Political Party Commits Suicide (No Not That One, the Other One)

While many are transfixed by the suicidal actions of the Liberal Democrats in Britain, a “third party” in Germany is going through a similar process.  The Free Democratic Party or FDP in German is a center/right liberal party (yes, in Europe the term “Liberal” is applied to Conservatives, go figure) that joined with the Christian Democrats to form a coalition government.  Their prize was the cabinet post of Foreign Minister.

The FDP earlier this year suffered the same massive defeat at the polls as the Lib Dem’s in Britain did just last week.  In fact the FDP defeat was probably worse.  The defeats were due to the same reason for both parties, a “selling of the soul” in return for participation in the national government.  Voters just don’t like that.  Selling out is ok, you just have to try to pretend, or at least make the effort to pretend that is not the case.  Otherwise you are insulting the voters.

The FDP is now facing a violent split in selecting its new leader, its old leader having done the right thing and resigned after the rejection by voters.  Mr. Clegg who is the Lib Dem leader in Britain does not seem to recognize that this is the thing to do (thus dooming his party to future election defeats).  The battle, as these battles usually go, is between forces which want to move the party more to the right, and those which want to move it into the center, which means more to the left. 

Complicating matters is the question of what will happen with Greece when everyone formally recognizes what everyone informally already knows, that Greece will be unable to make its debt payments in 2012.  Germany will have to decide its fate, if indeed Germany can reach a decision.

All of this should be serious reading for Democrats.  Republican policy positions are not accepted by a majority of U. S. voters, but the Republican Party has acceptance because it is clear and consistent in its goals and principles.  Democrats, abandon your positions at your peril.