Yes, I know the Watermelon Party and the Big-L Libertarians are odious, but...

Here's something I support 100%:

Here is an idea that can be the activist centerpiece of the 2004 campaign. It can also be used in gubernatorial, senatorial and future campaigns. It will generate more excitement among activists than anything else we've done. It is a venture that will create bigger audiences, publicity and support at a fraction of the cost and effort of previous efforts.

The vision here is to organize a series of debates with the Green Party. This is not so much to win over adherents from other parties but to win over undecided people who would be attracted to an open debate creating a marketplace for social change.

This can be done with other candidates but it is important that there be many debates organized at a grass roots level (20-50). While the LP has been involved in debates before, these events will generate publicity and attendance because of the synergy of the local activists involved. A multi-party debate among radical yet rational candidates is a better show for the media and students than the Reprehensiblecrats can provide. The Greens and Libertarians, Nader and the Constitution Party have each have unique and complementary roles in this production. The work can be shared with the result being greater than the sum of its parts.

Yes, but, when the mainstream media doesn't cover the debates, will they actually have happened? Perhaps with enough publicity on the Internet, these could be popular events. Sure, both the Watermelon Party and the Libertarians are a bit out there, but any attempt to break the stranglehold of the Democrats and the Republicans (especially of the "compassionate" variety) should be strongly encouraged.

(Via the wacky liberaltarians at Reason)

Politics · Mon, 08/02/2004 - 13:08 · · Importance: 1