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Rhinoceros Party of Canada.

By Alex in Politics on Nov 30, 2006 at 6:27 pm


Here’s a "neat" political post: the Rhinoceros Party of Canada [wiki], which was an actual registered (satirical) political party from the 1960s to the 1990s:

Operating within the Canadian tradition of political satire, the Rhinoceros Party’s basic credo, their so-called primal promise, was "a promise to keep none of our promises." They then promised outlandishly impossible schemes designed to amuse and entertain the voting public.

The party claimed that the rhinoceros was an appropriate symbol for a political party since politicians, by nature, are "thick-skinned, slow-moving, dim-witted, can move fast as hell when in danger, and have large, hairy horns growing out of the middle of their faces."

The party was dissolved in 1993, but it’s trying to make a comeback today: Link | Wikipedia Entry – Thanks DJ!


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COMMENT
  1. DJ
    Dec 1st, 2006 at 6:40 am

    Best campaign pledge ever:

    # adopting the British system of driving on the left; this was to be gradually phased in over five years with large trucks first, then buses, eventually including small cars and bicycles last.

  2. Mike
    Dec 1st, 2006 at 10:22 am

    I was born and raised in Calgary, and there was a branch of the Rhino party there. In grade 10 (Junior year in the U.S.), we were required to work for the campaign of our choice for the 1980 (?) federal election.

    Our social teacher warned us that voting for mock parties might be good for a laugh, but what happens when enough people have some election 'fun' and actually succeed in getting a fringe candidate in office?

  3. Alex
    Dec 1st, 2006 at 3:37 pm

    Actually, this has happened. For instance, comedian Jacob Haugaard was elected to the parliament in Denmark.

    He ran as a candidate of the Union of Conscientiously Work-Shy Elements. It's a fascinating story ...

  4. hermit_man
    Dec 1st, 2006 at 3:51 pm

    Hey Mike,

    Did you go to Sir Winston Churchill?

    I did

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