Re Third Parties in the U.S. -- and Co-optation Dangers

From Hunter (re an RBB discussion):

Of course, I disagree with much of what you say.  Aside from the fact that a third party can run any number of candidates, there is the necessity of bona fide independence from the very outset.  The other day, Sam quite rightly mentioned the co-opoting ability of the Democratic Party (and that could be extended, I suppose, to the Republicans.)

For whatever it may mean, I taught Urban Politics in an activist context for a few times to both grad and upper division undergrads at the University of Iowa. A section of my course involved co-optation and Chicago was my prime, but not the only, sad  example.  Prior to Iowa, I had just completed over four years of directing large scale grass roots community organization on Chicago's very turbulent South/Southwest Side.  Almost all of the people were lower income "minorities", mostly Black.  Out of this we developed two large umbrella groups -- each embracing a great throng of our recently organized block clubs.  Aware of the dangers of co-optation, the two umbrella groups  each formally prohibited their elective officers from holding any paid position with a political party.  A favorite approach of the regular Democratic Party [Daley machine and its successors to this very moment) was/is to hire community activists in various party positions, especially as precinct or assistant precinct captains.  The stipulation that no umbrella officers could hold paid positions reflected not only our savvy as organizers but the overwhelming wish of the grassroots with whom we were working.

One of my several textbooks was Mike Royko's classic on machine politics in Chicago, Boss.  It's still very timely today.

See this for more on our Chicago South/Southwest project:  http://hunterbear.org/chicago_organizing.htm

The challenge is to maintain organizational independence always -- and, if involved with, say, the Democrats, keep the organization's footing outside of that problematic structure.  

We simply disagree on the importance and nature of bona fide third parties.  I think you're pretty much a "mainline" person and, as I say, if you like being in a corral, that's purely your business.  But you might, some time, want to read some of the solid classics on American rebel radicalism -- especially in the latter 19th century into contemporary times.  And then you might just hop over the rails of the corral and hit the wild and always challenging and frequently productive country.

Best. H

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis 
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk 
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´ 
and Ohkwari' 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org 
(much social justice material)

"I Consider Myself a Real Red:"  The Social Thought of
American Civil Rights Organizer John R. (Salter) Hunter Gray
(from The Journal of Indigenous Thought (new material 9/12):
 http://hunterbear.org/Red%20essay%20on%20Hunter%20Gray.htm

See the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Expanded, and with more photos in Fall 2012. Material on our Native
background.)

For the new (11/2011) and expanded/updated
edition of my "Organizer's Book," JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- 
with a new and substantial introduction by me.  We are now at 
the 50th Anniversary of the massive Jackson Movement of
1962-63:  http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm