe of society and politics. However third parties have played an important role in past elections by promoting new ideas and turning the tone and discussion of the debates. Recently, there have been various movements to try and draft a third party from scratch. Unity08 and 3rd Party are two of the more organized and there are the Libertarian, Constitution, Reform, and Green parties that have tried to run candidates in most of the recent elections. So why a Whig party? Whigs have been around for centuries and usually arise when threat of a unitary government be it king, council or other rears its ugly head. Whigs fought for abolition in Britain and pushed for revolution here at home. The Whig party arose again in the early 1800's as a bulwark against the strengthening of the executive branch under Andrew Jackson. The Whig party even had four presidents, two of which died in office, one was expelled from the Whigs and the last was named Millard; not necessarily a great track record. Abraham Lincoln started political life as a Whig, but was drawn to another alternative party of the time...the Republicans. Debate over America's original sin, slavery, eventually destroyed the Whig party, so why revive it? In essence this is not necessarily a call for a new national Whig party, but a new national Whig spirit.

"The parties of Whig and Tory are those of nature. They exist in all
countries, whether called by these names or by those of Aristocrats and
Democrats, Cote Droite and Cote Gauche, Ultras and Radicals, Serviles and
Liberals. The sickly, weakly, timid man fears the people, and is a Tory by
nature. The healthy, strong and bold cherishes them, and is formed a Whig by
nature." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823

Again, why a third party? Look at it this way. Let's say there is aproduct which greatly enhances the quality of people's lives. Now let's say only two companies make this product under Brand Y (why? why WHY?) and Brand Z (Zzzzzzz...). Both Brands try to do what they say and for the most part they deliver at the beginning. After awhile the companies merge with other companies and try to incorporate other elements into their product, which in turn becomes diluted and possibly even harmful. Consumers either become completely loyal to their particular brand to the point of blindness or they just stop buying either altogether. Then comes a new company Brand X (eXtremely interesting, though not mine). Brand X goes back to the basics that made the product great in the beginning. Two effects will happen because of this. First, consumers choose Brand X and bring back the quality they were missing. Second, Brand Y and Brand Z sensing a loss of market share try to make their products new and improved. End result win-win for the consumer.

Special interests have completely diluted and poisoned the two major parties and thereby have diluted and poisoned our political process. Consumers (voters) need to buy another brand and time seems to be running out. The elections in 2008 need a viable third party, because we are definitely in a mess. more on that later...