Well done! I hope that more godly folk like yourself abandon the GOP for a party that really embodies the values of America. By all means, get more of your freinds and family to vote for Peroutka.
. . . he said, hiding a smirk behind his hand. 
Democratic socialist party, is there such a choice?
That would be the one I named the “Progressive Party” in the OP. It might form out of a merger of the Socialist Party USA (http://www.sp-usa.org/); the Democratic Socialists of America (http://www.dsausa.org/); the Social Democrats USA (http://www.socialdemocrats.org/); the state-level remnants of the defunct New Party (http://www.newparty.org/), such as the Working Families Party in New York (http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/); and similar state parties such as Bernie Sanders’ Progressive Party of Vermont (http://www.progressiveparty.org/). Essentially it would be an American analogue of Canada’s New Democratic Party (http://www.ndp.ca/). As for the Communist Party USA, the Socialist Workers Party, and various other Trotskyist and Maoist organizations, I don’t envision them going anywhere, even under a PR system.
I’d still be a Democrat because I think I got it right the first time. 
I’m not saying it’s indefensible to restrict representation to some minimum amount in the legislature, BrainGlutton. I’m afraid I’m enough of an idealist to feel that even allowing a few idiots/whackos to have their single (or similar number) of representatives in Congress is worth it as the price of allowing a vote for people who want to vote for the candidate they most favor - or even on single issue parties. Even if we’re talking Neo-Nazi’s, White Supremicists, Black Supremicists, or other fringe group that wants me dead.
I’m just… embittered by how my state has worked for the past 50+ years (at least) to disenfranchise anyone who’s not a member of a major political party. The 5% rule for the ballot line, for example, is only one of the ways that the two political parties keep themselves above the fray and needs of other parties to keep current with the electorate.
Frankly it’s a part and parcel of how I view the the idea of restricting liberty to provide safety. I think, honestly, the only way to prevent another Oklahoma City, or the original Twin Towers bombing, would be to allow government far too much power and control over people - internal passports, getting permission to cross state lines, in short all the things that restricted people under the old Soviet system. I would far rather spend money on other things than, say, making the border between the US and Canada impereable. (If you believe it can be done - let’s see we can’t close the US-Mexico border, with some impressive terrain features aiding it - and these people think they can close the US-Canada border which is 3-5 times longer, lacks the terrain features… er… sorry, mini-rant about proposals of my junior, crack-smoking senator…) Oh, I don’t know, things like education, balancing the budget, paying military servicemembers what they’re worth, given the risks they’re facing.
Anyways, looking at the links you’ve provided on the Irish system, it looks good. I have to say, however, I’d be rather skeptical of going to it without a bit more thought on my part.
Removing the Senate’s equal representation for each state, for example, would basically put Nevada up the creek w/regards to the Yucca Mountain Facility. Mind you, I think it’s needed, and the best available compromise - but, I can understand why the people living near the facilty aren’t happy about the transport arrangements. And this is from someone who actually believes that the transport containers work very well. I’d want to review something like your proposal very carefully to avoid a “Tyranny of the Majority.”
Sorry for the long winded hijack, I just have trouble keeping quiet sometimes.
What was it Roy Rogers said? “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” IIRC.
I’d probably go Libertarian, then Independance, and the Democrat.
I’m not for full-on Libertarianism with regards to the shrinking of government, but it or the Independence Party sound like the best fit for me. The America First and Constitution Parties are abhorrent to mine eyes, as is the Progressive Party, probably. (I assume the Progressives would include such gems as the members of PETA)
Honestly, it depends on what percentage of the vote each party commands. If we’re using IRV and there are two dominant parties, I’d support the libertarians, I think. If there are three or more viable candidates in a given election, though, I’d have to think more–IRV doesn’t eliminate the need to vote strategically, so it’s hard to say.
No, I think the PETA people would be more likely to go Green.
That would’ve been my second guess. The Progressives, as written above, sounded more ‘intensely activist’ than the Greens.
I don’t like activists. I’m an inactivist.
From “A Radical Plan to Change American Politics,” by Michael Lind, in The Atlantic Monthly, August 1992:
Is an inactivist like an obstructionist? :eek:
Meh. Either Independance or possibly Democrat, depending on the details.
Or I’d start my own.
Good quote. The success of the National Socialist party in elections had far more to do with both the way the Nazis could intimidate other voters,and the domestic upheaval caused by the Great Depression, on top of the war reparations being paid out. The fact of the Weimar Republic’s multiparty system is far from a cause of the Nazis rise to power.
Don’t know what an obstructionist is, exactly. I’m opposed to activism because activists are annoying. Well, most of them. Some groups do it well. Truth.org, the anti-smoking guys, used to be halfway amusing with their little TV spots. Very early on. Then they got all preachy and obnoxious. PETA’s a perfect example of bad activism. They go beyond relaying their message and writing to politicians and such and actually intrude upon and interfere with people’s day to day lives. PETA actually annoys me so much that the contrarian in me wants to eat at KFC just to spite them. It doesn’t hurt that KFC has good chicken, either…
I already voted Libertarian this morning. 
Sorry, I was actually just trying to make a pun, not accusing of anything improper. My apologies for not making that clear.
Seriously, there are levels of activism out there. Some of it is very good: The models used by MADD, SADD, or the alliance of people pushing for ‘Timothy’s Law’ here in NYS are good, to the point, and low-key enough that they sound reasonable, not strident. Then you get some of it where… they’re the next best thing to terrorist groups. Frankly, I think PeTA’s links to ALF and ELF do make it a terrorist group. But, because they’re so outrageous, and have enough brain dead celebs mindwashed, they can keep their message in the minds of people. What they don’t seem to be able to realize is that their actions actually alienate the very people they should be trying to woo: Those who don’t have a strong conviction one way or the other on their issue.
Again, sorry for not making my attempt at humor more clear, Candid Gamera.