Should there be a Veterans Party?

SGT Francis Wright — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:09:24 -0400

I think we are under represented, and a Patriot Party should be started.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Mar 20 at 2015 10:15 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:15:50 -0400

Maybe not because think of it, FEMA would have one big list to hunt us down and to put us in camps after they take our weapons and violate our rights. Just kidding. Seriously though, instead of joining one party, everyone should join AUSA. We would be stronger, our lobbyist would have more funds to pay for lobby operations. We could not only gain influence but buy the influence. We'd be a political machine to be reckoned with. The results would yield quantifiable dividends in the end.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Mar 20 at 2015 10:17 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:17:21 -0400

why not....we have a [login to see] [login to see] 000 other factions....the samething r founders warned us about...even though a few of them said it would be a check and balance

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Mar 20 at 2015 10:26 PM

SGT Francis Wright — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:26:38 -0400

It was a thought, just tired of the lip service. Because you know when they say "thank you for your service"; really means I'm busy and the money people want me to work for them.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Mar 21 at 2015 1:25 PM

COL Ted Mc — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 13:25:59 -0400

Absolutely!!!

You bring the burgers and I'll bring the beer.

Oh, you mean a POLITICAL party.

Why not there have been lots of other single issue political parties in American history and they have always been successful despite the fact that the members couldn't agree on any platform other than the single point.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Mar 21 at 2015 2:01 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:01:42 -0400

There technically is one already (though this is NOT an endorsement):
http://www.veteranspartyofamerica.org/

It's run by a RallyPoint member: 1SG Mark Wilder

However, veterans don't vote as a block... there are many different points of view, so any party which is based on a professional experience rather than a common political ideology has a challenge of maintaining a united message.

Veterans Party of America

Being a Veteran is not required. A desire to fix America is required. We are founded by Veterans, for ALL Americans. Join with us.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 2:11 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:11:42 -0400

that makes a lot of sense to me count me in

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 2:14 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:14:04 -0400

oh man you got my hopes build up for nothing lol

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Mar 21 at 2015 2:28 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:28:19 -0400

SGT Francis Wright, no, I think that politicizing the military in any way is dangerous.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Mar 21 at 2015 3:03 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 15:03:55 -0400

Party? Who's bringing the keg? Will there be pizza?

Response by 1SG Mark Wilder made Mar 21 at 2015 4:02 PM

1SG Mark Wilder — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 16:02:22 -0400

The Veterans Party of America has existed for 15 months now and was labeled "The fastest growing political party in America" in 2014.

Not left, or right. Centrist, solution based, and guided by the Constitution. Founded by Veterans for ALL Americans.

http://www.veteranspartyofamerica.org

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 25 at 2015 1:01 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:01:43 -0400

Sadly, I think most Americans are under presented in the politics. Some of it is lack of attention or support while some of it is just a result in people being lazy. There is a church right next door to my apartment. Every election year the crowd gets smaller and smaller. Those that do show up either (a) vote down the party line or (b) don't even know or understand the platforms their choose it running on. People have found themselves frustrated with broken promises and very little results for the time invested. This has resulted in the current voter behavior. So while I agree with SGT Francis Wright that Veterans are under represented, I'm sure every group of people says the same thing.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 10:57 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 10:57:41 -0400

Reading this I am reminded of Starship Troopers. I am referring to the book by Robert Heinlein, which I hope all of you have read, not the barely related movie.

The question brings up many more questions.
-Should we require military service as a prerequisite to joining a Veteran's party?
-What issues would be on the table?
-Does it have to tackle every issue or can it just cover the issues that are felt by the majority of members to be an issue.
-With .1% of the population serving, do we have a enough to actually make an impact?
-Even if we cannot have a large impact, is it a worthy cause to do so anyway?
-(Related to the previous question) As citizens who have earned our citizenship (though we are not the only ones), is it our obligation to take a bigger stance?

If you do not get the Starship Troopers connection, here is an excerpt from an essay about what Federal Service means. FYI: I am not advocating this kind of policy, but this is the road a Veteran's Party would take. (In the book the Veteran's saved the world by taking over the governments and ending the wars)

"Central to the controversy is the book’s notion that a voting franchise must be earned by a would-be citizen. A franchise is not given to anyone, for any reason, until they have served a term (defined in the book as two years) in Federal Service. The book makes clear that the great majority of citizens do not bother with a term or a franchise; indeed, the protagonist’s father is a wealthy and successful businessman who is proud of his family’s hundred-year record of non-service. The government makes no attempt to recruit or entice volunteers; in fact, they work at dissuading would-beinductees by emphasizing the hard and brutal nature of service and the fact that those who enlist have no choice of service—they put themselves entirely at the government’s mercy for the duration
of their term."

http://www.nitrosyncretic.com/pdfs/nature_of_fedsvc_1996.pdf

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Apr 3 at 2015 12:56 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 00:56:02 -0400

We're such a minority in this country; especially these days. We would not be any better represented. Our votes would just end up taking votes away from a worthy candidate (if such should be found) from one of the bigs...

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 3 at 2015 1:36 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 01:36:49 -0400

At the very least there should be a Veteran's caucus across party lines within the Legislative branch.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 1:33 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 13:33:36 -0400

Sounds like a great idea.