It has come to my attention that I am not an American and therefore am not an expert on American politics. That is certainly true, just as it is true that I have a great many relatives who are Americans. We are very close, and they keep me abreast of the political winds within the country. So I write in the spirit of the slogan coined by Marx, no less, Workers of the World, Unite!
With that in mind, I have chosen to expand on my previous article concerning the possibility of placing Sanders in the White House and flooding Washington with socialists, or Leftist people, or at least people who are sympathetic to socialism. I am convinced this can be done, if the people on the Left come together, unite in a common goal and use the system the capitalists have created, that which is used to protect them. We can use that same system against them.
Since the days of the Civil War, the American government has embraced the two party system, which is of course the Democrats and the Republicans. Over the years, various leftist parties have challenged this system, attempting to run as a third party alternative, with limited success. The capitalists have found various ways to defend the system which has served them so well. My idea is that instead of challenging this system, we should embrace it.
So I considered some ballpark figures, which is to say very rough figures. As for those who find such figures boring, bear with me, as this is important.
In the country, there are four hundred thirty five districts, and each is represented by a member of the House of Representatives, referred to as the Congress. As there are just over three hundred million people in the country, it means that each district has an average of less that one million people, those who are eligible to vote. Perhaps we can use the figure of three quarters of a million people per district. Of those, one third may consider themselves as independent, which leaves half a million people. Of those half million voters, half may consider themselves as Democrats and the other half may consider themselves as Republicans. It follows that each party may contain a quarter of a million people, within each district, at least on paper. These voters are commonly referred to as registered members of the two parties.
Of course, those figures are not entirely accurate, but that does give us a ball park figure, something with which we can work.
This means that within each district there may be a quarter of a million voters who consider themselves to be Democrats and another quarter of a million voters who consider themselves to be Republicans. In other works, two hundred fifty thousand people for each party. That is an impressive number but it does not tell the whole story.
Within those quarter of a million people of each party, there are very few certified members of that party, which is to say card carrying members, those whom I refer to as party bosses, because that is precisely what they are. These card carrying members of the party determine party policy and the candidates to run for any and all political offices.
There may be as few as one in a hundred, or one percent, which is to say that there may be perhaps twenty five hundred certified, card carrying members of each party, in each district, on average. I also consider that to be a high estimate.
That is important, because it is not a great deal. Simple math tells us that there may be as few as a million card carrying members of each party in the whole country, and probably a great deal less. Those are the people who choose the candidates for political office throughout the whole country.
No doubt there is a way to determine the precise number of card carrying members of each party, on the internet, but I cannot seem to find the exact figures. Perhaps that is the way the capitalists want this. They may not want people to determine just how few people are card carrying members of each party.
In order to elect Sanders to the White House and flood Washington with Leftist people, by which I mean people who are at least sympathetic to socialism, we do not have to fight the whole capitalist system, including the two party system. Instead, we can embrace the system by persuading Leftist people to join both of the parties, and encouraging their family and friends to also join the parties. If even a thousand people on the Left, within each district, join the parties, and each and every one of them persuades even ten others to also join the parties, then the two parties in each district will be blessed with ten thousand new members.
As for those who consider this a ridiculous idea, to have four or five million Leftist people join the two parties, may I remind the readers that a great many people, far more than several million, took part in the Occupy Movement. The discontent within the country is deep and widespread. Countless people, hard working, law abiding, tax paying citizens, workers and middle class, house wives and professionals, employed and unemployed, underemployed and homeless, students and retired, are anxious for change. Now is the time to force that change, and this is the way to do it.
I am calling for people on the Left to come together against a common enemy. It only makes sense to hit the enemy at the point where he is weakest. For the moment, the two parties are wide open. Almost all adult American citizens are welcome to join. That is important, because as I understand it, the card carrying members of each party determine the candidate for all political offices. Then there is the formality of a primary, in which the registered members of the party, the rank and file, get a chance to approve the candidate who has been chosen by the party bosses.
At least, it used to be a formality. Not any longer. Now, as part of the revolutionary motion of the country, the registered members of both parties are standing up to the party bosses, and demanding that the candidate of their choice run for office.
