Hi. I'm Craig. Welcome to the salon and this is Mental Floss on YouTube and did you know that there was once a political party in New Zealand known as the McGillicuddy Serious Party. Their goal was to make politics more fun and absurd and they put up a lot of candidates back in the fun '80's and absurd '90's, especially in local elections, but never won more than .61% of the vote.

And that's the first of many bizarre political parties that I'm going to share with you today.

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The Canadian Extreme Wrestling Party was never officially registered in Canada but it did hold a convention in 1999 in which the winner of a Battle Royale became the party's leader. They haven't made the news much since he lost the election for Canada's Parliament in 2000.

The Deadly Serious party only existed in Australia for a brief time in the '80's. Their primary concern was the Argentine invasion of Australia, so they suggested sending killer penguins to guard the coast.

The U.S. Pirate party is fairly new. It was founded in 2006. Their goal is to change copyright laws so more things are open source. Open Saaaarrrce. They also want increased personal privacy and government transparency. And by the way, the Swedish Pirate Party, also founded in 2006, quickly became the countries third largest party by membership. It had two members of the European Parliament, or M.E.P.s. Or meps. The European Parliament currently has one member from the Pirate Party. She is German.

There is a political party based on Ayn Rand's philosophical system of objectivism focusing on individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism. The Objectivist Party had nominees in the 2008 and 2012 elections, though the nominees only appeared on the ballots in Colorado and Florida both times.

In 2015, the U.K.'s Beer, Baccy, and Crumpet Party was banned from election because the term crumpet can be sexist. Did you know that? I didn't know that. I should stop saying crumpet. But the leaders of the party claim that is is an acronym for Countryside, Rates, Utilities, Motoring, Pensions, Employment and Taxation. They ultimately renamed themselves the Beer, Baccy and Scratchings Party for the elections.
 
Also in the U.K. is the Rock 'n' Roll Loony Party founded in 2000. Why couldn't they just say Rock 'n' Roll Party? Why did they have to add in the Loony and be weird? They de-registered seven years later. One of their primary platforms was building laughter clinics and providing pensioners with beer. Sounds like they were an actually party Party.

Similarly, there is a Polish Beer Lovers Party, which claims it can protect citizens from alcoholism by getting them a drink of beer instead of vodka. Health nuts, those guys are.

The Youth International Party was created in the U.S. in the '60's to take an anti-war and anti-authoritarianism stance. In 1968, they nominated a pig named Pigasus the Immortal for President. That's also my nickname in high school. Pork Chop Party. Woo!

Nee means no in Dutch, so the NEE Party in Belgium has pretty much one platform: all other parties are no good. In 2007, they made news when their candidate Tania Derveaux was featured on a billboard, wait for it, naked.

Similarly, in the U.K. there's a No Candidate Deserves My Vote Party. They have one main platform, to add a None of the Above option to the ballot.

The Fed-Up Party, aka FU, is Canada's version of that. It was founded by a puppet voiced by Steven Kerzner, who announced he was running for Prime Minister in 2011. It was a was a fairly anti-government campaign.

The Rent is Too Damn High Party was led by Jimmy McMillion in the U.S. He made news when he ran for governor of New York in 2010 with this catchy slogan, but he's actually a registered Republican.

In 2009, the Best Party started as a joke in Iceland. Actor Jon Gnarr claimed that since all political parties are corrupt, he wouldn't keep his new party's corruptness secret. Gnarr and his party actually won the 2010 election for Reykjavik city council and Gnarr became the Herr of Reykjavik.

Poland's Party of the Bald aims to reduce discrimination against bald people. They have a few catchy slogans including "Receding, we advance." They got my vote.

The Anarchist Pogo Party of Germany was founded in the '80's. The Party would like to legalize all drugs and get rid of all police. In 2005, their candidate for chancellor was the lead singer of a punk band.

Sweden's Donald Duck Party isn't officially registered, but they've been receiving write in votes for decades. 1991 was their best year when 291 people voted for Donald Duck. [Gibberish attempt at Donald Duck's voice]

By the way, in the U.S., Donald Duck won a 2000 election to become the Director of the Marion Water and Soil Conservation Board in Salem, Oregon. No one wanted the job, so all the candidates were write-ins. Donald was the victor, but he was disqualified for being fictional. The second winner was Al Gore. At least he won one election in 2000. Congrats on the Soil and Water Conservation Board, or as I say in your language [Donald Duck voice].

The Guns and Dope Party in the U.S. wants "Everybody For President". They would also like to provide guns and dope, for anyone whose interested.

The Boston Tea Party was different from the Tea Party before it disbanded in 2012, confusingly. It main goal was to reduce the size and power of the U.S. government. Which is much like the Tea Party.

Believe it or not, there is still a Prohibition Party in the U.S. WHAT!?! They got 519 votes in the 2012 Presidential election. The party's goal is to ban the sale of alcohol.

The Miss Great Britain Party was founded in 2008 and they try to nominate candidates who have also been in the Miss Great Britain beauty contest. I don't think I have a shot. Again, baldy. Also, a man. Also, American. Also, not that great.

The Union of Conscientiously Workshy Elements in Denmark was founded by a comedian who wanted a bunch of things, including, better weather, more food for ducks in parks, and Nutella rations for the Army.

There is an American Common Sense Party which claims that most of the U.S.'s problems could be solved with good ole common sense. This would happen by electing regular people to office because the group believes that politicians make different decisions than average Americans would.

OK. Let's wrap it up with a few parties real quick. Get the beer. Not that kind of party? OK.

Great Britain has the Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality Party for zombie rights. WHAT!?! Also in Britain, the Death, Dungeons, and Taxes Party. The party wants to bring hanging back and wants to raise taxes to 90%. WHAT!?!

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire there was the self-explanatory Party for Moderate Progress Within the Balance of the Law. The Rhinoceros Party from Canada made a promise to keep none of their promises. Much like most of my friendships.

Finally, I return to the salon to tell you about the time comedienne Gracie Allan ran for President in 1040 as part of the Surprise Party. She toured the country to campaign with her husband George Burns. The stunt even included a book entitled Gracie Allen For President. Some estimates give her upwards of 42,000 votes, which, if true, would put her in the top 10 of female presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube which was made with the help of all of these nice candidates. Again, I'm Craig and if you check out Crash Course Government and Politics you'll see a bit more of me. Thanks for watching. Bye.