July 4, 2026 – Independence Day
July 4, 2026 (USA)—Imagine a time when our constitutional democracy evolves into an inclusive system of government that includes a viable, energetic, and active third party made up of independent moderates, and disenfranchised and unaffiliated voters.
Let’s call it the Independence Party of America.
Wouldn’t it be a great idea—and a grand possibility—if partisans and talking heads could put politics and ideology aside to create a Third Way that represented the interests of the lower and middle classes as well as small business owners and entrepreneurs?
As part of his New Deal II proposals, Barack Obama could pass incremental steps to national healthcare reform and a future Sarah Palin presidency may—ironically—finally rid our political process of lobbyists and corruption for good.
Once we make progress on the domestic front, maybe there will be more of a non-Socialist, collectivist approach to climate change, to sending a manned mission to Mars, and to weaning Americans off of their dependence on foreign oil spurred by a third party movement.
What would this party look like? First, it would take a "sliding-scale" approach to regulation and deregulation in the free market. Add plenty of Barry Goldwater libertarianism, emphasizing the importance of limited government in the areas that matter. Throw in a streak of social consciousness and consumer advocacy that Theodore Roosevelt made famous.
Plus, stir in a Lou Dobbs’ guardian role for the working class that protects U.S. sovereignty and American jobs. Also, we need to put a flame underneath our elected representatives to get our financial house in order by mandating that they run the government like a business and by requiring an annual balanced budget.
Can this be done? Is there enough pie for everyone? Who knows, but every program and expenditure needs to be scrutinized and inefficient/wasteful programs need to be excised from the budget—easier said than done, but it needs to be done nonetheless.
Citizens complain that there are very few differences between the two major parties—that Democrats and Republicans have morphed into this unrecognizable creature. Both want to continue skyrocketing social programs that the country can no longer afford and no one has the balls to touch. Both seem to have forgotten the importance of soft power and diplomacy to achieve U.S. strategic objectives abroad. Both seem more focused on corporate interests over the interests of the common man.
I know that this proposition is a long-shot, but I love the way that the Independence Party of America sounds. It rings true to the intent and ideas of our Founding Fathers, which was to integrate a system of checks and balances in a strong, central government while attempting to “strike a balance” amongst various factions competing for scarce resources, and while allowing for compromise and consensus.
Somewhere along the line, the Democrats and Republicans have lost sight of their real purpose, which is to represent “we the people” and to form a “more perfect union” out of a diverse citizenry. Somehow, someday, this will sink into the minds of our elected officials, and I wish and hope that the next charismatic and influential leader would take on the mantle of the Third Way.
Let’s call it the Independence Party of America.
Wouldn’t it be a great idea—and a grand possibility—if partisans and talking heads could put politics and ideology aside to create a Third Way that represented the interests of the lower and middle classes as well as small business owners and entrepreneurs?
As part of his New Deal II proposals, Barack Obama could pass incremental steps to national healthcare reform and a future Sarah Palin presidency may—ironically—finally rid our political process of lobbyists and corruption for good.
Once we make progress on the domestic front, maybe there will be more of a non-Socialist, collectivist approach to climate change, to sending a manned mission to Mars, and to weaning Americans off of their dependence on foreign oil spurred by a third party movement.
What would this party look like? First, it would take a "sliding-scale" approach to regulation and deregulation in the free market. Add plenty of Barry Goldwater libertarianism, emphasizing the importance of limited government in the areas that matter. Throw in a streak of social consciousness and consumer advocacy that Theodore Roosevelt made famous.
Plus, stir in a Lou Dobbs’ guardian role for the working class that protects U.S. sovereignty and American jobs. Also, we need to put a flame underneath our elected representatives to get our financial house in order by mandating that they run the government like a business and by requiring an annual balanced budget.
Can this be done? Is there enough pie for everyone? Who knows, but every program and expenditure needs to be scrutinized and inefficient/wasteful programs need to be excised from the budget—easier said than done, but it needs to be done nonetheless.
Citizens complain that there are very few differences between the two major parties—that Democrats and Republicans have morphed into this unrecognizable creature. Both want to continue skyrocketing social programs that the country can no longer afford and no one has the balls to touch. Both seem to have forgotten the importance of soft power and diplomacy to achieve U.S. strategic objectives abroad. Both seem more focused on corporate interests over the interests of the common man.
I know that this proposition is a long-shot, but I love the way that the Independence Party of America sounds. It rings true to the intent and ideas of our Founding Fathers, which was to integrate a system of checks and balances in a strong, central government while attempting to “strike a balance” amongst various factions competing for scarce resources, and while allowing for compromise and consensus.
Somewhere along the line, the Democrats and Republicans have lost sight of their real purpose, which is to represent “we the people” and to form a “more perfect union” out of a diverse citizenry. Somehow, someday, this will sink into the minds of our elected officials, and I wish and hope that the next charismatic and influential leader would take on the mantle of the Third Way.
posted by Tom Rockman Jr. | 5:28 PM
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