Andrew Yangs Forward Party is dead. In its place, rises the Forward Party but with Republicans. In this newly announced mega-group, simply called Forward, Yang is joined as co-chair of the hopeful third party contender by former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. Former Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., and former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor are also involved in the new project, which seeks to upend Americas two-party system.
But in reading through their manifesto of moderation, I am forced to wonder if their supposed thinking outside the box is really thinking inside a much larger box? If that's the case, does this amalgam, this neutron star born of a collapsed political spectrum, go far enough in its mission? Or do we need to move past the tired idea theyve latched on to, that a third party is whats needed to shake up our system? The answer becomes clear once you take Forward's views to their obvious terminus: What America really needs to grow and thrive is a fourth party.
Yes, its true that Forward has no specific policies yet, as Reuters reported Wednesday. It is truly a blank slate on the issues facing the U.S., prepared to plant its flag in whatever a majority of Americans believe in the latest polling. This is befitting a party that holds moderation and centrism as core tenets. Only in comparing itself to the other two parties stances can it ever know what it believes, as a Washington Post op-ed describing the partys vision outlined.
What America really needs to grow and thrive is a fourth party.
On guns, for instance, most Americans dont agree with calls from the far left to confiscate all guns and repeal the Second Amendment, but theyre also rightfully worried by the far rights insistence on eliminating gun laws, Yang, Jolly and Whitman wrote in the Post. On climate change, most Americans dont agree with calls from the far left to completely upend our economy and way of life, but they also reject the far rights denial that there is even a problem. On abortion, most Americans dont agree with the far lefts extreme views on late-term abortions, but they also are alarmed by the far rights quest to make a womans choice a criminal offense.
Not once do they seek to clarify what the middle stance actually is on each of these issues and how that differs from what the Democratic Party is offering. They dont note how popular each of the ideas they list are within either party, nor that late-term abortion is not a medically accepted term. They dont bother to make clear that the far right holds one party firmly within its grip while the far left views they list are not embraced by any of the partys leaders. And even this morass of ambiguity does not do enough to decouple this new party from the divisions that grow deeper each day.
The problem with Forward is that it is still limited in how inclusive it can truly be. America requires a fourth party, one that doesnt just hide in the center, catering to the median voter; a party that is truly universal and doesnt shy away from encompassing literally all sides of an issue. Think the multiverse hijinks of Everything Everywhere All at Once but with the limitless possibility of policy all flowing through a single party.
A fourth party will bridge divides by including both the far right and far left under its umbrella, upholding even the most contradictory of views in the name of unity and freedom. Americas voters deserve nothing less than the I dont know, whatever you want for dinner is fine with me of politics. They demand the most meh of options, like the choice between a lukewarm salad and a sandwich where one side is the heel of the loaf. Americans dont need leaders with detailed ideas and specific policy goals that ensure the basic rights of every American. They need whatever makes them feel the least bad about putting their own interests first.
As Yangs hero Abraham Lincoln understood, a house divided among itself cannot stand. Thats why Lincoln and his running mate, Andrew Johnson, ran on a third-party ticket in 1864, a decision that had absolutely no negative consequences. Lincoln knew that only in trying to please literally everyone at all times can politicians heal our wounded country and make this broken-down house into a home.
To do that, we must eschew the sort of biased and binary labels that permeate our politics at every level: left and right; conservative and liberal; racist and not racist; basic human dignity and all-encroaching fascism. Only then can our country get back on the right track.
A fourth party would transcend politics by being truly apolitical.
A fourth party would transcend politics by being truly apolitical. For example, it would look at the divide on the matter of transgender rights and correctly diagnose that trans people clearly exist and should be allowed to thrive in peace. But it would also see that maybe we just shouldnt talk about them in public, like ever. A firm wag of our fingers at anyone who disagrees with either side of this matter would be appropriate. A big tent requires a big rug to sweep all of lifes pesky problems under in the name of civility.
