Opening the political party landscape

0

In “Dissecting the political party landscape” [Commentary, Sept. 25] Dave Anderson cites Carl Davidson’s political analysis that there are really six parties — two factions in the Republican Party and four factions in the Democratic Party — to conclude that populist, progressive voters should “ally with one of the left-of-center factions/‘parties’ in the Democratic Party.” Davidson argues that progressives need to work strategically within the Democratic Party with “Old New Dealers” or the “Congressional Progressive Caucus,” defeat the other factions and somehow build a popular front for economic populism. Good luck with that!

An alternative strategy for populist, grassroots, freedom-loving voters who don’t care for the moneybags of the Democratic and Republican parties is to create a new major political party that represents their interests. In fact, 60 percent of voters want a third major party — want more candidates — according to the Gallup poll of October 2013.

But, as Anderson observed, third parties will remain marginal as long as the U.S. electoral system consists of winner-take-all districts, gerrymandered by elected Republican and Democrat officials. Two-party monopoly of government will continue until the vote-for-only-one, plurality-wins voting system, written into law by Democrats and Republicans, is replaced by a multiple-choice voting system similar to type used in the world’s advanced democracies that make cooperative government possible.

Anderson also notes that the Democratic and Republican party platforms are ignored by everybody. The Democratic Party, in particular, nominates candidates based on their access to money for campaigning, without regard to candidates’ adherence to the party platform. That is why Colorado has a governor who calls himself a Democrat, but campaigns on making Colorado into the most businessfriendly state in the country.

There is a surging populist insurgency of independent Bernie Sanders-type candidates and small political party candidates all over the country. Green Gayle McLaughlin was elected mayor of Richmond, Calif., and is fighting illegal mortgage foreclosures. Socialist Kshama Sawant was elected to the Seattle City Council and Seattle now has a $15 minimum wage. Progressive Democrat Bill DeBlasio was elected mayor of New York City with support of the Working Families Party. The Progressive Party in Vermont holds six seats in the Vermont House. Independent Greg Orman may win his race for U.S. Senator from Kansas. Two-party monopoly of government is on the way out.

I want to be Colorado’s next governor to drive a fair and equal election reform so any registered voter who meets the age requirement can declare their candidacy and have a viable chance of being elected, regardless of their political affiliation or access to financial resources.

I will call on the Colorado legislature to:

1. Direct the Elections Division to inform all registered voters about all candidates for state office and host public debates in which all candidates may participate.

2. Implement a multiple-choice voting system to replace our plurality wins system.

3. End taxpayer-funded party primary elections that cost about $3 million per election. Very few primary races are contested.

Colorado voters want more candidates. Healthy democracy depends on a range of candidates.

Harry Hempy is the Green Party candidate for Governor of Colorado.

Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com

This opinion column does not necessarily reflect the views of Boulder Weekly.