• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
People's Party of Washington will alway put people before profit

People's Party of Washington

People Before Profit

  • About
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Learn More
    • Principles & Values
    • Vision & Mission
    • Membership Agreement
    • Platform Development
    • Contact Us
  • Join us!
    • Become A Member!
      • Optional Membership Dues
    • Invite To Monthly Statewide Mtg
  • Volunteer!
    • Volunteer Here
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Financials
  • Donate
  • Events
    • Statewide Monthly Meeting
    • Event of Interest
    • Protest of Interest
  • News
    • Blog Home
    • Announcements
    • Articles/Commentary
    • Climate News
    • Covid Relief News
    • Electoral News
    • Justice News
    • Labor News
    • Legislative Issues
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Progressive Party Builders Can Help Create Progressive Party

Beyond Trump and Biden: A Progressive Party Can Rise

By Jonathan H. Martin, Core team member, Progressive Party Builders. Appears in Counterpunch, reprinted by permission of the author.

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share via Email Share via Email

“Once new possibilities for change that are within reach of ordinary people become evident, or at least once people think they are evident and within reach, popular aspirations also expand.”

— Francis Fox Piven, Challenging Authority (2006, 141–2)

Crisis can open the door to opportunities previously seen as desirable but impossible. As 2021 unfolds, more Americans could actively support a true alternative to corrupt major party politics as usual—if they come to believe that it has what it takes to succeed.

A long-standing decline of U.S. society advanced by both the Republican and Democratic parties has reached a striking low point. Over the past year our government has failed to contain a deadly virus, protect many people from economic ruin, prevent a particularly overt wave of racist violence, and dissuade nearly half of voters from supporting the reelection of a quasi-fascist president (Trump). And that is in addition to many years of politics that have greatly exacerbated social inequality and ecological destruction. Both parties have had a hand in leading us here, through largely favoring the privileged and disregarding the common good. But if our nation had had at least one major party clearly committed to social, economic and environmental justice (i.e., real progressive change), we would not be in this situation.

Now, if at least one of the two existing dominant parties does not change course dramatically, which neither seems capable of doing, this could be a good year to start diligently building a different party that can save our country. Any such party would faithfully fight for all ordinary people, and it would not be beholden to the super-advantaged. It also would be electorally serious, meaning it would clearly emphasize winning elections (without abandoning its principles). And by gaining power and influence one step and place at a time, it would show that it could eventually become a new major party. This is the only kind of third party that could attract widespread public support. In the abstract many people already want such a party, and emerging events may reinforce that desire. But this party may only develop if the right steps are taken to convince essential sympathizers that it is possible.

Popular Desire and Doubt

According to polls, for decades most Americans have supported many progressive policies, and for years the majority has wanted a new major party. That’s not surprising, given the impact of half a century of increasingly pro-corporate Republican and Democratic rule—often referred to as U.S. neoliberalism. This politics for the privileged has steadily enriched wealthy elites, made economic life harder for most people, corrupted our healthcare system, caused grave harm to the environment, and heightened racial and gender oppression in critical ways, among other negative effects. Under the thumb of big campaign contributors, general elections have mostly given voters a bad choice—between the right-wing Republican and centrist Democratic forms of neoliberalism. Whether through elections or in the legislative process, both parties have suppressed the progressive agenda. For instance, they have quashed demands for substantial tax hikes on the rich and corporations, single payer health care, strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions, free child care and college tuition, large cuts to the military budget, and deep reforms of the criminal justice system. Republicans have enthusiastically attacked these ideas as a package, what they refer to as a Democratic-led socialist conspiracy. But leading Democrats themselves have either rejected these proposals or substantially watered them down one by one, while stifling the few politicians in their party who are truly committed to them. This bipartisan hostility toward the public good has already prepared many citizens to look beyond the two-party system.

