Third parties have been a thorn in the side of the two party tyrannical system for quite some time now, but they haven’t been very effective. I see more third parties popping up everyday. The newest one read about is the resurgence of the Whig Party, I took their online test and it says I am a Whig Party member. You can find them at www.modernwhig.com. Then you have the Greens, the Libertarians, the Reformist (which I most closely resemble), the Constitutionalists, and on and on. We all know that the two major parties are really creating a Grand Illusion of choice. This has been covered very well in the book Grand Illusion by Theresa Amato who was Ralph Nader’s Campaign Manager in 2000 and 2004.

I have extensive knowledge of what happened in the Reform Party in 1996 when Ross Perot ran for President, and then Pat Buchanan’s attempt in 2000 and I can tell you that the two major parties were very afraid. There was court case after court case right here in Florida to determine ballot access. It was because of the Reform Party that third parties are able to get ballot access in the state of Florida today, with no thanks to the Democratic and Republican Party.

People have been duped into believing that they have choices when they really don’t. What continues to challenge the two-party duopoly are third parties and independent candidates. During the earlier years before the Democratic Party and the Republic Party became the duopoly, parties and candidates could place themselves on the ballot with few restrictions.

Today this is not the case and third parties have to fight for their right to run candidates. Those of you who have complained about Iran’s elections, has it really been any different here? We haven’t had the rioting because the American people have become apathetic but the tides are changing with patriots like Ron Paul. Third Parties would be smart to pull all of their resources together and run candidates together, this would definitely start to change the outcomes of elections.

When people have a choice they exercise their right to vote but when they don’t they become apathetic as we have seen in previous elections where only 10% of voters turn out to vote. I believe that both major parties have alienated large masses and are soul searching how to get these people back. Both major parties have been converging their agendas and policies closer together and they are chasing after the same commercial dollars from corporate lobbies and executives. How much choice do we really have when this is the case? The third party revolution is growing, look out America.  As Woodrow Wilson said in his seventh state of the union address; “The instrument of all reform in America is the Ballot”.

Jim Brown Conservative Citizen/Reformist  and Blog Contributor

Tea Parties still protesting. Is anyone listening?

This is the major question when you have thousands of people showing up at Tea Party events and protesting. Tea Party stands for (Taxed Enough Already), and it appears to be the Republican answer to the Democrats www.moveon.org . Tea Party’s are supposed to have no party affiliation and are not to be geared to pushing any particular candidate, but candidates do speak at Tea Party events. I have participated in Tea Party events myself with my wife and children as I do believe in the philosophy, but is anyone really listening. My wife and I have been involved in the political process for years but it appears that people start a movement, no one listens, and then the people become burnt out on the movement they were so passionate about. The Flag Day Tea Party event in Lakeland did not bring as many volunteers as the Tax day Tea Parties in Lakeland and Bartow. Currently more than 900 Tea Party groups Nationwide are having protests against what they are calling, “ABC News’ one-sided, supportive presentation of the Obama administration’s plan for a nationalized health care system.” The President’s plan is being aired Wednesday at 10 p.m. on ABC News and will feature President Obama, speaking from the White House, about the Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee’s proposed legislation for a government takeover of U.S. health care.

President Obama will answer questions about his vision for socialized health care from a panel of Americans selected by ABC News.

Are Tax Payers really tea’d off or is it an illusion as the crowds don’t seem to be what they once were? Are politicians really listening or is this just a free venue to come and speak to a group of people who you are not sure if they are your constituents or not? Do people really believe they are making a change or are they just going about their everyday lives and saying “as long as it doesn’t affect me”? Bill Maher stated that the Democrats are the new Republicans and the Republicans are the “Crazy Party”, is this true? I don’t know the answer to these questions but what I would really like to know. Is anyone listening?

Jim Brown

Conservative Citizen and Blog Contributor