Need for Centrist Third Party Grows

                        Robert A. Levine   5-10-12

 The increasing ascendancy of Tea Party activists and extreme right-wingers in the Republican Party reinforces America’s need for a centrist third party. Recent events have proven that there is no room in the GOP for moderates, or even moderate conservatives, with Senator Olympia Snowe retiring and Dick Lugar going down to defeat in the Indiana Republican primary. The extremists do not want those they describe as RINOs (Republicans in name only) to be part of the party. The idea of a “big tent” that would be all inclusive for the Republican Party has collapsed. And those pundits who predicted that Tea Party influence would diminish over time should dream on.

 In fact, even conservative conservatives, like Bob Bennett of Utah, are not extreme enough for the activists who now control the GOP. The unwillingness of the new Republicans to compromise with Democrats on virtually every issue will make governing in Washington even more difficult in the future. And thus far, every member of the group of House Republicans elected in 2010, known for their obstructionism, has won his or her primary in 2012. (http://politi.co/Jq46tS)

 It’s true that Lugar’s loss was due to a concurrence of factors, including his not having a home in Indiana, his age, a lackluster campaign, and his being out of touch with his constituents. But the major impetus for his defeat came from the Tea Party, outside conservative Super PACs, and right-wing organizations like the Club for Growth which demands a no tax pledge from all politicians. His opponents were unhappy with Lugar’s willingness to reach across the aisle to legislate at times and his votes for some Obama appointees. They were particularly upset with his support for the auto bailout, TARP and the START Treaty. Lugar’s concession statement is a testament to what is wrong with American politics. (http://wapo.st/LPBUTc)

 Another indication of how the Republican Party has changed for the worse is the recent exit of two apparent “up and coming” members of the party, Nathan Fletcher and Anthony Adams, in California. Both left to become independents, Fletcher running for mayor of San Diego and Adams for Congress. Their departure from the party was bemoaned in an OpEd piece in the LA Times a few days ago by former Republican governor Arnold Schwarznegger who criticized the direction of the party and lamented the fact that it was no longer inclusive. (http://lat.ms/JVpXJL)

 On the East Coast, Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent and previous Democrat from Connecticut, is also retiring, having found legislating in the current environment unrewarding and Sisyphean. And in Maine, Angus King is running as an independent for the Senatorial seat being abandoned by Olympia Snowe. King, who previously served two terms as governor, is immensely popular in Maine and is likely to be elected to the Senate. Because it’s possible the Senate may be fairly evenly divided after the 2012 election, King could hold the balance of power, determining which party is considered the majority and receives the all important committee chairmanships.

 It’s time, however, for men like King, Fletcher, Adams and Lieberman to look at the big picture in this country and join together to form an independent, centrist third party. This alternative to the rigid partisanship of the current political parties, that makes compromise and governing a nearly impossible task, is vitally needed for America to go forward. Organizing a national third party, finding a roster of candidates and getting on the state ballots will be a formidable undertaking. But there are numerous citizens and politicians unhappy with the nation’s political environment who might be willing to participate. Perhaps even some of the centrist Democrats and moderate Republicans who have left politics might be inclined to climb aboard. And centrist groups like Americans Elect and No Labels might be convinced to change their objectives and support a third party if people like King and Lieberman provided some of the leadership.

 As Robert Kennedy said, “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream of things that never were and say why not?” Why can’t America have a centrist third party to bring common sense back to Washington?

 Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com

Dysfunctional Washington- What Does the Future Hold?

                   Robert A. Levine   5-3-12

With the vast majority of Americans disgusted with Washington and polls showing that Congressional approval rates are in the toilet, can we anticipate that the discourse might improve in the future? Can we expect that politicians will take citizens’ displeasure to heart with positive steps to improve the atmosphere in Washington, so that the important business of the nation can be accomplished? Unfortunately, the answers are no and in fact it is more likely that the political climate will deteriorate in the years ahead.