However, 2020 may have started to push the public even further. Amidst a pandemic and deep economic crisis in which many ordinary people have suffered greatly, and stand to suffer more, the need for government help has become larger than at any time since the Great Depression. But the U.S. has done much less than various other countries to minimize risks and consequences for the general population. Even after the defeat of Trump, Republican lawmakers still openly oppose more aggressive action. And for similar underlying reasons, we cannot rely on Democrats as a whole—who now control the presidency and (barely) the Congress—to go far enough or fight hard enough on behalf of effective and just solutions: Having prospered enormously for the last half a century, the wealthy and big business do not want to pay for a new New Deal. Nor do they want the generous government spigot of tax breaks, subsidies, inflated contracts, and regulatory restraint for those at the top to be turned down. Accordingly, in 2019 Joe Biden himself promised his rich donors that if he were elected president, “Nothing would fundamentally change.” We can count on him and the rest of the Democratic elite to keep that promise. Already almost all of his Cabinet picks are members or friends of the neoliberal establishment. So, at best we can expect limited or compromised efforts to fix our broken society. As the fallout of the crisis and pre-existing inequities persists, public discontent with both parties and openness to electoral alternatives may grow.

Still, the vast majority of Americans, regardless of how politically dissatisfied they become, won’t actively back third parties if they don’t think they are viable. Instead, without a credible alternative, people generally will have to hope for the best they can get from the duopoly, and if it isn’t good enough, many may merely shift their support from one major party to the other in the next general election.

It is rational to doubt that third parties have the potential to win. Clearly, our system puts big obstacles in their way, including winner-take-all elections, steep ballot access hurdles in many places, and a money-driven campaign system. Equally if not more important, much of what is published and broadcast about third parties focuses on their so-called failures. The mainstream media highlights longshot races they often lose by giant margins, particularly instances in which their candidates are characterized as possible “spoilers” in a fight between major party contenders.

Hidden Achievements and Possibilities

Most people hear much less if anything about third party successes, of which there are plenty. For instance, in recent decades Greens, Vermont Progressives, and a few independent socialists have regularly won scores of elections per year combined, mostly but not entirely at lower levels in different parts of the country. In select municipalities and states, this has led to higher wages, fairer taxes, more tenant protections, enlightened changes to policing, and stronger environmental regulations, among other progressive reforms.

One of the more stunning but lesser known success stories is that of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. First elected in 2013 and affiliated with the group Socialist Alternative, Sawant played a key role in mobilizing support the following year for the nation’s first $15 per hour minimum wage, which inspired more such breakthroughs across the country afterwards. Also, just last year Sawant made a similar pivotal contribution to a successful movement to make big business (including Amazon) pay hundreds of millions of dollars per year in new municipal taxes, to be used for building affordable housing in Seattle. The above reforms faced great opposition from establishment forces aligned with the local Democratic Party, but Sawant and her allies ultimately prevailed. This shows how even a small third party presence in government has the power to leverage big policy changes, through its ability to marshal public pressure against the major party status quo.

And there is a long history of third-party achievements. For example, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Populists and Socialists elected well over a thousand candidates at local, state and federal levels. That enabled them to help sway the government to enact many of their forward-thinking proposals—for the abolition of child labor, minimum wages, graduated income taxes, broader access to public education, expansion of voting rights, and more, resulting in enduring progressive reforms. And decades earlier, the Republican Party itself began as a third party that swiftly rose to ruling major party status and played a crucial role in ending slavery.

Today, contrary to popular myth, abundant opportunities exist to add to this legacy of accomplishment. In addition to the favorable aspects of public opinion and changing social conditions described earlier, other hidden openings for third parties await. In many places throughout the country, uncontested one-party domination allows third parties to effectively become the second party, eliminating any need to vote for a “lesser evil” major party candidate. Moreover, third parties still have the chance to develop a record of effectiveness and build a base at the local level through easier to win races and policy fights. And local victories may in time become springboards for running viable campaigns at higher levels. Finally, the Internet, a broadly accessible organizing and fundraising tool, enables third parties to quickly reach many more voters than in the past.

Inertia

However, these inspiring facts may not matter much to most people if they aren’t aware of them, and especially if they don’t see concrete evidence of third-party power in their own everyday lives. Thus, third parties have to emphasize doing what it takes to win more often, even if just at lower levels for the time being.

