A Cordial Discussion Amidst Rampant Irrational Anger

Day 589, 15:47 • Published in USA Pakistan • by Longbaugh


I recently wrote an article called "The Losing Battle of Small Parties" in which I made the argument that if like-minded small parties don't collectivize they are in effect continuously fracturing the vote; marginalizing themselves and leaving namely the United States Workers Party, Libertarian Party, Conservative Party, and America's Advancement Party (in that order) at the reins of power every election cycle. My article was more or less a suggestive one. I didn't single out or attack any citizens and only lightly mocked the U.S. Capitalist Party and the Green Party.

The responses were amazingly off-target. Specifically, members of the Socialist Freedom Party went ballistic and came after me like Palin on Letterman. If you read the article it's quite clear I wasn't asking for, nor was I picking a fight. I was writing about my party's opposition. I am a United States Worker and I brainstormed what it would be like if my party had a real struggle every election. I don't understand the vitriolic responses in particular because this seems to be the principle complaint from everyone else: that the USWP is too strong. So, I thought about it and wrote about it. I think the Republican Party and Grand Ole Party should consolidate into the Conservative Party. I think it's ridiculous that they haven't already. I think the U.S. Capitalist Party should consolidate into the Federalist Party. I think these parties should do this because their differences simply aren't large enough to warrant separation.

Anyway, amidst all of the ridiculously out of touch responses calling me names and attacking my integrity by suggesting I was a USWP partisan puppet when all I was doing was giving unsolicited advice that, if followed, would guarantee success. There was one citizen, Johnathan Tyler, who apparently has a clear and logical head on his shoulders and doesn't have the thin skin that so many others have. He responded in a fine, professional, and mannerly fashion. He asked for my opinion and I returned the favor in kind.

Below is from Johnathan Tyler's The Private Choice. Below that is my response, which I wrote in his newspaper.


Johnathan Tyler:

Recently Longbaugh wrote an article, presumably on the behalf of the USWP***, which I feel requires an adequate and detailed response. Although, admittedly, I am sad that my first publication will be a response to an existing opinion – it is a response that is necessary in face of the unfair accusations made earlier today.

Longbaugh, I know you or members of your party may disqualify this request - whether it is due to the lack of current members or lack of previous political influence in the eUSA. Also, I know you will cite the fact that I and perhaps others in my party - the US Capitalist Party - are new to the game.

Regardless, I would like to make a response regarding the overall way in which you described us, and every other minority party in the eUSA. Yes there are similar parties; I think the difference lies in that one party’s beliefs are slightly more perfected to their individual needs and demands from their close counterpart. As TroyTrojansCoach has argued this is a matter of party pride – We stand for individual beliefs and practices that differ, at whatever scale, from those of our ideologically related counterparties.

What I would ask of you is to reconcile your statements, or at least leave room for future reconsideration – Speaking on behalf of the US Capitalist Party: we are taking a much more active approach in reforming and unifying party ideology, taking a more active and organized approach to recruit new members, and looking to effectively define ourselves (perhaps for the first time) within the eUSA.

Outrageous taxation on individual’s incomes, economic barriers in the form of import taxes, needless spending on wasteful and broken initiatives and other wrongs have been committed far too long in the eUSA. Government exists to ensure the Rule of Law, defense of the homeland, and to provide education to new eRepublik citizens. Funding from taxes should only be used to manifest these things – by limiting careless government subsidies we keep money in the hand of the people who have earned it – whether it is the business or the individual.

Regardless of how closely related these beliefs and other related parties’ beliefs are, as part of the majority party - the USWP - the only thing you have to lose is seats in congress. By keeping to our individual beliefs, values and separate parties we are effectively helping you and your party retain power in the eUSA – as you would argue. If that is the case, may I ask what you are complaining about?

Your article holds merit concerning the way in which minority parties split the vote, this is not what I am writing on – Rather, I am writing to ask is that you keep a more open mind in regards to minority parties and the role they play in the eUSA's daily political operations. Some of the most widely adapted majority opinions began with support in a minority party – and evolved from there.

You're right, the eUSA needs uniformity, cooperation and strong interparty relations – However, I see no reason that multiple parties cannot work together in a unified and dignified way to best serve the eUSA citizens. I think any citizen would not only support a political form with many diverse parties conversing to better serve the public, but embrace this political form as it would more accurately represent the ideals and beliefs of the citizenry as a whole.