A recent article in Politico by Charles Mahtesian and Jim VandeHei spelled out the reasons why the situation appears so bleak.( http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67d22cc68366780fe484783c07fb312183a2b7697dbdc4f50575b972c7aae470) Basically, it’s the loss of centrists and moderates on both sides of the aisle with greater polarization in both the Senate and the House. Whereas twenty years ago, 40% of Senate Republicans were considered moderate, barely 10 % can be so-labeled today. In the House, it was 30% twenty years ago and almost none currently. Similarly, moderate Democrats now constitute 12% of the party in the House versus 35% in 1989. Moderate Democrats in the Senate are 15% compared to 27% 20 years ago.

The refusal of Tea Party activists to support any Republican who is not to the extreme right of the political spectrum has resulted in moderate conservatives being shunted aside in Republican primaries or having to retire. And right-wing conservative Super PACs, from outside the contested state or congressional district, with vast sums of money since the Citizens United ruling, have supported the most partisan candidates with attack ads. To make matters worse, the candidates being skewered cannot respond effectively to these ads, as they don’t have the financial resources to mount a defense.

Centrist Democrats have also gone down to defeat or retired, with the liberal wing of the party and organized labor going after incumbents who have not hewed to the party line, particularly in regards to health care. This is particularly true in the House where Jason Altmire and Tim Holden were just defeated in Pennsylvania Democratic primary races. The list of moderate Democrats Senators not running for re-election include Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jim Webb of Virginia.

Republican moderate Susan Collins of Maine is also retiring along with moderate conservative Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas. The reasons for all of these retirements include the partisanship in Washington and the inability to legislate effectively. In addition, there’s the fact that campaigning opens up moderate candidates to blistering attack ads, often personal in nature, augmented by Citizens United Super PAC money. As examples of internecine combat in the Republican Party we just have to look at the battles Oren Hatch of Utah and Charles Grassley of Indiana are going through, because these long time conservatives are not deemed conservative enough by extreme elements in their party. Interestingly, Oren Hatch received a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union and the Chamber of Commerce in 2010, but that isn’t considered adequate by the far, far right. Maybe it’s the fact that in the past, they were willing to talk across party lines and were even cordial at times to Democrats.

The loss of moderates in the House and Senate are going to make compromise on any issue more difficult to accomplish, and the atmosphere in Washington is bound to become even more toxic. Perhaps the saddest aspect of the current political climate is the fact that the moderate middle, including independents, moderate Republicans and centrist Democrats, has no bloc to represent their views, despite the fact that they are the largest percentage of voters.

 To change the political environment so that government can function again, campaign financing reform, including limitations and transparency on Super PAC donations is necessary, despite the Citizens United ruling. Perhaps it will take a constitutional amendment, but it must happen if American democracy is to prosper. And the way both the Republicans and Democrats have evolved over the past several decades, it is evident that a third party of the center is needed to represent the moderate middle and bring common sense and compromise back to Washington. Neither of these remedies will be easily accomplished, since both current parties and the deep pockets behind them will fight fiercely to keep these prescriptions from being realized.

 Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com

Washington Comity Has Become Washington Comedy- How Can the Equation Be Changed?

                        Robert A. Levine 3-1-12

Olympia Snowe’s retirement from the Senate is another dagger in the heart of centrism and moderation in American politics. She noted that the political process is “no longer allowing lawmakers to shape or change legislation and turning every vote into a take-it-or-leave-it showdown intended to embarrass the opposition.” (http://nyti.ms/x4WQ5s)

Centrists of both parties have been exiting the Senate in droves in recent years or are leaving shortly, including Democrats Ben Nelson, Joseph Lieberman, Jim Webb, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln and Evan Bayh. Republicans include Lincoln Chaffee, James Jeffords, as well as Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Spector who switched parties. These Senators are generally at an age where they could have continued their careers, but most give similar reasons for leaving- the poisoned atmosphere and lack of comity between members of the two parties which makes legislating difficult and sometimes impossible.