This fourth party could be a true home for all disaffected independents who wish that the Democratic Party was just a bit more libertarian and that the Republican Party was just a bit less vocal about its willingness to let children go hungry rather than increasing taxes on the wealthy. It can be a place for the pro-business community members who are tired of former President Donald Trump and the pro-business community members who are tired of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A fourth party can be a place where wealthy donors are free to set their money on fire at a monthly pace that befits their own individual hedge fund stakes.
America is at a tipping point. Only through bold, daring inaction can our great experiment possibly hope to survive. Yang and his former GOP cohorts are thinking too small in their attempt to replace the status quo with an even statuser quo. We must commit ourselves fully to a policy of treating even the most heinous ideas as legitimate discourse and respecting all lives devoted to twirling toward freedom. Only then will we live in a country where all Americans can feel the smug sense of superiority that comes with voting for a candidate that has no chance of winning.
Hayes Brown is a writer and editor for MSNBC Daily, where he helps frame the news of the day for readers. He was previously at BuzzFeed News and holds a degree in international relations from Michigan State University.
Read the original post:
Andrew Yang's third party Forward isn't enough to transcend politics - MSNBC
- Learn from Libertarians | Commentary | thestatehousefile.com - The Statehouse File - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Review: Sheriff in 'Fargo' Gives Libertarians a Bad Name - Reason - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Why Libertarianism Is Not Mainstream (But Should Be) | Henry Gardella - Foundation for Economic Education - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Donald Rainwater to lead Indiana Libertarian ticket as party chooses its 2024 nominees - WFYI - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Could the Libertarian Party nominate RKF Jr.? - NewsNation Now - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- 2024 election: These Libertarians will be on Indiana's ballot - IndyStar - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking My Cock? - The Onion - January 4th, 2023 [January 4th, 2023]
- Russell Kirk - Wikipedia - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Maj Toure: Why Black Gunsand LibertarianismMatter - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Georgia's 'blank ballot' voters | Who are they? And why did they do it? - 11Alive.com WXIA - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Exclusive: No official records of personal meeting between Institute of Economic Affairs and Jacob Rees-Mogg - NationalWorld - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Markets Fail. . .And Libertarianism Still Works, 10/16 - November 25th, 2022 [November 25th, 2022]
- The Bill of Rights: A Transcription | National Archives - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- 'Centre, states need to work together for a developed India': FM Sitharaman on 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' - The Economic Times - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- Libertarianism: Definition & Examples | StudySmarter - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- In N.H., its live Free State or leave thats libertarianism? - The Boston Globe - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Cryptos Libertarianism Is Running Headfirst Into Reality - The Atlantic - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- The 'red wave' was such a sure thing, of course Republicans are blowing it The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Jim, Sigal, and Michele just living their best lives - Nevada Current - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Long Live the King (My President)! - Econlib - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- How Housing Is Captive to Investment Demands - Santa Barbara Independent - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Arkansas governor candidates hitting the campaign trail - 4029tv - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Aaron Rodgers Sounds Off On Government: NFL World Reacts - The Spun - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- David Boaz - Wikipedia - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Arlington Heights board gets petition from Koch brothers-backed group calling for law that may impact Chicago Bears' stadium plans - Chicago Tribune - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Georgias Senate Race Is Much Closer Than The Governor Election. Will That Hold Until November? - FiveThirtyEight - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Letter: The threat against democracy | Letters To Editor | berkshireeagle.com - Berkshire Eagle - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Vote in the State Primary - mysouthborough - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Group catering to nonpartisan voters launches ahead of the election The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin: Wisconsin Libertarians oppose student loan forgiveness ideas as theft - WisPolitics.com - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Guardrails of Democracy, Extended: Comparing Notes On The Team Libertarian Report - Reason - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Attempted Murder Arrest; Libertarians On The 2022 Ballot? PM Patch NH - Patch - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Chase Oliver could send Georgia's Senate race to a runoff - he's OK with that - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Rep. Stephen Handy, ousted at GOP convention, to wage write-in bid - Standard-Examiner - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- J. R. R. Tolkien among the Illiberals Catholic World Report - Catholic World Report - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- We Made It Through The Primary. Now It's On To The November General Election - Honolulu Civil Beat - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- The Great Separation: Why American Politics Is Coming Apart at the Seams | Cornell Chronicle - Cornell Chronicle - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Palfrey eyes the exits- POLITICO - POLITICO - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Armstrong: Behind those misleading headlines on Colorado teacher pay - Complete Colorado - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- What is a Libertarian? Beliefs & Examples | Study.