Unfortunately, despite having made some notable breakthroughs, prominent national third parties today—including the only progressive one, the Green Party—don’t focus enough on winning. As mentioned above, these parties frequently run non-viable candidates, many at higher levels, who perform very poorly. This supposedly is necessary for educating the public, recruiting members, pushing major party candidates on the issues, and gaining or maintaining ballot access. But such campaigns typically fail to reach many people or get the attention of leading candidates. And state ballot access has little value when viable state-level candidates don’t already exist to make good use of a third-party ballot line. Running weak candidates for state ballot access so still more weak candidates can do the same later wastes precious resources and energy. It traps third parties in a discrediting and demoralizing cycle of losing.

In fact, candidates at the lowest electoral level, municipal politics, normally don’t even need their party to have state ballot status in order to run. Third parties first must build a solid bench of successful local candidates because it can supply more ambitious races with viable competitors. Strong community connections and the ability to activate them with a vigorous campaign typically enable local candidates to make a good showing or win, and thereby attract many new, committed party members. Finding or creating candidates with these qualities should therefore be a top priority.

But running non-competitive candidates in extreme longshot races has become a bad third-party habit that is hard to break. It not only has firmly taken hold of prevailing national parties. It also has begun to seduce groups aiming to build new parties, sometimes referred to as proto-parties. The founder of the most visible left proto-party, the Movement for a People’s Party (MPP), has already made grandiose predictions about high-profile, unwinnable campaigns soon to come.

Of course, any forming party should be viewed skeptically if, like the MPP, it is planning to run its first candidates at very competitive statewide or federal levels, or claiming that it can become an overnight electoral sensation (winning high offices and gaining mass appeal within a few years). Particular new third parties did quickly gain power in the mid-19th through the early 20th centuries in cases cited above. But that depended on conditions that still are a long way from recurring—including the complete fracturing of elites nationally and a much higher level of organization and mobilization from below.

A Way Forward

How then can today’s progressive third-party builders become more strategically realistic and effective? Strong efforts must be made to pull them away from the losing addiction to non-viable and top-down campaigning, and toward the dedicated bottom-up pursuit of achievable electoral gains. Sympathetic activists within or outside of third-party groups should band together and conduct viability campaigns to promote third-party strategies that really can work (and challenge ones that have failed).

That’s what one new organization, Progressive Party Builders (PPB) intends to do. Created by veterans of various progressive third parties and proto-parties, and the Sanders presidential campaigns, PPB will concentrate on the following:

  • Educating independent left activists about why electoral viability matters;
  • Highlighting what makes a third party and its candidates competitive;
  • Identifying, recruiting and supporting strong local progressive party candidates;
  • Encouraging the formation of winning local progressive proto-parties; and
  • Training others to do the above.

Viability campaigns by PPB and others may ultimately help produce a new, more effective progressive third party; alternatively, they may put pressure on underperforming left parties and proto-parties to either shape up or lose members to more serious competitors. Over time these campaigns might also foster cooperation among like-minded organizations around a common results-oriented approach. However, if such efforts only boost a single third party, that still could be worthwhile. It may only take a small but growing series of electrifying election breakthroughs by one party, even at lower levels, to begin to popularize the belief that a winning alternative to Demopublican rule is possible on a larger scale.

Next Step

While 2020 plunged Americans into a severe crisis, it also may have paved the way for a political awakening. To the extent that the corporate duopoly fails to deliver under duress going forward, more people may become receptive to left third party alternatives.

But are progressive third-party activists capable of doing what is needed to show these options can be truly viable? That is the key to their popular appeal and success. It is how Bernie Sanders himself was able to become an influential independent left U.S. Senator—by demonstrating first that he could win elections and make popular changes at the municipal level (as a mayor working with local third-party allies). Yet after Sanders’s second Democratic presidential campaign loss last year, it is clearer than ever that he and his movement cannot take over a deeply corrupt Democratic Party. Another better party has to be built from the ground up. The evolving crisis challenges us to either rapidly reform a leading progressive third party or proto-party into a serious, competent operation or join another party-building group that doesn’t need reforming.

Potential changemakers should resist the temptation to sit back and let the left third-party movement stay stuck. Now is the time to connect and stand up with others interested in creating the winning independent progressive politics that many Americans want.

Jonathan H. Martin is Professor of Sociology at Framingham State University. He is the editor of and a contributor to the book Empowering Progressive Third Parties in the United States (Routledge 2016). He can be reached at [email protected].

