Against the Forward Party? You’re probably Pro-Trump
Why being against the Forward Party’s democratic reforms means you are indirectly (unconsciously) supporting extremist candidates like Trump
Since it’s conception, the Forward Party, and its supporters have been at the eye of a storm of hate, lies, and misconceptions. The establishment media, and those unconsciously frozen in a state of partisan paralysis by this deeply dysfunctional duopoly are doing all they can to discredit the Forward Party and its efforts to reform US democracy and give the American people more choices, which would also begin to suffocate extremism and authoritarianism.
One frequently citied criticism of the party is that they will be a spoiler in the 2024 Presidential election and hand Trump another four years at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Critics often cite Nader syphoning votes from Al Gore to hand George W Bush ‘victory’. Or in my and Kamala Harris’s Comms Directors opinion, a path to wrongly claiming victory. They are also quick to cite Jill Stein daring to be a Green Party Presidential candidate as a reason for Trump’s victory. Because of course the flawless Hillary Clinton is entitled to all of Mrs Stein’s votes! That sounds like an allegation drawn from a eudaemonic democracy doesn’t it!
The partisan establishment media seems either incapable of understanding or are just choosing to ignore how the Forward Party is tirelessly campaigning for the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), which would allow voters to preferentially rank candidates on the ballot, eliminating the spoiler effect, as if a voters first choice doesn’t win, their second choice vote will be counted, and if they don’t win, their third choice vote will be counted an so on. Below is a good explainer video by Elizabeth Warren if needed.
If these petty partisans who vociferously claim to be defenders and fearless warriors for democracy actually cared about it, they wouldn’t be opposing the Forward Party with quite so much falsely targeted outrage.
Even if Democrats win in 2024, and Trump is no longer a serious political entity, the beast that is Trumpism would not just spontaneously vanish. Another Trumpian figure, one who may even be more competent and politically savvy will run and would quite likely cause much more devastation and destruction than Trump himself did. This highlights the need for changes to the system, to suffocate this type of extremism out of politics. If you oppose these changes the Forward Party are fighting for, you are very likely to be unconsciously, or consciously supporting Trump, Trumpism, and other types of extremism that the dysfunctional duopoly provides a platform for. If the system that led to Trump doesn’t change, what is to stop an even more dangerous candidate finding electoral success?
It is also important to consider how more Americans identify as Independent than as a Democrat or Republican. The fact they have to choose either of the two major parties or face being called fascist is disturbing and antithetical to democracy and freedom. The Forward Party and RCV would help eliminate this restriction of freedom and would strengthen the voices of tens of millions of Americans.
If you are reading this, enraged by my ‘outrageous’ suggestions, here’s something else for you. The Forward Party has no plans to field a candidate in the 2024 Presidential election anyway. So, if the return of Trump is what you fear, work with the Forward Party to change the system that got him elected in the first place. For now, the party plans to focus on the countless local offices, where people lack choice, due to the duopoly, demographic makeup of the nation and gerrymandering.
Another frequent criticism of the Forward Party is their alleged absence of policy proposals. Although I understand there is a noticeable lack of positions on some specific issues like Universal Health Care etc, I also understand that there is no point in fighting for these things if the system isn't in place for a third party to implement these things. That is why the party is fighting for things like RCV. In the meantime, the party will support whatever the common-sense majority does. Although this may seem like a cheap response, and it does go against my desire for policy specifics, it is a sensible approach until the system is fixed. It would also help to ease the political tension and extremism in the country.
Forward Party founder Andrew Yang was recently interviewed about the party by CNN’s Jim Acosta. I think this interview is emblematic of the fear that is felt by the establishment of any change. Acosta consistently mischaracterises and misunderstands the purpose of the Forward Party. He insinuated that the Forward Party was just a way to sell more books and that Yang is just promoting himself. He really highlights the need for more ‘grace and tolerance’. If you want this division that is tangibly felt by tens of millions, then go ahead, be my guest. But if you think Jan 6th was the worst of it, I’m afraid you may be gravely mistaken (although I hope it was of course).
If you don’t believe me, if you think I am guilty of this mischaracterisation that I am accusing Acosta of, go and watch the interview for yourself. I feel like it makes more sense for you to get your own impression from the interview and to draw your own conclusions as opposed to myself going through it point by point telling you what to think (unlike most politicians).
There were literally countless bad-natured and disingenuous responses to this interview. One that particularly stood out, came from Occupy Democrats, which is a left wing media outlet, which claims that “This website commits to our readers that we will stick to the facts at hand and truthfully presents those facts to inform our readers which is why this is a news website.”.
But look at their response to the Yang/Acosta interview…
This is nothing more than a flagrant mischaracterisation. Mischaracterisations like this are part of the problem and will only worsen division. And this is from Progressives who should seemingly be for things like RCV! They are certainly not ‘sticking to the facts at hand’ and ‘truthfully’ presenting them.
Until the partisan hacks propping up the Democratic and Republican establishments wake up and start giving the Forward Party an honest and fair chance, I fear that the extremism that the nation is already facing will only get worse. Stop arguing with your friends and neighbours about what they believe. Instead, take out your anger on the system that is letting you down. Furthermore, instead of attacking those trying to make things better, and mischaracterising all they say, why not try and help?
Liked this piece? Check out my previous article HERE.
Another great article Kit! I posted the following on my Facebook today, it's too long for Twitter and I don't know where else to post it. So, I figured a comment here is as good a place as any.
Did you know, in the 2000 election voter turnout was 50%? In 1992 and 2016 it was 55%. The 2020 election had 62% turnout, the highest since 1960. Perhaps pundits should stop blaming Perot, Nader, and Stein for the way elections turned out and instead try to figure out why close to half the country didn't show up to vote. The new Forward Party is NOT running a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. We are not running any candidates in this year's midterms either. The party isn't even registered in most states. But, it is working on that. This party thinks that part of the problem with voter apathy stems from a lack of choice at the ballot box. Voting shouldn't be like going to Costco (either get the red jumbo sized item or the blue jumbo sized item). We want to show there are more than 2 choices out there, more like going to a grocery store. Our focus is on local and state elections in the coming years. We want you to have choices on the ballot and not just red or blue, but the whole rainbow. At present in most of the country's elections they don't even have a choice between red or blue, most are just red or just blue. That's not how democracy works. If you agree that having choice is at the center of a working democracy, then consider supporting the Forward Party.
Nice post! If the two parties are the root of the issue, then the solution can't come from them. I've thought for a while that the moment this country can start to move forward is when Dem and GOP supporters find themselves behind the same movement, and Forward Party could be that movement.
The media is underestimating how much Americans want a real break in the two party system. No matter which side you're on, we can all sense that this system is headed in the wrong direction. I think most of us are ready to unite behind a new vision.