With Utmost Respect,
Johnathan Tyler
US Capitalist Party


+++Shortly after publication, Zack Mack posted in the comments of this article that after speaking with party leaders Longbaugh's article is not an endorsed party view, but rather his own personal view as a member of the USWP. Damn right.+++


My Response:

Quote: "By keeping to our individual beliefs, values and separate parties we are effectively helping you and your party retain power in the eUSA – as you would argue. If that is the case, may I ask what you are complaining about?"

That's the PROBLEM Jonathan. That's what my entire article was about from start to finish. The only complaint in my entire article—the ONLY one—was that the competition is so spread out that there is no competition. My article was intended for the benefit of the future of parties just like YOURS, not mine. That's the only complaint in the entire body of my article. And, the ridiculous anger at such an article only adds unnecessary personal afflictions directed toward certain parties where they weren’t there before I wrote it.

The reason so many people responded with such vitriol (100x the vitriol I had, which was none) was because they have their own misconceptions about my party. They think we're some kind of iron fist regime that rules without mercy and they clearly think that whenever a USWP member speaks of their party they're speaking badly of it.

Lenore's comment is dead on. I AM my own man and her words are echoed by what I said in my last campaign article:

"With that said, to all naysayers I will personally attest to President scrabman's quality clarity as president. I will also attest to the altruism of the United States Workers Party. Despite what many of you may have heard or read, the USWP is without a doubt a good old-fashioned American stalwart. As a matter of fact, I find much more sick partisanship shooting from reactionary parties that depend on the demonization of the USWP to survive. Don't believe that hype."

I do have an open mind to minority parties. When I first entered eRepublik I tried to look for a party that completely fit my ideals. Honestly, it would probably be the SFP. But, I realized that the only way any citizens are going to make a real impact is if they join a major party. This, by the way, isn't an idea relegated just to eRepublik... it's true in every nation in the real world.

With that said, my article had nothing to do with politics or ideologies. It was 100% about how you put it, "minority parties split the vote." That's all it was. And, with that argument—my argument—the logical fix would be to consolidate like-minded parties. Political parties, after all, aren't supposed to be tree house "No Homers" clubs. They're supposed to be melting pots where like-minded people, who differ on small issues, join together to accomplish and attack BIG issues.

The myriad of small parties help the overall argument, but if you can separate me from my party affiliation for a moment (and if I have to leave the party just for the few minutes it takes to explain it I will) then understand what I'm saying is that this myriad doesn't vault any single small party into a serious and powerful position. That is why I titled my article "The Losing Battle of Small Parties" because "winning" isn't really in the cards... BECAUSE the vote is continuously split in every election.

Also, in all of this hooplah another unavoidable fact has been ignored... that all of these parties were started by citizens so that they could start their own party, name it, and be their own PP. New parties are going to sprout up more and more as eRep builds and that party parity will shrink every time.

Your clarification at the end is another point I'd like to address. Of course the USWP didn't tell me to write that article. And, as I hope I have clarified for you (which I also did for so many others that simply weren't listening), the article was written with the Nationalist Party in mind, and the Socialist Freedom Party in mind, and the U.S. Capitalist Party in mind, and the Green Party in mind, and the Democratic Party in mind, and the Grand Ole Party in mind, and the Republican Party in mind, and NOT the United States Workers Party in mind.

The problem is that so many people jump on the opportunity to not only demonize the USWP but also relentlessly attack USWP members, regardless of their arguments, simply because they're members of the ruling party. The first four responders understood my point and they don’t share a party. Sheriff Creamson is an Independent, wingfield is a Federalist, Jon Malcom is unaffiliated, and Lorenzo Serafini is USWP. Then the SFP decided to swamp my responses with a ridiculous series of inferiority complexes; angry that I even MENTIONED their party.

I still think my idea holds water because when you go from point A, to point B, and then onto point C, the logical conclusion is that consolidation is how you win elections. Anything else is just irreverent pow-wowing

.

The argument continues in The Private Choice. That's right! An "arrogant blowhard" member of the USWP is plugging an opposing party member's newspaper.

The world must be coming to an end!