The views expressed in this article are not necessarily shared by the People's Party of Washington.

Filed Under: Articles and Commentary

Primary Sidebar

People’s Party of Washington Newsletter

Subscribe To PPOW Newsletter here
Explore past PPOW Newsletters below.

Issue #26 – March 24, 2022
Issue #25 – March 10, 2022
Issue #24 – February 23, 2022
Issue #23 – February 9, 2022
Issue #22 – January 26, 2022
Issue #21 – January 12, 2022
Issue #20 – December 29, 2021
Issue #19 – December 15, 2021
Issue #18 – December 1, 2021
Issue #17 – November 17, 2021
Issue #16 – November 3, 2021
Issue #15 – October 20, 2021
Issue #14 – October 6, 2021
Issue #13 – September 22, 2021
Issue #12 – September 8, 2021
Issue #11 – August 25, 2021
Issue #10 – August 11, 2021
Issue #9 – July 28, 2021
Issue #8 – July 14, 2021
Issue #7 – June 30, 2021
Issue #6 – June 16, 2021
Issue #5 – June 2, 2021
Issue #4 – May 19, 2021
Issue #3 – May 5, 2021
Issue #2 – April 21, 2021
Issue #1 – April 7, 2021

Our Posts As Of Today

  • Announcements (11)
  • Anti-War News (3)
  • Articles and Commentary (5)
  • Climate News (3)
  • Covid Relief News (1)
  • Electoral News (1)
  • Justice News (1)
  • Labor News (13)
  • Legislative Issues (1)
  • PPOW Events (1)

Events Of Interest

<< Jun 2022 >>
MTWTFSS
30 31 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 1 2 3

Supporters on Why They Love PPOW

photo of Jamin - a father and a Washington People's Party volunteer

“My reason for being in the People’s Party is my 17-year-old daughter. She is lacing up her adult shoes and getting ready to use them in this unforgiving world. A… world I brought her into. In reality, that goes for all of our youth. I believe the People’s Party is the best avenue to finally create a better world for all our children. So let’s make sure we pass on a bright light to guide my baby and our collective youth, in all their splendor. I encourage you to join WPP with one mission in mind: To Make America Great FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!” Read more “For Our Children”

Jamin M. - Port Orchard
PPOW State Vice Chair
Placeholder image of PPOW volunteer who made this Why PPOW statement

“I joined the Peoples Party because I believe in upholding education as a human right. No person anywhere in the United States should be denied education of any form and… should be able to be in a community that fosters that growth by any means.” Read more “Education As a Human Right”

Shelby S. – Seattle
PPOW Supporter
Photo of volunteer who made this Why PPOW statement

“I’ve been politically active my entire adult life. I registered to vote at age 18 and never looked back. In the 1980s, I marched against the South African system of… apartheid. I spent a summer canvassing for ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) in my hometown of Memphis, TN. Since then, I have been active in supporting Planned Parenthood. After the 2016 and 2020 Presidential elections, I was done with the do-nothing duopoly. The People’s Party offers a path to break free of corporate grip on our political system and the opportunity to build an agenda that works for the 99%.” Read more “Done With The Do-Nothing Duopoly”

Shannon S _-Bellingham
PPOW Vice Chair Media & Messaging

Growing up in a politically active family, I became increasingly disillusioned by a growing awareness of the widespread deceit practiced by political candidates of both Parties, speaking from both sides… of their mouths from the campaign trail to whatever elected office they gained…But it’s relatively recently that I learned the ‘truth’/actual dynamics behind how our government works…Sadly, NOT for the electorate, but for whomever can pay them the most for their allegiance in a corporate capitalist culture~! The gross injustice of it all came to a head for me during Trump’s ‘reign’ of terror, when the realization of how this nation, which I had believed was a ‘constitutional democracy’ was a sham/charade that many believed in, but stood ready to betray that trust and ‘bend the knee’ before the idol of the ‘almighty dollar’~But I also became aware of those who championed the core values and human connection between people…and I believe that ‘TOGETHER, We Can/Will Overcome’, as we did segregation and the Viet Nam war, to raise up and realize the HOPE that is possible…’United,’ We Stand…’Divided,’ We Fall, and here in Washington State we seem to be succeeding in making that a political reality as the rest of the nation seeks an antidote to the ‘duopoly’ that has abandoned us~! The PPOW epitomizes that ‘Hope’ as we work toward sharing and participating in transforming our Democracy in reality…Together~! Read more “”