One can imagine the frustration of Senators willing to negotiate and compromise to get laws enacted that are in the nation’s interest, but are held back by extreme elements in their parties. Politics is increasingly being played as a zero-sum game, where if legislation initiated by one party passes, it is considered a win for them and a loss for the other party. And the media and zealous bases in the parties reinforce this perception. Of course, America is the real loser when legislating is no longer a bipartisan process.

The other growing barrier to legislating is the fact that so many bills are framed in moralistic, absolutist terms. This is true not only of social issues like abortion or same sex marriage, but health care, taxes and financial reform. How can one compromise when the opposing position is being characterized by one’s peers as being evil, heartless, or socialistic?
Back in the Senators’ home states, the political atmosphere has also become toxic, with Tea Partiers and others at the fringes putting pressure on centrists to adopt their positions or leave politics. And these people can be vociferous and abusive to politicians with even a tinge of moderation, like Republicans Charles Grassley of Iowa or Richard Lugar of Indiana. In fact, staunch conservative Bob Bennett of Utah was ousted in the last election because he wasn’t conservative enough for the right-wingers. This came as a warning to other Republicans to increase their conservative bona fides in legislative votes. In other words, don’t compromise!

While politicians on both sides of the aisle speak about making governing in Washington less dysfunctional, the situation continues to get worse, with Olympia Snowe’s retirement another bit of evidence. Is there any way to change?

There have been a number of moves to engage centrists and independents in this election cycle through organizations such as Americans Elect and No Labels, which appear to be gaining some traction. Unfortunately, neither of these groups goes far enough. A third party of the center is needed to transform politics in America at every level; the counties, municipalities, the states and in Washington. This third force, interposed between the two parties, would no longer allow politics to be structured as a zero-sum game, where a win for one side was a loss for the other. And with even a few members in each House, this third party would have leverage in Congress to move legislation forward that would benefit the nation.

The centrists and moderates on both sides of the aisle who are retiring could find a new home in a centrist third party. The time is ripe to end the comedy in Washington and see the return of some comity. A centrist third party could be the catalyst for change.

Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com

A Possible Path to a Centrist Third Party?

                                    Robert A. Levine   1-24-12
Though the Republican primaries and the presidential race now dominate the news, the disgust over governmental dysfunction and disdain for the two current parties remains. Polls have shown approval of the Republicans and Democrats at their lowest levels ever, along with ratings for Congress in the single digits. There is also a lack of enthusiasm for the presidential candidates of both parties. Americans may be ready for another political option- a centrist third party.

 In fact, a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that two thirds of respondents would consider voting for a third party candidate with whom they agreed on most issues. And about half said they thought there was a need for a third party. Various surveys have shown that 35 to 43% of Americans are self-labeled as moderates, an indication of fertile soil for planting a centrist third party. (A Gallop Poll that came out on January 9 had 40% of Americans identifying themselves as independents.) Moderate Republicans, centrist Democrats and independents at present have no appropriate political home. Many of them do not participate in elections, as the candidates running for offices do not represent their beliefs. A recent article in USA Today reported that more than 2.5 million voters have exited the Republican and Democratic parties since the 2008 election, with the number of independent voters growing.

 Given all the discontented citizens who might support a centrist third party, how could it be created?  To differentiate itself from the current parties, a commitment to integrity, transparency and pragmatism would be required, with a willingness to compromise and find common sense solutions to America’s problems.
There are already a number of organizations and nascent parties with a moderate or centrist orientation, though their objectives vary. Some are national in scope while others are limited to individual states. These include Americans Elect, No Labels, the Reform Party and state Moderate Parties among other groups.

Americans Elect believes that a non-partisan presidential ticket will change the political dynamic in the country and is presently attempting to get on the ballot in every state. They intend to have an online convention for Americans to directly nominate the candidates. All voters, Democrats, Republicans and independents will be able to participate in the selection. However, this process does not address the problem of a gridlocked Congress that will have even less incentive to deal with a president who does not have the support of a political party.

