A Zero Party system for US politics

In one sentence: It’s time to establish a Zero Party system by means of creating a third party which is leaderless and without members – in modern parlance, a “virtual party.”

So, what do I mean by a “Zero Party system” and a “virtual party?”

A “Zero Party system”

If we reach a point when only independents are elected to office, then we will have achieved a Zero Party system. This can be done by outlawing political parties altogether or by means of an outside force. Since the majors will never outlaw political parties, an outside force is the only alternative (which I describe in the next section).

The two-party system is destroying the USA. And no amount of grassroots activism will prevent this. The Tea Party, along with various splinter groups which might arise within the Dem/Pub mainstreams, will ultimately be nothing more than flashes in the pan. To be sure, they can cause ripples. But they won’t cause any lasting structural change or replace either of the two major parties.

However, a multiple party system wouldn’t be an improvement. After the election, a coalition would have to be forged in order to obtain a majority that could force passage of its programs. And coalitions tend to be unstable over long periods of time, each partner seeking a more dominant role within the coalition for itself.

A virtual party

Trying to create a traditional political party to compete with the two majors would be a fool’s errand. By “traditional” I mean, an organization with bylaws, members, physical assets, and a hierarchy of officers. However, any such organization can be infiltrated and subverted. And that’s assuming it gains any traction at all.

Introducing: The Independent Contractors’ Party.

Any candidate who offers at least some of his campaign promises in the form of a written contract may be considered an ICP candidate. My recent blogs on this site give examples of what such a contract might contain. However, each candidate would be free to offer his own particulars. And it wouldn’t matter what’s in that contract – it could be as “liberal” or “conservative” as the candidate desires. It’s his contract.

And that’s the point. As long as he’s got a written contract, no one will censor him except (ultimately) voters at the polling place.

In order for this “virtual” party to succeed, several strategies will have to be employed:

• Spread the word. Word of mouth from friend to friend or by means of a whispering campaign is not only a good start. It’s all we’ve got. No effort at promotion can be considered too small, and that means that every sympathizer must pitch in.

• Draft sketches for promotional ads and post these on-line. The idea being promoted is simple: Vote only for independent candidates offering written contracts. It’s not enough to merely support independents; quite often they are not. Their “independence” must be asserted by more than merely claiming to be (for example) “a Washington outsider” or “a maverick” or “not one of the good old boys.”

• Produce and then introduce these ads in various media outlets. Of course, that means money, which would have to come from random, spontaneous, and unsolicited sources. But that doesn’t have to mean a lot of money. How much does it cost to create a YouTube clip? Even from such humble origins, refinements can be added with these ads ending up in more traditional media, thereby reaching a larger audience.

• [NOTE: Regarding the style and substance of these ads, I will be posting several of my own ideas, which I hope will inspire the genius of strangers.]

In effect, I’m talking about creating a third party by means of spontaneous generation. That is, by means of enough people realizing, “Hey, this is not only a good idea, this is the only idea that can revitalize our politics.”

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

“Don’t waste your time wondering if the Tea Party will work. It won’t, it can’t. We must act now.”