In his farewell address, President George Washington – one of many independent spirits who helped carve out a new nation – advised the American public: "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
In that same spirit, politically unaffiliated voters amassed in Denver for the Independent Convention (INC) this week to promote the goal of ending the political duopoly in America. It was a cast of movers, shakers, politicians, health promoters, and entertainers – picture the bar scene in Star Wars. No color or creed was left out of the equation. Fashion choices ranged from hippy to preppy, Native American to Sikh, jeans, boots, Converse Chucks, and loafers. It must have been the coolest party convention in the books.
Missing were the red or blue ties with blue suits and pantsuits, and pearls. In their place were individualistic thinkers with eyes not towards Nov. 5, 2024, but the long game. Also missing were the point-and-blame attitudes of those whose administration failed the most over the last decade. For the idealistic voter, this gathering had something for everyone.
Independent: A New Rag Tag Army
Like every other political convention, special guest speakers and breakout sessions were designed to enlighten and instruct how to get elected. Former Democratic presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang were headliners. During her keynote address, Williamson came out swinging: “Today, we have a MATRIX of corporate powers. We have reverted to a system of aristocracy. Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, big food companies, big agricultural companies, big chemical companies, gun manufacturers, and big oil and defense contractors. Over the last 50 years, there has been a massive, $50 trillion transfer of wealth away from the bottom 90% of Americans.”
Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) showed up. Lindsay Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, laid out the obstacles that independent candidates face, specifically mentioning one candidate who had to spend $150,000 of her money to even get on the ballot. “That's unacceptable.” Drath also called for unity among all third-party people to increase the strength of all bases.
Instead of operatives and public relations professionals, the INC was a cornucopia of issues: From mental health to conflict negotiations, sustainable living, agriculture and ecological regeneration, and event planning for the next big independent candidate push and, most importantly, winning from the ground up to the White House – eventually. Only at the Independent Convention can a delegate hear a motivational speech, wander across the hall to watch “Plandemic: The Musical,” and then jet off to door number three for a quick tutorial on “Duopoly dis-entrenchment.”
Although RFK Jr. was not a participant, campaign workers and consultants were on hand to discuss how they helped Bobby gain the prominence he achieved with the lowest media coverage of all the candidates. And conversely, so did the convention of disenfranchised voters. Yet, they should not be ignored.
Dependence: Blue and Red Can’t Win Without the “I”
In 2023, voters who identify as independent rose to 43%, a record high, while both the GOP and Democrats lost voters. For reasons unclear, the big box corporate media outlets have no use for almost half the voters. For the time being, that statistic still won’t get the likes of RFK Jr. into the White House because of the duopoly set of rules and regulations. But it will get either Harris or Trump behind the Resolute Desk at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The mission was clear throughout the three-day event: “Help get Independents in office by mobilizing voters and providing the resources and platform needed to break through the two-party system. Together We Rise.” After a look at the agenda and several key moments, one might say, “They nailed it.”
President Washington witnessed the rise of the Democratic-Republican party in opposition to the Federalists and prophesied of the political battles we endure today. What’s the adage? Oh, right: “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
