Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on July 11, 2011 at 8:16am

If we are going to have parties based on nonreligion, then it's OK to have parties based on religion,  Oh wait, that's the Republican party.  Never mind.

 

I think the Democrat party has a big enough tent to allow agenda with secular view.  Fringe parties stay on the fringe.  Well, there's tea party, but that's just Rebublicans with dementia. 

 

Well, good luck.  I can't see having a separate party based on atheism, even though I'm ardently antitheistic.  It would be interesting to see the platform, but even then I don't think I would go for it.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe Bruemmer on July 11, 2011 at 10:10am

Very true, but I don't see that as a reason not to form a party. The Democratic Farm & Labor party enjoyed a lot of success at the turn of the last century. Ever hear of Battling Bob LaFollette? A great leader from a third party who made it to the US Senate. Even ran for president & got 12% of the vote.
The whole point is to shake up the system.
And you know, parties have died. Remember the Whigs? What if we supplanted one of the major parties? Hey, I can dream a little:-P

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on August 5, 2011 at 5:21pm

When I was in college I was in the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL) and we realized that third party movements were doomed from the outset.  So, we worked within the Young Democrats and the regular party to encourage Socialist ideas and actions. Out on the fringe you are just farting in a whirlwind.

There is a sizable number of Democratic Congresspeople and Senators in the Progressive Caucus I would imagine a fair number of them are Atheist or Agnostic.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe Bruemmer on August 5, 2011 at 5:37pm

Actually, there is only one declares non beleiver in congress: Pete Stark, from N. Calif.
I have personally worked within the system like you suggest. Than plan isn't working any more.
Besides, with the mood of voters now, they may be looking for a new alternative...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on August 5, 2011 at 6:11pm

That's true. However, "declares" is the operative word.  I would guess that a large number of congresscritters attend church and make sure every speech ends with, " ...and God bless America", and they do it all for the same reason they love babies, go to the county fairs, judge pumpkin contests and have a dog – the public perception – IMAGE. Regardless of who they really are.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe Bruemmer on August 5, 2011 at 6:13pm

And that is a real tragedy. A de facto religion litmus test.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Troy Boyle on July 30, 2011 at 11:00pm

Have a look at the platform yourselves. You'll find it in the notes section at www.facebook.com/national.atheist.party

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on July 31, 2011 at 7:40am

Not everybody uses Facebook.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Troy Boyle on July 31, 2011 at 12:59pm

Have a look at our external website then.

Troy

President, National Atheist Party

www.usanap.net

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren MacDonald on August 3, 2011 at 11:00pm

It would seem to me that an atheist political group would be less about the democrat or republican agenda, and more about the policy's and laws that are being pushed into place in the interest of the religious agendas. The atheist political party would seem to be more about things like, separation of church and state, the taxation of church's, keeping evolution in schools(the influence of the church in the school systems alone is enough to keep us busy for ages), supporting atheist candidates, and so on....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 3, 2011 at 11:14pm

Well, maybe it isn't all that much about atheistic views but more about knowing that religious views are not going to be a deciding factor in the day to day political things. I am happy with an atheist political party that just never brings up religion or lack of religion in general and focus on other topics we can come hopefully all come together and agree on. When religion is involved, sometimes the true topic at hand gets over-looked and we just keep spinning our wheels.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Astroslav on August 6, 2011 at 12:35am

I'd love to have a choice of non-theist politicians, but I agree with some of the others that have already commented, that it's not practical to have a party based on Atheism. I would think that people with similar economic beliefs, for example, are most likely to unite politically, than people that lack belief in the supernatural.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page