The Third Party — a referee separating the donkey and elephant

We don't need a Third Party because we hate Democrats.
And we don't need a Third Party because we hate Republicans. We need a Third Party because they hate each other.

How We Might Build It And Win — by Alan Ray White

Be the Snowball!

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Why We Need a Third Party

"Can you believe that even as the country wallows in this decades-long stalemate between the hard Right and hard Left, the policy priorities of almost half the voting public go unrepresented?"

45%
of voters identify as Independent — more than either party
62%
of Americans want a third, middle-of-the-road party
$6.4T
spent on wars since 2001 — money that could have rebuilt America

When Benjamin Franklin consulted on the creation of the U.S. Constitution, it has been reported that he was not in favor of a solitary President. Evidently, he wanted a three-group panel to be President.

Even then he was apparently recognizing the value of three entities in the decision-making process.

— from The Third Party

It's the Bloods and Crips, the Hatfields and McCoys — in suits. Congress is gridlocked, and nothing changes because neither side will break the tie.

But even a small Congressional presence gives The Third Party control. Nothing passes without them. They can block anything really dumb. They become the tiebreaker — and the adults in the room.

"Rage is not a political strategy. Neither is revenge."

The Internet has changed everything. Assembly used to require meeting halls and bus fare. Now Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom make organizing a major party practical and widespread. The ESIGN Act makes internet signatures legal everywhere. The barriers are gone — all we need is the will.

Balance of power — donkey, elephant, and the scales of justice

The Platform — 5 Main Planks

"If it weren't for the social conservatives, I'd probably be a Republican. If it weren't for the Socialists and the nanny state, I'd probably be a Democrat."

End Regime Change Wars

$6.4 trillion since 2001

In our entire history, America has had only 18 years of peace. It's the Department of Defense, not the Department of Offense. The military-industrial complex corporations are where the biggest political donations come from and lobbying is heaviest — exactly what Eisenhower warned us about.

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"All wars are a failure of politics."

Every major war in the last 100 years was fought under a Democratic administration (except Afghanistan/Iraq). But this isn't a partisan problem — it's a systemic one. The defense industry profits from conflict, and both parties collect the donations.

The Third Party says: defend our borders, defend our allies, but stop nation-building with American blood and treasure. Redirect that $6.4 trillion to rebuilding America itself.

Source: Watson Institute — Costs of War Project

War on Drugs → War on Addiction

~$1 trillion/year wasted

"There is no war on or against drugs. Drugs are inanimate objects. Drugs don't go to jail." After 50+ years, drugs are more available than ever. It's a medical problem, not a legal problem.

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"You can have either a war on drugs or healthcare for everyone, but you can't have both."

Even William F. Buckley Jr. — the most conservative voice of his time — argued to end the War on Drugs: "If you have a problem with drug addiction, then for God's sake attack the addiction."

The War on Drugs has destroyed America's inner cities, caused mass incarceration, destroyed millions of families, and costs taxpayers up to a trillion dollars a year. We'd get more for our money if we took the trillion dollars in cash and set it on fire at Yankee Stadium.

Criminal Justice Reform

#1 incarceration rate globally

"The three most serious things any government can do to a citizen is to take their life, confiscate their property, and/or make them live in a cage." America has the highest per-capita incarceration rate in the world, with 627,000 of 714,000 local jail inmates not yet convicted of a crime.

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"Every time you make law, you make a criminal. You should be careful how many laws you make or you will lose all of your liberties." — Old Chinese Proverb

End consensual crime (gambling, drug possession). Outlaw asset forfeiture before trial. End no-knock warrants, stop-and-frisk, and random roadblocks. Reform a prosecution system where 90%+ conviction rates are driven by plea bargaining, not justice.

"I don't think we should defund the police, but maybe we should consider, in some instances, defunding Congress. They make all these idiotic, unenforceable laws."

Healthcare for All

31 million uninsured

The question isn't whether healthcare is a right — it's how to pay for it. Healthcare, like military defense, is supposed to be expensive. With 31 million Americans uninsured, the answer is: stop wasting trillions on wars, drug enforcement, and mass incarceration.

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The funding plan is four steps: (1) end foreign wars, (2) end the War on Drugs, (3) reform criminal justice, (4) reform corrections. If we do that, we'll have lots of money left over.

Medicaid continues covering the poor and elderly. "This is not complicated if we just stop wasting our resources on nonsense."

Pay Down the National Debt

2% Wealth Tax on ~78K wealthiest

Clinton and Gingrich's Balanced Budget Act of 1997 balanced the budget in one year. It stayed balanced until Iraq and Afghanistan broke it. Interest payments on the debt now exceed the entire Department of Defense budget.

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A 2% Wealth Tax would affect approximately 78,000 of the wealthiest people. Direct it exclusively to debt reduction, with legislation ensuring it can never be used for anything else.

"Our third party — being reasonable, balanced, and logical — can be the driving force for fiscal sanity."

Paying down debt reduces interest payments, creating a virtuous cycle. Just as financial advisors tell clients to pay down credit card debt, the nation needs to pay down its own national credit card.

More Positions

A middle-of-the-road party isn't wishy-washy — it's logical. Here's where The Third Party stands.

