A Party Of One

This is a wonderfully humorous – sometimes with tongue in cheek sarcasm – parody of today’s political scene. Underlying the sometimes inane political solutions offered, is the real true American pioneer attitude of politics, such as personal self reliance, independence, and community co-operation. It is based on the format of the greatest American Political Humorist, Will Rogers. {from the publisher}

{From the Preface} The other night I went out to supper in a fancy restaurant, and just inside the door was this sign that read Please Wait to be Seated, so I did that. And pretty soon a nice young lady comes up to me and says “How many in your party?” and I says “Just me.” so she turns around and says to somebody, “PARTY OF ONE, table seven.”

Now that got me to thinking. I had never heard of a party of one, but now that I know that such a thing exists, it opens up a whole new world of ideas.

I have looked into most political parties, and to my sadness, I don’t find a single one to represent my views. Seems to me they all make great speeches and grand promises, but their actions don’t match what they say. Since I can’t find any party to represent me, I have created my own party. A PARTY OF ONE. It is becoming quite popular, and people are clamoring to join up with me. And as soon as you read my platform and plan, you will want to join up too. But I have to tell you right off the bat, you can’t join my party. It would no longer be a party of one. Besides, as soon as you get two people together, you pretty soon have an argument, and things aren’t simple any more.

HOWEVER! All you individualists that would like to join my party, I encourage you to form your own PARTY OF ONE. Then we could get results like our pioneer ancestors when they conquered all obstacles. I am especially talking to all you people who have given up on politics – those who don’t think your vote counts, those who are disillusioned with your current party, and those of you who simply don’t care but would care if you knew what the stakes were. Maybe after you read my chapter on why you oughta care, you’ll get interested.

{From the author} I published this book in 2007. The political scene has since then become much more hostile, with little room for humor. But maybe it is time to take our politics a little less hatefully. Maybe it is time to reign in the hatred and have some sincere discussion. Maybe a little humor wouldn’t hurt either. The humor of Will Rogers was never mean spirited. He was clever. Often political comedy is both mean spirited, and crude. I’ll stick with the humor.