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Libertarian Vs. Liberal (Whats The Difference?) - The Cold Wire - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Libertarianism Philosophy and History - Study.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Republican effort to remove Libertarians from November ballot rejected by Texas Supreme Court - The Texas Tribune - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Media organizations and civil libertarians sue to stop a law that restricts recording videos of cops - Arizona Mirror - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- How a Tiny Minority Can Lead the World Toward Liberty | Dan Sanchez - Foundation for Economic Education - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- GOP Candidate Saying it's 'Totally Just' to Kill Gay People Resurfaces - Newsweek - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Third Party Candidates: Alabama Libertarians to appear on general election ballot - WHNT News 19 - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Sick and tired of the two-party system: Pa. Libertarian Party sees surge in interest | Today in Pa. - PennLive - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Voter registrations in North Carolina continue to trend mostly unaffiliated and slightly Republican - The Mountaineer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- After Koch's Kinder, Gentler Rebrand Attempt, He Spent Over $1 Billion On 2020 Elections - Daily Kos - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Libertarian, Green, and Independent Candidates not Invited to Gubernatorial Debate The Amarillo Pioneer - The Amarillo Pioneer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Runoffs to decide final nominations begins with early voting next week - Yahoo News - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Podcast: Muddling Through the Mar-a-Lago Mess - Reason - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- The Story Behind the Wrenching Finale of 'The Anarchists' - WIRED - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- The Search of Trumps House + the 5th Amendment - Econlib - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Libertarians see opening to gain ground in Georgia 2022 elections - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- State Libertarian Party asks for 'relief from oppressive ballot laws' - The Albany Herald - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Election 2022: Primaries clear Michigan fields; more will come at conventions - The Center Square - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- The Industrial Revolution and the Colonial Conundrum - Econlib - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- School choice is the free market solution to failing public schools - Washington Examiner - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- The primary is over Here's who you can expect to see on JoCo ballots in November - Shawnee Mission Post - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Climate change and the Supreme Courts version of police abolitionism - The Hill - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Discontent Is Never Enough - by Jonah Goldberg - The G-File - The Dispatch - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Progressive Conservatism: How Republicans Will Become America's Natural Governing Party - The Ripon Society - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Local News: Donnie Brown elected as 149th representative (8/2/22) | Standard Democrat - Standard-Democrat - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Former TV anchorman wins GOP nomination in Missouris 4th Congressional District - Missouri Independent - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Penn Jillette: Did His Libertarianism Survive Trump and COVID? - Reason - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Libertarian and Anti-functionalist: What Is the Memphis Design Movement? - ArchDaily - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- 11 Pick Up Lines For Libertarians To Use If They Ever Meet A Girl - The Babylon Bee - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Nudged into the oncoming lane - Econlib - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Quebec's Conservative party surges in the polls as some of its candidates spread conspiracy theories - CBC News - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Accusations of racism and abortion politics- POLITICO - POLITICO - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Zeldin's Fraudulent Independence Party Signatures Show How Difficult it is to get on Ballot in NY - Yonkers Times - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- How Republicans can build on Trumpism and become the party of progressive conservatism - The Hill - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Illinois quick hits: White withdraws from race; Durbin tests positive for COVID - The Center Square - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Romney's Family Plan Isn't Great, but May Be Better Than the Alternatives - Reason - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- John Cleese: Wokeism Is the Enemy of Comedyand Creativity - Reason - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- What's Wrong With Abortion Federalism? - Reason - June 29th, 2022 [June 29th, 2022]
- The myth of American conservatism - UnHerd - June 29th, 2022 [June 29th, 2022]
- CHAMPLAIN IS TREASURER: Whitewater to face Sterling in November; Brecheen, Frix head for D2 Congress runoff - Tahlequah Daily Press - June 29th, 2022 [June 29th, 2022]