Now is the perfect time for a third national political party to form, crystalize, create a name, other than “Independent,” and declare itself.
For this to happen, it needs several essentials, as I see it.
First, it needs a way of identifying its separation from the two main parties. It needs to define itself as having unique needs, including some differing whole systems. And it needs significant numerical volume.
Taking the last requirement first, somewhere around 20-30% of Americans claim Native American blood in their family DNA, and about 1-2% of the whole population can be considered pure Native American. That’s a good start.
If a tribal unification is properly gathered, it could yield a powerful constituency. It might take a while, and it won’t be easy. Other groups in our history have tried to form into a party, but none have built themselves into a natural plurality. A new party needs to be broadly inclusive.
Initially, anyone with certifiable native blood should have automatic membership in a new party. As membership becomes solidified, the new party should establish a basic platform, and a scale for blood-percentage to qualify for automatic membership. The platform, itself, will attract a certain number of non-native supporters, based on desire for change. Membership “by preference” should be considered, because political parties need votes, which suggests a pluralistic approach.
I am a European-American and I would like to see a party that I would like to vote for. The field right now is wide open. Discontent is rampant.
When a new party starts up, it no doubt will be attacked, immediately. Following the Constitution of the United States, adhering to it for structure and form, should provide ample direction. Adhering to it is a must.
Both national parties have either ignored or violated laws in recent regimes. I call that perfect timing for this project.
We need to weave Indigenous Wisdom into the fabric of our government. It may seem too late to many of us. But when you consider how the Original Peoples have maintained genuine respect for the natural systems that have evolved over the last several thousand years of human presence in America, it seems to me that voice should be part of the ongoing conversation in Washington D.C.
My plea to all Native-Americans is please form a functional Third Party now and see if it takes off. I think it could, and I hope it will.
Dan Morris