Should we work inside the Democratic Party or start a third party (or parties)? I've had this discussion more times than I care to count, and by now I'm not only frustrated, I'm confused. Here's the way I see it. I have no loyalty to the Democratic Party. Actually, I think it's a lot of different things (e.g., a group of elected officials, a set of registered voters, a line on a ballot, an idea, etc.), and I'm not loyal to any of them. What I want is a progressive majority in Congress, a progressive President, and progressive state and local governments, that will enact progressive policies. I don't care if the politicians are called Democrats, Greens, Independents, or Hairy Hippos, as long as they do the right thing. Our electoral system, plus the fact that we directly elect our president (chief executive) strongly favors two parties, and even more so two candidates for each office. So why can't we say the following? Let's form a third party. If we like the Democratic candidate, let's support him/her. In a fusion state, give her our ballot line. In other states, don't run anyone against him. If we don't like her, nominate an opposing candidate. (I'm well aware we'll disagree about who we "like," but at least that's an argument about something real.) First also run a candidate against the bad Democrats in the primary (the same one we nominate for our third party or someone else, it doesn't matter). And stop arguing about whether we want to work inside or outside the Democratic Party.
I sincerely want to hear from people who think I'm wrong about this, from any direction. I'm sure I'm missing something, but I'm also tired of this debate, and think it's one of the things that weakens us.
