Populist Party of Maryland

The Populist Party of Maryland (PPMD) originated as a vehicle for ballot access for Ralph Nader's 2004 independent campaign for president.

Related Topics:
Ralph Nader - 2004 - Independent campaign

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In its opposition to monopoly, corporatism and plutocracy, the PPMD proclaims that it has close ideological connections to the American political party of that name, of the 1890s, by some accounts the most successful third party in American history (not counting the Republican Party, which became a major party), but the PPMD has no connection to the late-twentieth century Populist Party, which ran candidates such as David Duke and Bo Gritz and was widely regarded as a racist, white supremacist organization.

Related Topics:
Party of that name - David Duke - Bo Gritz

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As of May 2005, the total number of registered voters affiliated with the Populist Party in Maryland was twenty-two (22) voters. http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/MAYTOTAL.pdf

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The party conceived a "Unity Campaign" with the idea of bringing together Green, Libertarian and Populist voters in support of a the fusion ticket of U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Zeese, a founder of the PPMD and 2004 press secretary for Ralph Nader

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According to Chris Driscoll, the party's state chairman, the party will run candidates for governor, other statewide seats and at the local level for the State Assembly, county and municipal positions in the 2005 and 2006 elections under the slogan "Democracy and a Better Paycheck Too." The Populist Party of Maryland's rank and file and leaders, so far drawn mostly from the ranks of Ralph Nader supporters, have drafted a program similar to the Nader/Camejo 2004 platform, calling for an end to the "corporate crime wave", cleaning up widespread political corruption in the capital city of Annapolis, and enacting legislation favorable to employees, employee-owned businesses and small business owners. The PPMD is focused on practical, "paycheck" issues important to all working people.

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The Populist Party of Maryland was created by supporters of Ralph Nader's 2004 campaign for president. The party successfully put Nader on the ballot in the November 2004 election after a tense battle with the Maryland Board of Elections and Democratic Party operatives that went all the way to Maryland's highest court. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled just weeks before the election that the MBoE was required to place Populist presidential and vice presidential candidates Ralph Nader and Peter Miguel Camejo on the ballot. The court commanded the Maryland's BoE to accept the 15,000 signatures submitted by the Populists fullfilling the party's obligation necessary to become a legal ballot line party. Since that time, the party has forged a 21 century populist platform, addressing the needs of working people, the poor and small business owners and opposing the plutocratic governance of the twin parties of big business corporatism, the Democrats and Republicans.

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The following is a Manifesto from the Populist Party of Maryland, from 2004:

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The Age of Reform

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The 1890s was a time of huge industrial trusts and monopolies with such great concentrations of wealth and power that "We the People" no longer called the country a democracy, but rather a plutocracy, a government of, by and for big business. That was the "Age of the Robber Barons," a tiny few who held more power over governments, communities and the Nation than the entire American People.

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"We the People"

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And in that time, farmers, small shop owners, artisans and industrial workers coalesced to form the Populist Movement, and a new party, the Peoples Party, to challenge the theft of government by the Robber Barons. The Populist Movement and its party held a cherished principle, that "We the People" - the first three words in the U.S. Constitution - are the rightful heirs to self government.

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The Populist Persuasion

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They grew a potent third-party movement to challenge the power of the Democrats and Republicans who represented big business. The result was an "Age of Reform" out of which came anti-trust laws and laws aimed at putting the people back in charge.

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Paycheck Politics for the New Century

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Once again, at the dawn of the 21st century the right of the people to govern ourselves has been usurped by big business. In response, a new progressive Populist movement is emerging to oppose the concentration of too much power in the hands of too few and the damage it has caused to our paychecks, our democracy and our environment.

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A Populist Party for Marylanders!

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Here in Maryland, the legislature in Annapolis has been run by Democrats for decades as a virtual ONE-PARTY STATE. They promised to serve the interests of working families and small business owners, but their campaign coffers overflow with the contributions of big businesses, often multi-national corporations with no loyalty to Maryland or even to the United States. With impunity they ship our jobs and the wealth we create off-shore, shifting profits out of state to avoid the taxes they rightfully owe.

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We've all heard the old saying, "he who pays the piper calls the tune." Who do you think is calling the tune in the Maryland State Assembly today?

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If you've had it with: -Living paycheck to paycheck; -Waiting on the hollow promises of your Democratic and Republican Legislators and Governor; -Chafing under a state tax code that puts the greatest burden on middle-income families while giving those with the most a free ride; -Suffering for decades without the Universal Health Coverage they promised; -Big business turning the Chesapeake Bay and many of your own neighborhoods into toxic cesspools; -State government of, by and for big business, and you think we need to "clean house" in Annapolis: Then Maryland's new Populist Party - the "Paycheck Populist Party" - is your party.

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As our first act, we've nominated "Public Citizen Number One" as our presidential candidate. Ralph Nader, and his running mate, Peter Miguel Camejo, have dedicated their lives to fighting for "We the People's" right to govern ourselves democratically and force the Corporate Masters to serve the Will of the people. Maryland and the Nation deserve nothing less.

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Please join us in our dream of a State and Nation of, by and for, "We the People." As a first step, register Populist Party of Maryland and become part of the 21st century Populist Movement.

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Sincerely, Chris Driscoll Chairman, Populist Party of Maryland - September 27, 2004

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