Hypothetical, Third Party (in the U.S.)

As some people who read this blog might guess, I am an independent with regards to my political affiliation.  While I haven't created a blog post that specifically points to the weaknesses in Democratic theories/dogma, I could posit as many problems with liberal ideas as I do with neo-conservative approaches.  Both sides often take hard-line stances on issues which precludes rational discourse and reasonable legislation.  I could also find fault with all of the well-known, third parties including the Libertarians and the Green Party.  With that said, I thought I would quickly outline my ideas for a hypothetical, new party.

Right off the bat, I will acknowledge that no party is ever going to be created using my guidelines.  At the same time, any, third party would have to overcome almost insurmountable hurdles in order to actually gain relevance in the U.S.  One only has to look at American post-bellum, American politics to realize this fact.  The Grangers, the Socialists, the Bull Moosers, Ross Perot's followers (whatever they called themselves), and others could never achieve any lasting prominence.  Even so, I think it benefits Americans to try to imagine what a third party might look like; they can compare their construct to the extant parties and thereby gain a better understanding of the methods, philosophies, infrastructures and motivations which define modern, American politics.

I am not sure what I would name the party.  The rationalists would accurately describe its philosophical focus; however, rationalism is too closely tied to atheism.  I need a more inclusive name...Perhaps the Independent Party; that one has a nice ring to it and may appeal to frustrated voters.

The platforms of all the major political groups, including the small, third parties, represent positions on certain issues.  They favor this bill or are averse to this economic policy, etc.  By contrast, my party would adopt a method as its key, platform proposal.  Politicians from the Independent Party would promise their supporters that they would use empirical methods to create the best legislation and determine the best political strategies, ie. for dealing with foreign countries.  The key aspects of this ideology are below:

1) Emotion/Empathy are important but should be mitigated by reason.
2) Rely on data to drive conclusions.  Don't pick and choose (and warp) data to make it fit your ideological principles.
3) Political discussion should take into account the desires and needs of all stakeholders--not just one's followers.  Two corollaries follow from this view.
        A) Focus on discourse with politicians from other parties and not just on debate.
        B) Compromise is okay and in fact it is welcomed.
4) Put the interests of the nation over your own interests.

That's a very brief description of my hypothetical, third party.  If I were to continue the exercise, I would flesh out the party's principles, organizing strategies, infrastructure, etc. over the course of several months/years.  In the end, my final document would be much larger than this one. :)