Resolved

Since the Election of 2016, I have received - in an ever-growing flood - a cascade of email appeals from liberal, progressive and human rights organizations pleading for additional funds with which to fight the incoming Trump Administration and its allies in Congress.

I'm sure many who read this will have received similar appeals in an even greater torrent.  After all, I rarely give much to issue-oriented groups, while many have given them reason to hope for new or added contributions.  I'm rather a dubious prospect, but still, they write.

It's not that I don't appreciate the causes many of these organizations represent.  It's just this:  These organizations, individually and collectively, don't constitute an effective political force.  They may have moral authority.  They might be able to mobilize vast numbers of on-line petitioners, or even put tens of thousands of feet on the pavement.

But they don't run candidates for office.

In a society where power is wielded by elected legislators and executives - and by judges largely chosen by those elected officials - these noble, or at least noble-sounding, organizations asking for year-end contributions don't play in the game that really counts.

They aren't political parties.

To be sure, many of these organizations are doubtless on more-or-less friendly terms with the Democratic Party, but the Democratic Party has long since demonstrated its inability - or downright reluctance - to embrace solutions to problems which go against the vested interests which constitute that party's core coalition.  Or, really, vested interests which are just too big to oppose.

For example, Democrats will fight for Obamacare, but not for any sort of single-payer system or non-profit insurance system.  They dare not oppose the big health insurance companies and Big Pharma,

Nor will they take steps to increase the supply of physicians - a powerful way of lowering costs - by enlarging existing medical schools; building new medical schools; or liberalizing the ways in which foreign doctors, immigrating to the US, may qualify to practice medicine here.  The AMA wouldn't stand for it.

Democrats will advocate better K-12 and early childhood education, but not if a proposed solution in any way offends the teachers' unions.

They will demand action on climate change, but not if the answer annoys Big Oil, the automobile industry, the UAW, or unions engaged in building pipelines.

As an old, established party, the Democrats will do what they must to remain one of the two viable, major parties in the American duopoly.  They won't take risks.  They won't offend the powerful.

Oddly enough, the greatest potential for moving America forward on most issues belongs - at present - to Republicans.  Or rather, to former Republicans - moderate-to-progressive citizens who once belonged to the "citizen" wing of the GOP.

And to young voters who may never have seen a living, breathing moderate or progressive Republican, but who share many of the attitudes once common among that nearly-extinct species.

To put it simply, America needs a new party - a party determined to re-occupy that part of the political spectrum once occupied by the party of Lincoln, before it was hijacked by bigots, theocrats, know-nothings, and thugs.

The causes most liberal and progressive Americans believe in will probably never be accomplished by the Democrats.  They can best be accomplished by a new political party which comes at these issues - not from the traditional left - but from a place more associated with nationalism, even patriotism.

A party which would recognize someone like Teddy Roosevelt, as well as Lincoln, as its ancestor.

Such a party would probably be somewhat politically incorrect.

It would almost certainly be uncomfortably assertive in the international arena.  Which isn't all bad, considering it would probably also be very aggressive on combatting global climate change.

Almost certainly, such a party would not offer free college tuition to young Americans - except in exchange for several years of serious national service.

But then, such a party would probably demand sacrifice from all of us, in order to pursue the good of all of us.

One thing, for sure.  Such a party would not pander.  And thus, it would be far more politically effective than the Democrats have become.

What America needs is not more fund-raising lobbies and advocacy groups.  It needs an organization ready, willing and able to run and elect attractive candidates.  It needs a party which can oust the worst of the neo-con and alt-right politicians who now dominate the Republican Party, replacing them with genuine patriots interested in progress for all.

Such a party, once it exists, would be an organization I'd consider sending money to.

Wouldn't you?