Blog

Political Dharma name change

Hi there to those of you still subscribing to my long-neglected blog. A couple of weeks ago I changed the name of my podcast from Political Dharma to The Spiritual & Political Podcast.

As I will explain in an upcoming video, I see our current chaotic political situation in the U.S. as the result of weaknesses in our political system, cracked by stresses in our economic system, both of which are upheld by our cultural inheritance. That cultural heritage has been shaped by differences over how to understand Christianity. This is why I’ve combined my two former YouTube video channels (the other was A Buddhist Christian?) and given the channel a new name.

As you might suspect, the direction of the content on my podcast has shifted somewhat. Even though I am adding new topics, let me assure you that I intend to continue to cover political developments much as I have in the past.

Hope you are well!

Alan

Facing facts

It is clear by now that I am not fulfilling my intention to write a regular blog! Neither have I been making short videos for my Instagram channel. I have to face it–those are not directions that I am motivated enough to pursue.

I do keep making the videos for my two channels, Political Dharma and Buddha Meets Jesus, so I expect I will focus my continued attention on those. I also want to keep pursuing the idea of organizing around the Agenda for a New America, even though the response so far has been underwhelming.

But don’t expect to get many, if any, more blog posts from me. Thank you so much for your interest (enough to sign up) and I hope you are following on the video channels.

Wishing you the best, Alan.

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.

Changes to Political Dharma website

Hello out there! I’ve been updating the Political Dharma website and wanted to give you a heads-up on these changes.

I’ve deleted a couple of old blog posts describing which states various Presidential candidates will be on the ballot in, as those posts are outdated and of no use to anyone at this point. The list of blog posts now looks bereft of content–which it has been–and so I am recommitting myself to posting more frequently.

I also added a page on the “third party project” that I have been talking about on the podcast. This involves the creation of a new third party open to all non-major party candidates to complete for endorsement/nomination using an electoral method in which voters can show relative preferences. I haven’t added the details yet but will get to that before the end of the year.

I’ll also be adding a page on the other third party idea that I’ve been discussing, one that reflects my own political views. I intend this party to work within the third party described above along with the other parties and independent candidates who may participate.

And I’ve slightly rewritten the homepage description of the site and the podcast, as well as shrunken the donation button so it is not so in-your-face!

I’m looking forward to this new year and what it holds for Political Dharma and all of us hoping for needed changes in our political and economic lives. I hope you will continue on with me on this journey together.

Which candidates will be on my ballot? (Sept. 14 update)

This is a list of candidates certified to be on the ballot in each state as of September 7th. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are not included as they will each be on every ballot. RFK=Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (independent), CO=Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party), JS=Jill Stein (Green Party), RT=Randall Terry (Constitution Party), CC=Claudia de la Cruz (Party of Socialism and Liberation), CW=Cornel West (independent), PS=Peter Sonski (American Solidarity Party).

The “X” means the candidate has been officially approved for the ballot in that state. A blank space means that the candidate has not yet been approved. If you see any mistakes, pleas inform me and give me a source.

Hopeful Thoughts on the Upcoming RFK News Event

Hello friends. As this blog has added some new subscribers this week, I thought I should start disciplining myself to begin posting regularly.

Today, Friday August23, four and a half hours from when I am writing this, independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is scheduled to make what his campaign is billing as a major announcement. After the Impact Theory podcast interview with his running mate Nicole Shanahan earlier this week, speculation in the media is high that he will drop out of the race and endorse Donald Trump.

I posted a video on her interview on Wednesday, but have had some further thoughts since then which I would like to share with you. This is a more hopeful speculation than what you have been hearing in the media.

Kennedy may be about to announce that his campaign has met its goal of getting enough signatures to be on the ballot in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. I had overlooked this X post from Kennedy until just recently:

Given that achievement, and the fact that he has been certified for the ballot in almost half of the states, this news could help revive his campaign IF it could get major media attention. And what better way to get attention than to raise expectations that he might announce he is joining forces with Donald Trump?

I don’t think Kennedy is manipulative enough to outright deceive people, so he may also have something to say about the latter topic. His interest in a “unity party,” which Shanahan defined as a willingness to include outside voices within a particular Presidential administration, may come to fruit if Trump joins him to say he has adopted RFK’s concept for his own potential future administration. Both candidates are scheduled to be in Phoenix when RFK has his news event.

Of course this is just speculation on my part, just as the media reports are filled with their speculations. But it is a more hopeful one for those who do not want to see Kennedy drop out of the race.

Let’s hope I’m right. We will find out soon.

Political Dharma website now active

After leaving it dormant for quite a while, I have updated the Political Dharma website and intend to be more active with it. Currently my dominant (right) hand is in a splint after thumb surgery, so it will be slow going at first. As I recover my use of my hand this blog will feature my thoughts on politics and related topics, let you know what I’m up to, and perhaps include book reviews and other types of commentary.

Subscribe by adding your email address in the box provided. Thank you for your interest!