Ivana Grace - Mount Vernon
PPOW supporter
Washington lake

The poisonous notion that the most we can hope to do with our votes is damage control necessarily leads to ever-worsening political options and outcomes. We deserve more. I’m not… sure what other evidence people need that the Democrats will never fight for us than the fact that, time after time, they immediately abandon all their campaign pledges once they’re in office and get down to business doing nothing. The strategy of smuggling progressives into Congress on the Democratic Party ticket has failed, and instead of doubling-down, we clearly need a new strategy—and a new party. The old parties are both unwilling to meet our needs and are completely beyond redemption. We can and must do better. Read more “”

Jenny B. – Burien
PPOW Supporter
photo of People's Party of Washington volunteer

I shudder to contemplate the next Presidential election if our only choices are Biden and Trump types of candidates. For decades, regular Americans have had no political party fighting for… them. Increasingly people are desperate for an alternative to the two-party corporate-dominated duopoly. The People’s Party gives regular Americans a loud and clear voice. It supports candidates, policies, and a movement that will force the government to take significant actions that benefit regular folk, not big corporations. I am proud to be a volunteer and member of PPOW. Read more “”

Betsy C - Seattle
PPOW Media & Messaging
photo of People's Party of Washington supporter

“I have hope. The People’s Party of Washington gives me hope. I do not have faith in the current political system. Despite having a majority in both houses and the… Presidency, the Democratic party has stymied. The supposed reincarnation of FDR seems to have just morphed into Reagan 7.0. Our desperate work to help Georgia win two Senators seems for naught as Sinema and Manchin always get things ruined while never being punished for it. The progressive caucus has revealed it will politely ask the establishment Dems if they can stand their ground, refusing to fight for little folk despite us asking so often. That’s why I believe in People’s Party of Washington. They are Us. People who feel left behind. Folks that see the obvious injustices in our systems. Workers wanting to help workers. American citizens together. Why wouldn’t you support that? I support any organization that shows solidarity, that fights for everyone, and believes in fairness. I believe in the People’s Party because they give me hope.” Read more “”

Steve H. - Lacey
Supporter
photo of People's Party of Washington volunteer

I started volunteering to build a new, major Party of the People last year when the Democrats refused to even put a $15 minimum wage in their platform! I knew… then, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Democrats, just like Republicans, had no interest in fighting for the people. And since it was clear that both parties in the duopoly had been captured by the wealthy corporate elites in this nation, I knew that I could never again vote for any candidate that identified with either of those parties. So now I’m working to help build a voice of the people here in Washington, and Nationwide! Helping to create a party that is people-powered, people-focused, and people-funded… a party dedicated to enfranchising all of us who are fed up with this system! Fed up with the wealthy corporations stealing our value; fed up with a government that only watches out for the wealthy; fed up with a nation that refuses to value or listen to its people! It’s time to build a party for us, a People’s Party! Read more “”

Marc M. - Bellingham
PPOW State Chair
Photo of Nils - a young man and Washington People's Party volunteer

“I’m becoming increasingly worried about the fragile state of our nation, and it’s clear that our current political system won’t offer the right solutions. It’s time for an alternative to… our broken corporate duopoly and I want to be part of the journey to create a party not for Goldman Sachs, Raytheon, and ExxonMobil, but for the people.” Read more “Time For An Alternative”

