The Democratic Party has a messaging problem now... It seems to me that using the "Libertarian" brand would create a huge messaging problem right off the bat, trying to throw off the mantle of "remove all impediments to big business" that I think of when I hear the name "Libertarian".
If taking over an existing (non-Democratic) party is necessary, the Green Party is in a lot of states, and I think has an existing "name association" that is more consistent with what we want to achieve than "Libertarian" does, so it would be less likely to cause messaging confusion right off the bat ???
The Democratic Party has a structural and core value problem. Messaging is the least of it; that's a pitch from speech writers for more work. Lack of leadership is more critical. Yes, Schumer saying I sent a strongly worded letter to Trump about blah blah blah, is a poor message when everyone knows Trump will not likely read it or care about what it contains. But the bigger problem is Dem leadership continuing to support or meekly opposing Israeli genocide, insider stock trading, Manifest Destiny, and a whole host of other social, economic, and moral cowardices.
I've already left the Dems and become an independent and I'm ready to join with a movement of people like me. I'm also willing to get under a big umbrella with a bunch of Americans (like my Southern cousins) who hate the dirty filthy mega rich. We all want to see justice and we want unity to get our country back.
The party of true progressives is the Green Party. Many progressives who make it into public office started out as Greens, but pass as democrats. Bernie could have gone with the Green Party with his massive support and given it real legitimacy. They have achieved good ballot access. The Socialist and working class goals are the same as the Oligarchy Tour has shown. The connection needs to be made without the labels.
Crazy? Nah, dude, I've been waiting years for something like this. I'm in.
The problem currently is that the two parties have monopoly control over the political process. Both parties know that no matter who sits in the White House, or controls Congress, they will be showered with hundreds of millions of dollars. They have absolutely no incentive to govern effectively or respond to the will of the people. The monopoly that needs to be broken up is the one in Washington, and I'm not at all convinced that can be done through the parties themselves.
But the Libertarians? I'm not against it, but I mean, it would have to be a total takeover. New name, new platforms, absolutely everything. It would be like a corporate takeover where the new ownership changes the name and everything and the only thing left of the original organization is the legal infrastructure. I guess you could argue that this kind of thing happened with both of the major parties over the years so it's not impossible.
And, the enticing part of this is that conceivably you can build a new coalition out of not only the vast majority of people who hate both parties, but people who are only nominally loyal to those parties and would vote for a new third party. In fact, the only people you could not realistically appeal to are the party loyalists, and they are a minority of the overall electorate.
I think, too, the important way to approach this is from the bottom up, not the top down. Don't worry about the White House. Don't worry about big, splashy, national campaigns. Start at the local level. Build the movement from the ground up. I don't care if you have to start at school boards. The problem with top-down is that you get this high profile I'm-running-for-president thing that can't work and once it fizzles out the movement has nowhere to go. Starting local is the way to build a lasting movement across election cycles.
I like the idea, but Libertarians have a negative connotation with the people I know. I agree with others here that the Green Party is a better route to take.
If we are talking about consolidation of like minded people into an existing party, it would provide the funding and people power to get on the ballot of the remaining states. The DNC fought the Greens at every step to deny them access and self interested or scared shitless dems let them do it. The DNC stands for status quo. Where were all the "progressives" when the Greens were fighting for their rights in the very expensive courts? Where were the donations?
The Libertarian party is already in the ballot. They did the leg work the legal work. The signatures the whole 9. Their party is weak and not very popular.
Used to be. How many under-60 year olds have read Ayn Rand? Or have any other grounds to make such an association? (I am 73 with three 40-ish offspring whose friends I know pretty well)
Works for me as an independent, and it already "sounds" independent.
From the little experience I have of libertarian, it definitely needs a rebranding before I'd consider joining.
But ... I'm a true independent, so the offering would have to be so good as to make an independent want to risk "group think", like checks and balances against group think. Something that says, "Integrity is our bottom line."
And most definitely a bottom line that includes every member of our species, however they are born, whatever they choose for themselves.
Crazy idea, but I like it! As an Independent for all of my voting life, I have mostly voted Democratic, but this time I'm not sure that the Dems have what it is going to take to move beyond MAGA and Trump! How would Bernie and AOC feel about this? Have you floated by them or any other potential supporters? Like Caroline F., I want Justice, Unity, and our country back.