2nd Amendment

Total repeal is never happening. The Third Party can broker reasonable approaches between the two parties without disturbing the Second Amendment.

Abortion

It's complicated. Let party members propose and discuss solutions in chat rooms. "I bet a workable solution can be found among you."

Border Security

The Navy enforces our oceans. The Air Force enforces our skies. Why not the Army on our land borders? Support military deployment with gradual immigration reform.

Corporations

Corporations are "the very engine which keeps our country humming." Simplify tax codes, monitor IRS/politician/lobbyist relationships.

Economy

"Where did all the money go?" Support making it feasible for manufacturing to stay in the United States.

Labor Unions

Collective bargaining is valid, but unchecked power destroys businesses. Support right-to-work.

Electoral College

Oppose elimination. Presidents represent collective States, not individual citizens. You'd have to eliminate the entire Constitution to remove it.

Foreign Policy

Oppose "Boogieman Politics" — manufacturing enemies to win elections.

Foreign Trade

2021 trade deficit: $859.1 billion. Re-negotiate with trading partners and increase exports.

Hospitals

Shore up rural hospitals, reform drug prices, expand outpatient services to offset inpatient cost pressures.

Schools

Teach practical skills: taxes, cooking, personal finance, car maintenance, home repair. "Students should not be used as warrior pawns in political culture wars."

Term Limits

Valid arguments on both sides. The Third Party could find a workable compromise.

Building the Party

Alan's blueprint is internet-native, crowdfunded, and immune to lobbyist capture. No meeting halls required.

Penalty flag on the political arena
💬

486 Chat Rooms

435 House districts + 50 Senate states + 1 Presidential. Every race gets its own public conversation.

Online Voting

Party members in each district vote online to select nominees. Internet signatures are legal everywhere (ESIGN Act).

📺

Streaming News Channel

24/7 internet channel: candidate interviews, panel discussions, breaking news. Funded by advertising and donations.

🚫

No Lobbyist Money

All lobbyist/PAC contributions go only to the central committee — never to individual candidates. Eliminates one-on-one influence.

🌐

Crowdfunded & Internet-Native

Independents outnumber both parties. A party of Independents could out-raise both combined.

🌐

TheThirdParty.org

Alan has owned the domain for over 20 years and is willing to sign it over to the party.

"The Internet has changed so much that it is now quite practical to create and launch a third major political party."

Live Chat Room Demo

Alan's book envisions 486 chat rooms — one for every race. Here's one, working right now.

Presidential Chat Room

No messages yet. Be the first to speak up!

The Closing Argument

We don't need The Third Party
because we hate Republicans.
We don't need The Third Party
because we hate Democrats.

We need The Third Party
because they hate each other.
Break the tie! Let's get this party started. Be the Snowball!
The Third Party — book cover

Bulk orders: djalanwhite@djalanwhite.com

What Readers Say

Alan White has written an easy to read book, very concise, with an actual plan of how a third party could come about... It's a fast read, and will get you thinking!

Ed Wolkis, Author of "How To Take Photos That Move Houses"

I read it in an hour. It reads like a magazine. And it forced me to think about what's important and what I care about.

Barbara Woods, NYC

Alan White has created a blueprint of what can be done to bring authentic candidates to the political arena. Great read. Highly recommend.

Geoff Ellis — Amazon Verified Purchase

Great outline on how to put the Democrats and Republicans out to pasture... This book is concise and very straight forward. I highly recommend it for everyone who feels the two major parties have failed us.

Amazon Verified Purchase

I love a book that cuts out the crap and gets straight to the point... Alan White has written a clear and concise road map to a better way... to break up the endless and monotonous gridlock of DC. It's short, sweet, inexpensive, and packs a whole lot of valuable information.

Amazon Review, January 20, 2024

Relatively quick solutions challenging the machine of politics... Take an hour out of your day to read it.

Amazon Verified Purchase

About the Author

Alan Ray White — author portrait

Alan Ray White

So, why would I write a book about a third political party? I'm not special. I don't have a PhD. Don't even have a GED. I don't work at a think tank, and sure don't have any insider political knowledge.

However, as a professional entertainer who constantly interacts with people in all walks of life, I'm a fellow who's always willing to talk politics. Ever since the Watergate debacle (1972–1974), I've had continuing conversations with people of all political persuasions about the need for the 40% to 50% of Americans who identify as Independent voters to have a political party which more accurately represents their interests.

A mainstream, middle-of-the-road, moderate third political party. I figured, why not? Somebody had to do it. Can't accomplish anything if you don't try. I believe in it so much I've owned TheThirdParty.org for over 20 years. It's about time to use it.

To get this done, all we need do is capture the imagination of the American Independent Voter.

The main attribute a third party candidate should have is being reasonable. No firebrands. People of logic and reason. People with calm but firm politeness, good manners, truth-tellers, and the ability to work with others.

Alan's previous book, the 400-page Rock Around The Block, is a collection of stories from sixty-plus years in entertainment — American Top 40 radio, pioneering Disco DJ, talent manager, record producer, and Internet broadcasting pioneer. Available on Amazon.