 No Labels aims to reform Congress by changing its rules and the behavior of its members. Its prescription for reform is reasonable, but many of the ideas have been considered for years without any action. Among No Labels recommendations are- No Budget, No Pay for Congress; Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments; Fix the Filibuster; A Monthly Question Time for the President; No Pledge but the Pledge of Office; Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings and Bipartisan Seating. While No Labels’ objectives are laudable, the partisanship in Congress and demonizing of opponents are not going to suddenly go away to permit these proposals to take hold.

 The Reform Party still has a national footprint, albeit considerably weakened since its hay day in the 90s. The organization of the party varies by state. It is pro-reform with many centrist ideas. Among its objectives are removing special interest money from politics and making government more efficient, but it also has populist goals, particularly in regard to free trade agreements and the WTO.

 The above three groups along with several moderate state parties could form the core of a national centrist third party that would have instant credibility and exposure. Though their visions of how to address the problem of gridlocked government are somewhat divergent, they all agree that change is necessary and want pragmatic solutions. However, these organizations and their founding members would have to be willing to suppress their ambitions and egos in order to coalesce into a centrist party. Though Americans Elect and No Labels emphasize that they are not political parties, true effectiveness and the ability to reform the nation’s politics will only come if they join with the Reform Party and compatible state entities into a single, strong party.  The question remains whether these disparate groups are capable of compromising and unifying. Another question is how quickly they would be able to challenge the current parties if they did unite. Each of these groups has already set an agenda for the fast-approaching 2012 elections. Thus it might be more reasonable for this new centrist third party to set its sights on the 2014 and 2016 contests.

Hopefully in the near future, the organizations of the moderate middle will be able to overcome their differences, develop a unified vision and present Americans with a real alternative to the current political duopoly. It is a logical path to a centrist third party.

Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
           

Motivating and Mobilizing the Moderate Middle
                                    Robert A. Levine   12-20-11   
        
            “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
            Tom Paine, Common Sense  
       
The government of the United States is being held hostage by extreme elements in America’s two political parties, whose members refuse to compromise on matters of critical importance to the nation.(The grudging year-end passage of some legislation is inconsequential.) Though the Republicans may be more responsible for the inability of Congress to get things done, both parties have contributed to the toxic environment in Washington. This has made it impossible to appropriately address the economic downturn, high unemployment, the budget deficits and national debt, among other issues. And the demonization of adversaries and lack of civility between members of the opposing parties obstructs any dialogue, with an unwillingness to understand the viewpoints on the other side of the aisle. Of course, the longer this stalemate goes on, the more damage will be wrought on the economy, America’s standing in the world and citizens’ psychological state.

 Can the status quo be changed to allow government to start functioning again? The answer is yes, if the moderate middle can be mobilized, since partisans in the Republican and Democratic parties appear incapable of working together in the nation’s interest. Mobilizing the moderate middle sounds like an advertisement from a fitness center, suggesting an exercise program to help reduce an unwanted bulge around people’s mid-sections. However, the moderate middle is also a large bulge in the nation’s electorate, mostly inert, men and women who tend to be a bit lazy and apathetic from a political standpoint. Well, America needs them to get off their butts and be involved in the political process to help get the country back on track.

 Various polls in the last two decades have estimated that self-described moderates comprise 35% to 43% of the populace. (However, many of those who call themselves conservatives are actually moderate on many issues and label themselves conservative because it is currently in favor.) There is little question that moderate Republicans, centrist Democrats and independents (the moderate middle) have the power to decide national, statewide and many local elections if they play an active role. But how can they be motivated to become involved.

At present, disgust with the nation’s political parties is almost palpable. Most of the moderate middle certainly realizes that America is in trouble and that neither the Republicans nor Democrats are providing solutions. If moderates believe that their participation in the political process can be meaningful and that they can make a difference in turning the country around, they will be more willing become engaged.

