For me, brainstorming the party’s operating principles is more complex yet more exciting than figuring out the platform. After all, anyone can list some popular political issues and solicit feedback from the general public.

But a political party’s guiding philosophy and strategy can be a wild card. To the best of my knowledge, most U.S. political parties really don’t have much in the way of operating principles. They simply throw the doors open to anyone who wants to join.

Of course, they have elaborate strategies for maintaining their power structure and resisting any reform efforts. But the Fifth Republic Party must have the opposite approach.

Accordingly, I’ve brainstormed several strategies to aid in running a tight ship.

Recruit Selectively

Rather than throw the doors open to the general public, I would prefer to selectively recruit members, at least initially. The idea is to build a cadre of intelligent, caring individuals who can work together to build a quality organization without being weighed down by the muddled masses.

So how would we recruit members? Tentatively, I propose that members should have to pass a test or survey that determines how closely their political views match the party’s views. For example, they might be presented with a list ten core issues, with a brief explanation after each issue. They would then be asked to indicate which issues they agree with. They would not be allowed to join the party unless they agreed with a certain number of issues.

Just to get the ball rolling, I suggest they be presented with a list of ten major core issues and ten more "specific issues." To qualify for membership, they must agree with a majority (at least six) of each.

An added benefit is that such a survey could also help us gather information about public attitudes in general and party member attitudes in particular. The results could be maintained in a database and might be made public, at least under certain circumstances. The results could thus constitute part of a member’s track record, an especially important consideration regarding members who apply for officer positions or run for public office.

Educational Website(s)

What efforts do political parties make to educate their members, let alone the general public. Examine some of their websites and judge for yourself. It’s really pathetic.

To distinguish itself, the Fifth Republic Party should have a website(s) that functions as a political reference. I’m not talking about a five-page political primer, but a large site with thousands of pages and information about hundreds of topics. The project must be intelligently organized in order to make it user friendly.

Track Record

I propose that any party member who becomes a party official or who runs for public office should have some sort of visible track record that can help people evaluate them. That record might begin with a personal website that serves as sort of an online biography and resumé.

Candidate Standards

I find it sickeningly ironic that the typical U.S. political candidate puts less work into his or her campaign than an average job applicant, or even a middle school student working on a book report. Seriously, a typical candidate’s website features roughly five pages, mostly filled with rhetoric.

I believe the Fifth Republic Party should hold its members to certain standards. For example, any party member who runs for public office should be required to have credible website on which that candidate discusses at least three issues. (There can be NO one-issue candidates in the Fifth Republic Party!)

In addition, there are certain issues on which candidates can team up on. For example, all candidates should snub media endorsement interviews, except under certain circumstances.

Point System

It might be interesting to allow party members to earn points by somehow helping the cause. Working on a political website, contributing to a community database or helping to educate other members or the general public could all help a member accrue points.

So what would members get for their points? Whatever. Many people would be gratified by their status as contributing members alone.

Polygraph Tests

I’ve even toyed with the idea of requiring party officers and/or candidates to undergo polygraph tests. I’m not talking about a witch hunt or harsh interrogation designed to ferret out embarrassing secrets. Rather, I’m thinking more along the lines of a short, simple test designed to answer one fundamental question: Are you really interested in fighting the good fight, or are you working for the other side?

Would prospective members consider this too extreme an invasion of their privacy? Perhaps.

But I’d certainly be willing to take such a test myself. In this era of runaway corruption and high-tech spying, you can’t be too careful. I think it prudent to take extraordinary precautions to guard against corporate operatives infiltrating and manipulating the Fifth Republic Party.

Well, those are my preliminary notes. I hope to have a revision online by June 1, along with an electronic poll designed to solicit feedback on these ideas.

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