Nils G. - Burien
PPOW supporter
photo of People's Party of Washington volunteer

This country has never needed the People’s Party more than it does now. I believe this can be an important offering or alternative to the present situations. The  Democratic Party… only continues to get worse. There seems to be no-one with any moral or ethical behavior left in our present leadership. The Republicans ram everything through & the Dems can’t seem to get even lunch money OK’d. Its been that way since Reagan. They are all only; “actors on a stage”. While we drown, each member of the Dem’s seems more concerned with making a headline, than doing real work for the people. Meanwhile horrible, tragic and terrorist acts continue to be used against the people by their own government. Massive amounts of our monies are being shuffled into Wall Street Corporations. This is truly a fight for the country, against Corporations set on making slaves of us all. Slaves without the benefit of our “masters” having to feed, clothe, educate or tend our wounds. What we’re seeing now seems a return of the Dark Ages and not the Enlightenment. These leaders have sold off so much of their power to the corporations they’ve become foolish actors and powerless puppets. All dangling under the strings of their masters. And they are not ashamed of what they have become. They all know better, still they just don’t care. It’s every representative for themselves now, grab whatever you can. The more chaos you can cause the more corp’s are able to steal. This battle to take back America from these buffoons is going to be long, hard & without compensation. Yet it needs to be done, immediately. This is an emphatic vote of “No Confidence” To allow these two parties to continue to sell off America at this pace, and place it under a Mafia type rule, must be stopped. There is no road forward with present leadership. That old 70’s movie “Network” has never been more fitting for the American people. “We are all Mad as Hell and We are Not Going to Take it Anymore.”  That should be one of our many cries outward to bring some sanity back from this Corporate Mafia Behavior of our Judicial system. And the 99% movement needs to return in force.  Where are you all? Were you scattered to the wind and then purchased in entirety? Capitalism has failed us entirely, by incorporating the entirety of Washington DC. Police & Schools, the majority of Media. Plus there’s that part where most of their products are toxic & killing us.  Everyone already knows these things. None of this is news. Facts; “The USA is selling off more of its citizens Financial information than anyone else in the world. The TSA is helping local Policing Agencies steal money from travelers, even though there is no law against taking money inside the country. We are being threatened and killed by our own Police Departments who now have been completely Militarized against us. etc. etc. etc….(I can go on for days here) 85% of the people want Medical & Climate Relief. Still we can’t seem to find 50% of our Representatives to get it. Why is that?  Even after they ran for office on these same Promises. How much longer are we expected to watch and listen to these Buffoons?  They lie so often, they had a law passed to protect them from themselves. Why are we still hoping for progress from  Professional Liers? Do you know the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing over & over expecting different results. By giving $trillions to Corps here & overseas via Covid, the USA has caused and allowed massive inflation.  Making you spend your few remaining saved dollars to just exist, a few more years. While inflation raises the taxes you must pay to exist in your own homes. Without any raise in pay. While “shortages” cause 50% price increases everywhere. So whose home is it really?  All this is placed into play by our Representatives, like Actors reading from the Author’s script.  And, The Author’s raked in $Trillions. ( We received 170 million checks worth $400 billion. Where did the other 5.5 $trillion go?  Or was it $6.5 Trillion? It’s hard to keep track anymore. Much of it went overseas out of reach of prying eyes.) Meanwhile every agency of Government is out to collect more from its citizens. Every cent & more back.  Every Dept & Agency has been set up as a “For Profit” business. As each year passes, each department is expected to create new revenue streams.  How will we citizens defend ourselves against this type of behavior? You can choose not to go to the store. Yet, interacting with the government cannot be avoided.  They will seek you out and demand new payments. New revenue streams. There is no longer anyone looking out for you. No one to actually Protect and Serve. You may never feel safe & secure again. All scripted out by psychopath CEOs and their Special Interest Groups. “Habeas Corpus is no longer in effect to protect you. You are guilty until they say you are not. And they have the right to retain you anywhere by any means. What does it mean when you can’t feel safe anymore? It means you are being terrorized by those who are supposed to be protecting you. And there seems to be no recourse against all the groups set up to terrorize you. It’s OK if they sell every secret bit of financial information you have. In fact, it’s most likely against a law somewhere to restrict them from making money off all your private information. It’s time for a real party of the people, The “People’s Party.”  I’m not against somebody making and saving a dime. It’s just time to start taking back some of our Future that’s been taken away & stolen by these two existing “Actor Parties”.   It’s time to say; I’m Mad as Hell and I’m Not Going to Take it Anymore.  Everyone knows exactly what the problem has been for years. Let’s start doing something,  The People’s Party. Are you thinking of sending some money for a political cause?  I know I must get 4 emails a day asking for donations. Let’s decide to give money to non-liers from now on. No more excuses from our Reps. Let’s take steps toward creation of a completely different Representative who’s  Party’s name is subject to their belief. The People’s Party.  You don’t have to wonder about that…….. Thanks…………I understand it’s a long statement.  Sometimes it’s hard to get all of it in a few words.  I’ve left out so much & so many important issues. “The People’s Party.” Pass it on by telling a friend. If you still have anyone you trust anymore? Read more “”

