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The title of this posting could well be WHY INDEPENDENTS ARE INEFFECTIVE. But if I chose that title, I would be doing an injustice to some hardy, focused individuals who have succeeded in being elected and functioning effectively without party labels. They are few in number. It's a tough road, and an expensive one. It is also an admirable road taken, based upon ideological beliefs that many espouse but seldom practice.
- To win an election in today's national political scene is a humongously (my own word) expensive proposition. A House member can expect to spend millions of dollars on an election or re-election campaign...EVERY TWO YEARS! It means that a Member of Congress is in the midst of fund-raising at all times. Numerous Members have told me that they see themselves beginning their re-election fund-raising before they are sworn in for the upcoming term. Without the financial and organizational support of a political party, it is next to impossible to raise the seemingly-necessary funds to compete.
- To be successful in pushing legislation through the process requires alliances. It is not so simple as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington led us to believe. There are no effective individuals in Congress without the relationship that comes from being a part of a political party's caucus where details of a bill are hammered out, processes are defined to gain support for the bill, and research is done to give the bill appropriate wording and fiscal data that can be supported by others. Bills are not successful or do not fail on the floor of Congress. They gain strength (or lose it) in caucuses and in committee. Floor votes for the most part are symbolic.
Consequently, an Independent must seek out membership in a caucus of one political party and find acceptance there. Senator Lieberman, who lost the support of his Democratic Party in Connecticut, was elected as an Independent but chose to caucus with the Democrats, for instance. In reality, he is "independent" only in the sense that he was not elected on a Democratic party line. (His dalliance with Republicans in the 2008 election proved to be a source of stress in that caucus, limiting his effectiveness.)
While independence may be a desirable trait in the mind of the populace, freeing an individual from the perceived blights of political parties, it is a difficult place in which to find one's self as important issues face a nation. Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, a Republican with progressive instincts, has found herself in a powerful position recently as the current administration sought the label of "bi-partisan" for its Health Care Reform initiative. Her strong constituency support and the respect in which she is held have allowed her to act in an independent manner, joining Democrats in her support for the Senate Finance Committee's bill. But her membership in the Republican caucus is a significant asset, and allows her the collegial relationship necessary to forge the waves of legislation.
Ross Perot chose to run for the presidency as an Independent and achieved admirable success in making a case for his populist beliefs. But without his private wealth, national and international economic power, and the support of populists throughout the country, he would never have made it past Texas. Instead, using his wealth to purchase advertising and to establish a strong national organization, his bid for the highest office had legs. But even in the end he could not overcome the power of the two established parties.
Unless (or until) a third major party emerges in the US, independent candidates will struggle to find their way into national government. Those few who make their way there will discover the need to seek alliances which respect and support them, potentially weakening their ability to be truly independent.
Further, until a reformed Election Financing program is enacted, the costs of running an independent campaign will be prohibitive. For many reasons, such legislation is imperative.
NEXT (AND LAST) POSTING IN THIS SERIES: BI-PARTISANSHIP
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