America Third

So it seems that Elon Musk has decided that, rather than throw his hat in with the Libertarian Party, to start his own, the "America Party." Because he asked his followers on X if there should be a party "that actually represents the 80% in the middle." I suspect that Mr. Musk understands about as much concerning political polling as he does branding. But in any event, the poll said, in effect, "go for it," so here we are.

While I have nothing against new political parties in the United States, given how badly dysfunctional the Democratic-Republican party duopoloy have become, I don't fancy the chances of this "America Party" actually getting anywhere. Mainly because this really comes across as Mr. Musk simply being random again. He hasn't even come up with a platform yet. The precepts of:

• Reduce debt, responsible spending only
• Modernize military with AI/robotics
• Pro tech, accelerate to win in AI
• Less regulation across board, but especially in energy
• Free speech 
• Pro natalist
• Centrist policies everywhere else

Were proposed by someone on X, and Musk simply showed some enthusiasm for them. Which may turn out to be a good thing; these planks seem much more like Mr. Musk's personal eccentricities than an appeal to the general public from the center outwards. Were Mr. Musk inclined to retain one, a political consultant could help him come up with something better.

But it remains to be seen how effective it would be. Non-partisan voters are each non-partisan in their own way, and Elon Musk doesn't come across the the sort of person who would inspire large numbers of people to come out and vote for him and his other candidates. And even if he can, he's more likely to simply upset the apple cart than ride wave to real political influence, since the chances his America Party could win a majority in any chamber of Congress are vanishingly small.

As much as I understand his decision not to go with the Libertarian Party, he would likely be better as a financier and/or fundraiser than an actual candidate. The America Party is going to have to come across as something more than simply a pet project of Mr. Musk's, and if he's it's only visible face, it won't be able to manage that.