Steve C - Mount Vernon
PPOW supporter
Photo of PPOW who made this testimonial

“I’m a 2nd-grade teacher who’s joined the People’s Party because we need a duopoly alternative immediately. Our government fails to meet the material needs of a growing number of people.… Elites won’t acknowledge the real situation, and things are getting worse fast. Like Nick Brana says, we need an exit door. An alternative to fascism and austerity.” Read more “Need a Duopoly Alternative Immediately”

Richard M. - Seattle
PPOW supporter
Graphic of the People's Party of Washington volunteer who made this why statement

The answer to the question ‘why I joined the People’s Party’ is dirt simple. I want to change the way people think about our government and their place in it.… Our current form of government is just fine as defined in the US Constitution and spiritualized in the Declaration of Independence. But, our government has been usurped by our economic system and those who control it. It was sold to the highest bidder in a private auction decades ago. We the people must unite to take it back, and the People’s Party is the perfect mechanism to do just that. United we stand, individually we are nothing. “We the people,” from the US Constitution, is now the People’s Party. The three rules of taking back our government are: Unite. Unite. Unite. Read more ““We the people,” from the US Constitution, is now the People’s Party.”

Bill B. - Issaquah
Volunteer
photo of People's Party of Washington volunteer

I started volunteering with PPOW because I could no longer sit around worrying and complaining, but not doing anything. I had tried Green Party, DSA, etc., but I wasn’t finding… the level of activity and forward motion I needed. PPOW was ready to build a state party, as well as join a national coalition of other parties and organizations looking to build a true party of the people. I found people who were also tired of the inaction and ineptitude of our current system, and who were ready to get involved and either end the corporate duopoly, or die knowing that they had at least tried. I cannot think of a better way to spend my time and energy than by trying to make this world a better place for my children. Read more “”

Rebecca M. - Bellingham
PPOW Administrator Extraordinaire
THe PPOW who made this Why PPOW statement

“I have always shied away from partisan politics, but have long recognized that we must find a way to transcend the partisan divide and duopoly control.  The People’s Party presents… the opportunity to heal our broken nation by focusing on our shared Vision of the future we all long for.” Read more “Opportunity To Heal Our Broken Nation”

Jim L. - Spokane
PPOW Chair Platform & Policy
Photo of the PPOW volunteer who made this Why PPOW statement

“I’ve been so fed up with money in politics and the corporate domination of our government and country. I was ready for a party that puts people and the planet… first–and the People’s Party does that. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with folks who share my values and concerns as we all work for real change.” Read more “Putting the People &The Planet First”

Leslie C. _-Amboy
PPOW Volunteer & Tweeter Extraordinaire
Photo of Veda, a 70+year old woman and Washington People's party volunteer

“I am a child of the 60s and worked to end the Vietnam War. We ‘did that,’ but at that time we did NOT address the reality that the system… was broken. I’ve been waiting for The People’s Party for 50 years and am thrilled to be working for this movement with people I consider to be the cream of the crop!” Read more “What I’ve Been Waiting For”

Veda S. - Camano Island
PPOW Newsletter Team
Photo of the People's Party of Washington volunteer who made this why statement

I’ve been interested in politics since I was 4, when I wrote President Bill Clinton a letter begging him to prevent global warming. Fast-forward 30 years and now we’re staring… down the barrel of a climate crisis because the people who run both parties are too corrupt and cowardly to address it. I’m working to build a People’s Party because D.C. politicians represent their donors more than their voters. It’s time to take down the permanent political class and make our government work for us! Read more “”

John Paul P. - Kirkland

Explore more

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
People's Party of Washington is a party of, by, and for the people

Footer

Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · · People's Party of Washington (PPOW) · · In Solidarity With You!

Paid for by the People's Party of Washington and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

  • Announcements
  • PPOW Events
  • Articles and Commentary
  • Labor News
  • Electoral News
  • Legislative Issues
  • Volunteer Opportunities