The third party phenomenon

The Third Party phenomenon

Stephen Proffit

Contributing Writer

When Ron Paul was interviewed on “The Rachel Maddow Show” last month concerning the rise of the national Tea Party among the common American demographic, he said, “I don’t think you can talk about the tea party as a party. It’s made up of a lot of different people, and I don’t even see them as being Republicans.”

Americans are becoming anxious that our president can’t motivate our congress to move beyond the stubborn partisanship and special interest which has tainted health care reform since the legislation was introduced. This bill is a perfect example of how not to get things done in Washington. Paul went on in that interview to say the college campuses are tired of all of the gridlock, especially after electing a president who promised reform in Washington so sincerely. Paul said, “I do not think the real fight is between republicans and democrats. I see the Establishment Republican and the Establishment Democrat as being one, because the foreign policies don’t differ, and the monetary policy doesn’t differ … and the American people are just catching on.”

As inspiring as it is to hear the Texan Gandalf preach about restoring the legacy of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers to the American government, the same doubt I have in President Barack Obama’s ability to reform government tells me that Paul’s words of wisdom are more a utopian fantasy than the reality of our present government.

Even Joe Biden realizes the stomach cramps characteristic of the constipation dragging our two party legislature to the ground. “Speaking of intense partisanship in the capital,” Biden said on CBS’s “The Early Show,” “I’ve never seen it this dysfunctional.”

He said the message coming from the stunning Republican upset in the recent Massachusetts election was an instance of,” ‘Hey guys, get your act together. Get something going.’ ” I guess there is a point where we have to treat our congressmen and women like babies again. Basically, the deal in Washington goes a little like this: One party proposes legislation. Then the representatives on the opposite end of the spectrum pout, filibuster, attach pork and demand sweetheart deals until they feel that they have “gotten back” at the other side for composing a bill with which they disagree. Then the original party makes compromises to make it appear that they are persevering criticism. Six to 12 months later, we have a law that is twice as big as it began, but half as representative of its previous essence. This must be treated as aversive behavior by our executive branch parents and then scolded so the children of our legislature do not repeat this bad behavior.

When it comes to politics, you don’t have to be a parent to see what isn’t going on with the whiney babies in D.C. The real intelligence comes when we, the status quo, take action. It is obvious that our president cannot hold the unruly schoolchildren accountable for the lack of productivity, so it is time for the students, the future of this country and world, to take action.

Ron Paul sees social change in the future. Our administration strives for baby steps toward domestic reform and innovative foreign policy not including war. Whether the Tea Party can gain strength in the American public or not, I believe it is time for the students of our nation to protest the hypocritical pussyfooting and to vote third party. How can we develop as a nation if our only two parties have formed a conglomerated hernia in the belly of our country?

It is time for us, the students of America, to become aware of the future of our country. We, the students, must understand that we are a generation with voice. We must understand that the stubborn kids we have elected to office are ignoring our best interest and substituting it for Wall Street, lobbying organizations and who knows what else. David Brooks spoke on “Meet the Press” last week, and concluded, “I’m actually beginning to think for the first time in my life there’s a prospect for a third party sometime in the near future.”

Talk of this alleged third party continues, but until they get elected and truly change the system of politics and role of government, we must continue to let congress know that we are watching them. The American people are tired of the bureaucracy and desire transparency in the legislature instead of back room secret deals. Be aware of this important time in politics, which could be the revolution this country has awaited for over a century. In the next era of American politics, the hope for cleaner and more efficient government in an intercultural world will overwhelm the agenda, and perhaps will drive our country to rebirth.