the far left

It should be noted that the comment posted was not our first; Zach's dad commented on the "Read A Book" discussion.

As for the progressive left, Zach has really laid out why a progressive leftist party could not show up in our political system. It's fairly simple: who in the current political system would advocate for this? There certainly are not a bunch of far-left politicians that are currently in the political system. And those that are around don't really get taken seriously, not by their peers, and not by the media. No one currently in power (in power and with some real influence) would back this new party, it would be suicide.

I have serious problems with the two-party system. As it stands, I don't see how we can ever reform the system to accommodate a more diverse set of view-points. If you are ideologically outside the two parties (so far outside that you are questioning the merits of the two-party system) then you will never get your foot in the door or your ideas on the table in any legitimate way. The two parties like being in power, they are not going to give credence to an idea or a person who wants to change that power structure. I have never felt that American politics is about doing what is right, it always seems to me to be about winning (this is a very general way to speak, not all politicians are bad, some are great, I just think our system rewards those people willing to sacrifice their ideology to win. This seems wrong). Once people have won, they just want to keep winning. Allowing the progressive left to form a party, a real party with actual influence, would potentially challenge the power that the current players so desperately cling too.

I just don't see a party that is far left ever breaking into the system. (Zach's point about the thrust of the party is important, there are many way to be a progressive leftist, I have no idea which way this party would swing.)

However, assuming that a progressive left party could form, I don't think it is desirable. I don't think the this phantom leftist party would give us progressives anything that we would want. This new third party would still have to play the American political game. As I said, the American political game does not seem to favor those who are unwilling to silence their more "radical" views in order to win the seat. This leftist party would fall prey to the same process of lobotomizing, and not properly represent the true progressive left.

If in order to gain influence in the current system the new leftist party would have to be similar to the current parties, then I don't think it is desirable to try and form one. If it is to form at all, then it is going to form outside the system, or it will form after someone bombs America to pieces and a massive rebuilding process has to take place.

The progressive left will have to use means outside the government. I really don't know what those means could be. The internet is appealing, but I also think the internet helps the current powers-that-be stay in place by offering more distraction and quick-hitting info than has ever been available to human beings before. TV isn't an option. Radio is dead. Print is almost dead. I just don't know a possible outlet the new left could employ that would actually bring about real change. If we are to get our voice heard then it will certainly be outside the confines of government.

Yeah man, get that Canadian citizenship as soon as possible.