Changing direction

Hi there. It doesn’t look like I can fulfill my intention to post more often than I have been. I’ve been putting out at least two videos a week and that takes me a lot of time. I apologize for neglecting the written word.

But I am writing this to let you know I have decided to take a different direction with my endeavors.

My thinking for a long time has centered on the function of non-major parties in introducing outlier ideas into the political discussion. I’ve had a lonely minority position on what ails this country and what could be done to fix things, and I did not see either major party as receptive to them. I thought a minor party could serve as a way to get my ideas out there. But given our electoral system, alternative parties have been relegated to a permanent marginal position.

Thus my two-decade devotion to the cause of electoral reform (changing the way we vote) as a way to create a fairer playing field in which alternative parties have a chance of growing their support and getting a hearing from voters. But electoral reform has been a long and difficult struggle, and the prospects for significant reform still seem far away.

My Third Party Project was intended to spread awareness of STAR Voting as a viable alternative way of voting and to try to get alternative parties to work together more closely. The Project has gotten some positive feedback, but not a lot of enthusiasm for getting it off the ground. I’ve been rethinking my commitment to this as a path forward and decided to set it aside.

The Presidential election has changed changed the political situation radically. MAGA controls both the Republican Party and the national government, but I think its agenda will fail their voters and they will desert Trump and his party. The Democratic Party is divided and adrift. Voters are dissatisfied with both parties. Everything is in flux. The party system we’ve known may not survive.

Because of all this, I think a “think tank”-type organization may be a better vehicle for my ideas than a political party. I am seriously considering a membership-based research and education organization devoted to changing our economy, politics, and culture. A tall order yes, but I know I am in the last stage of my life nearing age 73 and I just want to give some of these ideas I’ve been working on for years out to any receptive ears.

My hope is that if they have value, other, younger hands can carry them forward when I no longer can. Thanks for your interest so far and I hope you remain interested enough to see what’s next.