The days of the party bosses deciding just who gets to run for political office are long gone. Not that the party bosses ever had that authority, but since the working class has ”woken up”, the rank and file of both parties are taking back their power, the power which is rightfully theirs.
No doubt there are those who object that it is not principled to be a member of more than one political party. To such people I can only point out that the closest the capitalists ever came to principle was in learning to spell the word. For that matter, it may help to think of this as simply taking the capitalists at their word. For years, they have been telling us that if we do not like the system, then we can change it from within. A splendid idea, and now is our chance to do just that.
To be sure, there are a great many people who choose to place restrictions upon themselves. To such people I can only say that the capitalists have placed a great many restrictions upon all of us, so there is no need to add to the burden. It is class war, us against them, workers against capitalists, proletarians against bourgeoisie, and the less we tie our own hands, the better our chances of success.
With that in mind, I am urging my American comrades to join both parties, Democratic and Republican, as card carrying members, which is to say party bosses. Most people have computers, or at least have access to computers, and if need be, know people who can assist them in using those computers. Almost all adult American citizens can enrol online, as it is called. I have been assured that it is simplicity itself.
For the benefit of older working people, I can only point out that computers and the internet are merely tools, no different from hammers and wrenches. At least, that is the very thing I tell myself. I also find that my children are a great source of assistance.
The point is that it is possible to join both parties by using the computers, simply by going on the internet. There is no charge. Then, as a card carrying member of each party, such a person is assured to assist in setting party policy, and in determining the candidate to run for office. Then the registered members of the party, the rank and file, have to approve that choice.
No where does it say that Americans cannot be members of both parties.
For that matter, such citizens can be members of other political parties, as well as members of trade unions, sports clubs, cycling clubs, sewing circles, religious bodies and scientific organizations. The other political parties can include the Green Party, the American Party of Labor, the CPUSA, the CPML, as well as other groups and organizations such as Green Peace, Democratic Socialists of America, the National Rifle Association, the Spartacus League, various anarchist associations, cryptozoologists and creationists, people who are pro life and people who are pro choice, the members of the Flat Earth Society, et al. The list is endless.
If I am not mistaken, the first primaries are less than a year away, so there is no time to lose. Most members of the older generation feel neglected, with good reason. The only time the politicians approach them is during an election, and only for purposes of securing their vote. These seniors should be approached, by younger Leftist people, and encouraged to join the two parties. If necessary, they can be given computer assistance at the same time. As well, students should also be encouraged to be politically active, also joining the parties. Even those who are quite young, soon to be eighteen, are eligible for membership. It is doubtful that such young whippersnappers need any assistance in the use of computers. On the other hand, as such people tend to be bubbling with enthusiasm, they may well be quite anxious to assist their parents and grandparents in joining the parties.
Those of us who are in our declining years tend to pay strict attention to our children and grand children. They are among the few people we can trust. After all, they are our own flesh and blood.
Within each state, there are various districts, and these districts collectively get to decide just who gets to run for Senate, in the appropriate election year, for that state. As well, all the states get to decide, in a federal election year, just who gets to run for president. There is no need to remind my readers that an election year is fast approaching, but I am reminding you anyway, as I cannot resist the temptation.
The implication is very likely one which has not occurred to any capitalist, and very likely to very few Leftist people. If enough Leftist people join the two parties, Democratic and Republican, we can determine the candidate for president for both parties. As such, there is no reason in the world we cannot nominate Sanders for president, not only on behalf of the Democratic Party, but also on behalf of the Republican Party. At the same time we can make sure that each and every member of the next Congress, as well as all of the new Senators, are Leftist people.
I can think of no more sure fire way of ensuring that Sanders gets to occupy the White House and Trump gets to vacate the building. After all, it is up to the rank and file members of the Republican Party, the registered members as well as the card carrying members, to decide the candidate for office of the presidency, on behalf of the Republican Party. If Trump does not like this, then he is free to run as an Independent Capitalist. Somehow, I do not think that is about to happen.
For the moment, we should be focused on uniting, putting aside our differences, encouraging students and seniors, veterans of the Occupy Movement and working people of all walks of life, to join the two parties, Democratic and Republican. Then, as card carrying members of the parties, we can truly make a difference. Our banners and posters should read:
Sanders for President!
Unite the Left!
Join the Party!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 