Sadly, the assertion of economically liberal folks being “turned off by Democratic cultural messaging” under-describes the real issue – racism. The true question is whether or not white folks of any stripe will vote for economic or social policy that would truly level the playing field across ethnicity. I think we’ve seen time and again that the answer is no. So whether one tries to co-op the Libertarian party or the Green party, if you are looking to include people of color, the party would have to have equitable policy around funding education, reforming the police, housing and geographic segregation and discrimination (no NIMBY), social safety net, etc. that would give everybody a fighting chance no matter their race - which I just don’t think enough white people would support. #ProveMeWrong
I completely agree, but it’s about time period, influences, national dynamics, etc. Our country has become undeniably more racist since Obama – and in fact principally because of Obama’s election, which fundamentally broke some brains. In fact, Obama is exhibit A of a tipping point, where we have seen fewer white folks vote in common and equitable interest ever since.
Corbin, I tried to send $100 your way, but at 76, I’m not a techie, so spent five or so minutes, before giving up. Great idea this morning, and I’m happy to support a third party, but need to have a way to accomplish that goal. Ward
It’s a great idea but the wrong party. We need to do to the Democratic Party what trumpers did to the former Republican Party-take it over. Nobody is using it now except for fundraising emails. It is ours for the taking if we are willing to do the work.
Like Caroline, I have left the Dems but supporting progressive candidates - all Dems at this point. I think we could fix the Dems if enough of us quit and tell them why. However, this is an interesting idea. We need to find a celebrity to head it up, though, before I will join. Otherwise it will be just dribs and drabs of people who are joining to support what the Libertarians are doing now.
Works for me. Change the Libertarians from “Republicans who like to party” to “people who are actually interested in liberty.” I’m leery of cultural conservatives but would be willing to work with them if they’re not too afraid of social leftists/libertines like myself.
How about the Green Party? They were on 38 state ballots in 2024?
Totally off-putting even to me and I am left of AOC. The Green Party “brand” seems like a dangerous joke to everybody I know.
The Democratic Party has a messaging problem now... It seems to me that using the "Libertarian" brand would create a huge messaging problem right off the bat, trying to throw off the mantle of "remove all impediments to big business" that I think of when I hear the name "Libertarian".
If taking over an existing (non-Democratic) party is necessary, the Green Party is in a lot of states, and I think has an existing "name association" that is more consistent with what we want to achieve than "Libertarian" does, so it would be less likely to cause messaging confusion right off the bat ???
The Democratic Party has a structural and core value problem. Messaging is the least of it; that's a pitch from speech writers for more work. Lack of leadership is more critical. Yes, Schumer saying I sent a strongly worded letter to Trump about blah blah blah, is a poor message when everyone knows Trump will not likely read it or care about what it contains. But the bigger problem is Dem leadership continuing to support or meekly opposing Israeli genocide, insider stock trading, Manifest Destiny, and a whole host of other social, economic, and moral cowardices.
I think you are not hearing “green party” through America’s ears.
I've already left the Dems and become an independent and I'm ready to join with a movement of people like me. I'm also willing to get under a big umbrella with a bunch of Americans (like my Southern cousins) who hate the dirty filthy mega rich. We all want to see justice and we want unity to get our country back.
The party of true progressives is the Green Party. Many progressives who make it into public office started out as Greens, but pass as democrats. Bernie could have gone with the Green Party with his massive support and given it real legitimacy. They have achieved good ballot access. The Socialist and working class goals are the same as the Oligarchy Tour has shown. The connection needs to be made without the labels.
Nonsense. Nothing at all progressive. Where is Labor among greens? Lower middle class? Spanish speakers? College educated?
Crazy? Nah, dude, I've been waiting years for something like this. I'm in.
The problem currently is that the two parties have monopoly control over the political process. Both parties know that no matter who sits in the White House, or controls Congress, they will be showered with hundreds of millions of dollars. They have absolutely no incentive to govern effectively or respond to the will of the people. The monopoly that needs to be broken up is the one in Washington, and I'm not at all convinced that can be done through the parties themselves.
But the Libertarians? I'm not against it, but I mean, it would have to be a total takeover. New name, new platforms, absolutely everything. It would be like a corporate takeover where the new ownership changes the name and everything and the only thing left of the original organization is the legal infrastructure. I guess you could argue that this kind of thing happened with both of the major parties over the years so it's not impossible.
And, the enticing part of this is that conceivably you can build a new coalition out of not only the vast majority of people who hate both parties, but people who are only nominally loyal to those parties and would vote for a new third party. In fact, the only people you could not realistically appeal to are the party loyalists, and they are a minority of the overall electorate.