A cause the moderate middle could rally around is a centrist third party dedicated to ethical conduct, transparency and pragmatism. Not tied to rigid ideology nor connected to special interests, this party would take a practical approach to the nation’s problems. Funding for the party could be obtained from small donors over the Internet, rather than from special interests, and it could be organized through the Internet as well. Soccer moms, college students, retired seniors, minorities and the general population could all find common ground in bringing this new entity to fruition. And the enthusiasm of the party’s supporters would have a multiplier effect as they convinced new people to join, all knowing they were participating in the transformation of America’s political system. No Labels and Americans Elect are a start in the right direction, recognizing the frustration of the moderate middle in being able to alter the political dynamic. But these two organizations do not go far enough to bring about change.

There is nothing in the Constitution or Federalist Papers that mandates two parties for America. The current duopoly of power has failed the nation and it is time for a centrist third party to restore effective government. The power to change things lies in the hands of a motivated moderate middle that participates in the political process.

Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com

Who Speaks Up For the Middle Class

Who Speaks Up For The Middle-Class?

                    Robert A. Levine  10-21-11
        In America, who speaks up for the middle-class? What group or groups defends the interests of the majority of the populace as the economy falters, jobs disappear, and the government programs that provide them peace of mind, such as Medicare and Social Security, are under attack. The rich and the poor have their advocates in and out of government, but ordinary citizens have no strong voice articulating their needs. Every power center in and out of government claims to represent middle-class interests, but even a cursory analysis shows that this isn’t so.
            Wages are stagnant or decreasing. Workers have to pay more in co-pays and deductibles for health insurance and contribute more to pension plans and 401Ks. Middle-class families pay a greater percentage of their incomes in taxes than the wealthiest Americans. In 2010, CEOs at major corporations earned more than 343 times the income of average workers. (In 1980, it was forty-two times.) A recent article in the New York Times noted that the 400 wealthiest Americans were worth more in total than the bottom 150 million. And the top 1 percent had more in assets than the bottom 90 percent.
            Given America’s precarious economy and the degree of inequality, where are the advocates for changes that would benefit the middle-class? The Republicans main concerns are the budget deficits and national debt rather than how to put Americans back to work. And they refuse to consider raising taxes on the most affluent to fund a job plan. They are more attuned to the needs of the oil, pharmaceutical and financial industries than to those of ordinary citizens. The Democrats don’t want to raise taxes on hedge fund managers and private equity executives, allowing much of their income to be taxed at capital gains rates of 15% instead of 35%, costing the government billions in revenue. (Is it a coincidence that Democratic leaders receive large campaign contributions from these sources.) And the Democrats have been unable to devise plans that would alleviate the mortgage crisis, heeding the objections of the banks instead of providing relief for suffering homeowners.
            Government agencies originally created to protect consumers and promote the public interest have also not been looking out for the middle-class. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) has been more protective of the financial firms for which they have oversight than of the small investor. The Federal Housing Finance Agency didn’t do its job monitoring lenders prior to the recession, allowing mortgages that were doomed to fail damage the economy. And the bank regulatory agencies and the Federal Reserve have been more interested in assisting the banks than in helping consumers. There’s also the FCC, FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, all safeguarding special interests over American citizens. And of course, the Minerals Management Service did not really manage BP and the oil drillers in the Gulf of Mexico.
            Partisanship and/or corruption currently drives government policy in virtually every area, with the special interests and lobbyists in control rather than the voters. The middle-class desperately needs a white knight to ride to its rescue and change the way the government functions; an organization that will serve the public interest instead of the special interests. It is not an unattainable fantasy. Salvation can be found by establishing a centrist third party whose elected officials refuse to take money from the special interests and instead opt to raise funds from small donors over the Internet. This party’s guiding principle in governing will be pragmatism rather than partisanship, with no constraints imposed by ideological dogma. A centrist third party can be successful if enough citizens see it as a credible alternative and are willing to lend it their time and money.
http://www.robertlevinebooks.com/
Resurrecting Democracy