The Invisible Third Party


During the early to mid 20th century, the American Congress was highlighted by the normal division of political operatives and partisanship. Among the populace however, there was a unity of mind and culture that since, has evaporated.

Much of the Congressional wrangling then was about representing opposing points of view and even the art of compromise. In effect the country was so unified in its common beliefs that there effectively was only one political party. They were not left or right, but simply a product of the majority of our cultural commonality. Often the Democrat Party encompassed the values of the country at the time. People needed protection and entitlement of a mild socialism crept into the culture. In doing so people found their lives improved with a financial and organizational safety net. Because corporate America at the time was wealthy enough and viewed with an eye of suspicion they operated on their own under a watchful eye of regulatory constraint.

After World War II, the last time the country was truly united on everything for more than a few months, the 1950’s became a golden age of American life. Peace reigned over the land, albeit briefly. There were Soviets to contend with and a paranoia that led us into The Cold War. The 1960’s brought the unraveling of everything including unity that the U.S. had achieved since the depression of the 1930’s.

It seemed we don’t learn our lessons very well. Only by coming together with a common purpose can the nation’s people rise above any circumstance, any enemy, and any condition; achieve victory and reach nirvana. The problem we have is that once we attain success, we can’t hold it for long. We are destined to screw it up. History is replete with such examples.

Now 50 years later we witness the greatest threat to not only America, but mankind itself. Evil is showing its face once again and this time instead of German Nazi Fascism, Japanese Imperialism, or Communist Chinese advancement, it comes to us in the image of radical Muslim fundamentalism. Where the early 20th century’s cultural moral fiber had us uniting, the current derision has the country fractured.

The liberal left under the banner of self flagellation vocalized by the likes of Michael Moore, and Nancy Pelosi, offers us its poster boy and girl. Bill Maher and Rosie O'Donnell are on one side. The conservative right whose figure head Rush Limbaugh is credited as the source from which all conservatism flows is on the other side. These two factions which have drawn a line in the sand have both done irreparable harm to a country they reportedly love.

The rise of Limbaugh however can be argued owes its elevation as a response from commercial media being a liberal entity from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. Nevertheless now that both sides are being heard, civility as a commodity is a rare sight. Name calling is the norm and so is the hold your breath until you turn blue politics of both sides with their unwillingness to compromise. They are teaching this and future generations that holding to ones principals is a good thing even at the cost of the welfare of the nation. What does it value a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? The country is suffering from unbridled freedom and the lack of discipline within that liberty.

So entrenched are both sides in their rhetorical gymnastics that anyone who does not believe as they do is not worthy of respect or consideration in the family of man. This polarization has all but paralyzed the nation, its progress, and its national security. No longer can we debate one another and agree to disagree. We must heap epithets upon the opposition in order to inflate our position. It might be entertaining but like termites do more damage in places unseen. The politics of personal destruction buried within our national history, brought to light in the Nixon era, and perfected during the Clinton Administration is disintegrating the underlying fabric of our society.

The political party that we don’t believe exists is the viable third one. However it is right under out nose. It is illustrated in the difficulties of the 20th century as President Roosevelt tapped it as a resource in World War II. John Kennedy’s charisma brought idealism to which this party could believe before one side or the other sent the country into a tailspin of disillusionment. The last time we saw the invisible party in the lead was just after September 11, 2001. This party is not right, nor left. It does not adhere to the "it’s my way or the highway" mentality. Its nature is not one of extremes. It is comprised of both moderate liberals and moderate conservatives. They consist of the bulk of the political middle. Together this coalition dwarfs both left and right extremists and their idealistic adherence to stubborn scorched earth policy views at all cost. All someone needs to do is tap this political middle to set the ship properly afloat.

Bill Richardson and Rudy Giuliani are examples of the type of people who could fill this political and cultural void. Neither one is completely right or left, but actually issue oriented with a bit of something for everyone. They are what the country needs in 2008. Only if you are willing to compromise and bring back the grace of our history can this political party take hold. The next time you mutter something about needing a third party, look within your own. You hold the power to join these forces and return America to the civil and righteous throne that the people are seeking.