A Plethora of Possible Parties
Don't trust Senator Obama (after all his middle name is "Hussein", he's obviously smarter that the average guy and therefore an elitist) and Joe Biden (he's from Maryland, for God's sake)?
Not to worry. Florida's ballot has lots more choices, a flavor for everyone. The last time I checked, there are 33 officially recognized political parties on the presidential ballot in addition to the Biggies. I offer suggestions for the perplexed and frustrated voter.
For the record, these are the possibilities:
1. America First Party of Florida (AFP)
2. American Party of Florida (APF)
3. American Poor People Party (APP)
4. American Reform Party of Florida (ARP)
5. America's Independent Party of Florida (AIP)
6. Boston Tea Party of Florida (BTP)
7. British Reformed Sectarian Party (BRS)
8. The Christian Party (CHR)
9. Constitution Party of Florida (CPF)
10. Ecology Party of Florida (ECO)
11. Faith & Patience Inc. N.P.G.G. (FAP)
12. Family Values Party (FVP)
13. Florida Socialist Workers (SWP)
14. Florida Whig Party (FWP)
15. Green Party of Florida, Inc. (GRE)
16. Independence Party of Florida (IDP)
17. Independent Democrats of Florida (IDF)
18. Independent Party of Florida (INT)
19. Libertarian Party of Florida (LIB)
20. The Moderate Party (MOD)
21. Objectivist Party of Florida (OBJ)
22. Party for Socialism and Liberation - Florida (PSL)
23. Possibility Party (POS)
24. Progressive Libertarian Party (PRL)
25. Prohibition Party (PRO)
26. Real Food Party of the United States of America (RFP)
27. Reform Party (REF)
28. Socialist Party of Florida (SPF)
29. Southern Party of Florida (SFL)
30. Surfers Party of America (SPA)
31. Term Limits for the United States Congress Party (TLP)
32. Unity08 (UNI)
33. Veterans Party of America (VET)
Some of these scream for more information!
Don't take the Boston Tea Party seriously? That would be a mistake. Founded in 2006, it is seriously active with affiliates in most states. While most of its candidates are for lesser offices, Charles Jay of Hollywood, Florida, is the presidential choice. The web page of the Party reports that Mr. Jay,
"Grew up around the gaming business, was raised in the boxing business, and along the way has developed a colorful background through a wide range of experiences."
The party's platform is succinct:
"The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."
Being slightly overweight and addicted to very thick, very rare cheeseburgers and coffee, donuts and beer (I think those cover all major food groups), the Real Food Party, headquartered in Altamonte Springs, just outside of Orlando, sounded like a political group in which I could be interested. Alas, no candidate thus year and no financial contributions reported.
Some of the "minor" parties have a libertarian, old fashioned feel. The Poor People's party (# 3) has on its site quotations from former Supreme Court Justices Douglas,
"Those in power are blind devotees to private enterprise. They accept that degree of socialism implicit in the vast subsidies to the military-industrial complex, but not that type of socialism which maintains public projects for the disemployed and the unemployed alike. Our upside down welfare state is 'socialism for the rich, free enterprise for the poor.' The great welfare scandal of the age concerns the dole we give rich people."
You get the thrust.
The Florida Whig Party did not capture my attention because of my being bald. Rather it dates back to the 17th century. In the United States, it has made a sort of comeback among voters searching for alternatives. Finally, because I am both patient and faithful, I note that the Faith and Patience party (# 11) took in $185.93 in contributions between 2002 and the end of 2004 and spent every last penny.
So, no excuses for not voting; there are plenty choices out there; as they used to say in Massachusetts where I grew up, "Vote early and often".
Published by Jim Stillman
Retired from Florida Department of Revenue after 25 years.and retired New York attorney. I am a liberal with regard to social responsibility and, likely, a Libertarian otherwise. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI enjoyed this, amusing too!
Interesting information...............................
Objectivist Party sounds interesting....
I say we give Bush 8 more years, he will get it right this time!
Fascinating! But, any vote for a third party candidate is wasted.
I'm voting Libertarian this year!