I think, too, the important way to approach this is from the bottom up, not the top down. Don't worry about the White House. Don't worry about big, splashy, national campaigns. Start at the local level. Build the movement from the ground up. I don't care if you have to start at school boards. The problem with top-down is that you get this high profile I'm-running-for-president thing that can't work and once it fizzles out the movement has nowhere to go. Starting local is the way to build a lasting movement across election cycles.
So, like, okay, what next?
I like the idea, but Libertarians have a negative connotation with the people I know. I agree with others here that the Green Party is a better route to take.
They’ve not got close to the same ballot access.
If we are talking about consolidation of like minded people into an existing party, it would provide the funding and people power to get on the ballot of the remaining states. The DNC fought the Greens at every step to deny them access and self interested or scared shitless dems let them do it. The DNC stands for status quo. Where were all the "progressives" when the Greens were fighting for their rights in the very expensive courts? Where were the donations?
Explain please, Corbin. Access??
The Libertarian party is already in the ballot. They did the leg work the legal work. The signatures the whole 9. Their party is weak and not very popular.
This seems like impossibly bad marketing to me. The libertarian brand is deregulation and Ayn Rand style selfishness and greed...
Used to be. How many under-60 year olds have read Ayn Rand? Or have any other grounds to make such an association? (I am 73 with three 40-ish offspring whose friends I know pretty well)
Works for me as an independent, and it already "sounds" independent.
From the little experience I have of libertarian, it definitely needs a rebranding before I'd consider joining.
But ... I'm a true independent, so the offering would have to be so good as to make an independent want to risk "group think", like checks and balances against group think. Something that says, "Integrity is our bottom line."
And most definitely a bottom line that includes every member of our species, however they are born, whatever they choose for themselves.
Good morning Corbin,
Crazy idea, but I like it! As an Independent for all of my voting life, I have mostly voted Democratic, but this time I'm not sure that the Dems have what it is going to take to move beyond MAGA and Trump! How would Bernie and AOC feel about this? Have you floated by them or any other potential supporters? Like Caroline F., I want Justice, Unity, and our country back.
The “69 percent coalition” could coalesce around someone — I suggest Tom Hanks — who is respected by wide swaths of the American people. Let’s do it.
Sadly, the assertion of economically liberal folks being “turned off by Democratic cultural messaging” under-describes the real issue – racism. The true question is whether or not white folks of any stripe will vote for economic or social policy that would truly level the playing field across ethnicity. I think we’ve seen time and again that the answer is no. So whether one tries to co-op the Libertarian party or the Green party, if you are looking to include people of color, the party would have to have equitable policy around funding education, reforming the police, housing and geographic segregation and discrimination (no NIMBY), social safety net, etc. that would give everybody a fighting chance no matter their race - which I just don’t think enough white people would support. #ProveMeWrong
Every time I say this to someone, they say ok fine, but explain to me Obama winning twice in Ohio.
All politics are local, I get it, but a black man was elected twice in red states.
White voter racism is not absolute
I completely agree, but it’s about time period, influences, national dynamics, etc. Our country has become undeniably more racist since Obama – and in fact principally because of Obama’s election, which fundamentally broke some brains. In fact, Obama is exhibit A of a tipping point, where we have seen fewer white folks vote in common and equitable interest ever since.
Corbin, I tried to send $100 your way, but at 76, I’m not a techie, so spent five or so minutes, before giving up. Great idea this morning, and I’m happy to support a third party, but need to have a way to accomplish that goal. Ward
It’s a great idea but the wrong party. We need to do to the Democratic Party what trumpers did to the former Republican Party-take it over. Nobody is using it now except for fundraising emails. It is ours for the taking if we are willing to do the work.
Good Idea, I hope it can be done. Hell, I hope anything can be done to destroy the corrupt red/blue uni-party.
Like Caroline, I have left the Dems but supporting progressive candidates - all Dems at this point. I think we could fix the Dems if enough of us quit and tell them why. However, this is an interesting idea. We need to find a celebrity to head it up, though, before I will join. Otherwise it will be just dribs and drabs of people who are joining to support what the Libertarians are doing now.
Works for me. Change the Libertarians from “Republicans who like to party” to “people who are actually interested in liberty.” I’m leery of cultural conservatives but would be willing to work with them if they’re not too afraid of social leftists/libertines like myself.