My Political Party

A political party is an endogenous institution shaped by ambitious political actors such as the office seeker and the officeholder. Politicians use these parties as instruments to achieve their goals. The success of a political party, as Aldrich claims, depends on the electorate, the institutional setting, and the historical ideas, values, conditions and development of the party. Collective action and collective choice problems resolve out of these variables. When a party cannot gather support from the electorate, or politicians of a certain party do not agree on the problems that need to be solved, a party eventually becomes divided an unsuccessful. If the Republican party would die out, a different party would emerge because it would not make sense for a new party to mirror the old Republican party. In today’s world, I am guessing an independent party would come to the front or a more moderate party would emerge. I would create a political party that lies in the middle.

If I were to create a party, I would create a party the lies in the middle. Aldrich claims that parties are tools to gain interest and if both parties aim to do this, the party that appeals more to the public’s views should win. Distinct ideological differences between parties splits supporters, why not lie more in the middle to work in conjunction with those both liberals and conservatives. A moderate political party eliminates diversity, would allow for bi-partisan cooperation (as member of my political party would consist of both Democrats and former Republicans), and would represent and connect the public better to their government. That way I could serve the increasing number of people who call themselves independents, and gain support from Republicans who left their own party, more liberal Republicans and more conservative Democrats. Widening my spectrum of support rather than sticking to one political side, leaving the extreme Democrats up to their own devices in their own party.

As far as my political ideology, I do not want to end up like the Whigs have members of my party leave because I do not have nothing to offer them. Aldrich makes it evident that ideology of my new party is extremely important because it is what will pull my candidate away from the other side of the political spectrum. Based off my own political beliefs, the political ideology of my party would contain practical solutions to problems, we would keep an open mind when solving issues hearing many different sides to the problem. We generally would be more Conservative on economic issues, but more Liberal on personal and social issues. Therefore, I would be the leader of the party and members of my party would be a mix of Conservatives and Liberals to reach the middle ground on issues.

That leaves us to our platform. What types of issues do we stress and where do we stand on them? Going off of a list of the major issues of parties, I will briefly say where my part would stand. My party wants to restore the basic ideas that made the United States of America great. Restore and reinforce the basic values of Liberty, Security, Equality, Civic Duty, Individual Responsibility, and Democracy. We need to retain the feeling that we are proud to be American citizens and eliminate the anti-American attitude. My party would insist on honesty and integrity for our leaders, that no one is above the law. In terms of foreign policy, I think that we should keep our noses out of everyone else’s business, that would probably help our relations with other nations rather than hinder. Help only when needed and defend only from internal and external threats as appropriate. With that, we need to take care of the needs of America first and help or give aid to those in need after we have our situation under control. Who are we to help when we are facing one of the greatest depressions in our nation since the 1930s. In order to take care of ourselves and improve our well-being education, technology and science will be stressed. I also feel that today our government is too powerful, my party would emphasize Federalism where states have their own powers and Federal Government has its own distinct powers. Freedom of religion is needed, abortion should be a women’s decision and men should have no say in it because they simply cannot understand the stresses of the issue on a woman, Social security should remain but keep its funds to fund the program and not other programs. Americans need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps like my grandfather and parents did when they came here from Yugoslavia (now Serbia) with $35 in their pockets, welfare is sometimes needed but I feel it is abused in today’s society.

I guess I could have a variety of voting blocs that are important to citizens today. The economy, foreign relations, social security, abortion, education would gather groups to support my party.

I really do not know how successful my party will be. A successful political party is a strong, well financed, professional organization, has loyal officeholders and has partisan relationships among the branches of government. Funding is always an issue, but because I am a new party support and loyalty will be a problem that I have to overcome. Also, most people consider themselves a Republican or a Democrat so I do not have partisan relationships or loyalty immediately, however, I am hoping to gain the loyalty of those who considered themselves Republicans before the party crapped out. I would have to change peoples ideology however, and that is going to be a difficult task in itself. Republicans would have to consider themselves Moderates or Independents.

My party’s role in Congress and if I am lucky enough, the White House would take time obviously. A new party needs to develop trust with the electorate, however, being a more moderate party I would have a large number of supporters immediately. Spatial politics claims that people will vote for the policy that is closest to their ideology or belief. In theory, spatial politics would benefit my party because I offer a better policy or stance on an issue than someone who is on one political extreme because I lie in the center, attracting more voters from either side of the middle.