Is The Party Over?

Have political parties failed us? Are they more invested in their own survival than the well-being of the citizens they claim to represent? Although there were political parties of a sort in ancient Rome (Patricians and Plebeians—nobles and middle class) as well as in early English history, a fear of factionalism and political parties were deeply rooted in pre-revolution America.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson hoped that common interests would be sufficient to motivate unity. In fact, Washington warned against factions (parties) as being divisive. Jefferson said, “If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.” James Madison did not approve of political parties, but thought they would eventually develop. In spite of their opposition, parties did evolve during Washington’s administration and by the men, save Washington, that originally opposed it. The first two parties, the Federalists, best represented by Alexander Hamilton, stood for a strong central government while the anti-Federalists or Democratic-Republicans, stood by Jefferson. Jefferson and his followers wanted a relatively weak central government and to be left alone as much as possible. They wanted to limit the power of the federal government while leaving most of the power to the state and local governments. By 1854, the issue of slavery and states’ rights dominated all debate tearing apart the country and the parties. Since the vast majority of southerners did not own slaves, states’ rights, once again moved to the forefront. The Whig party dissolved while the Democrat Party split into two parties, the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats. At about the same time, an anti-slavery party called the Republicans was formed in Buffalo, NY and ran their first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, in 1856. By 1860, the nation had four major parties, Southern Democrat, Northern Democrat, Republican and the Constitutional-Union party, made up of mostly former Whigs. The election of 1860 showed strong anti-slavery feeling by electing the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. By 1861, the southern states had seceded and the Civil War began.

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The defeat of the South badly weakened the Democrat Party who were, for many years, associated with the southern cause. As a result, Republicans became the dominant party, pushing protectionist tariffs (taxes on imports) while Democrats favored free trade. The two parties were, once again, deeply divided over what to do when the Great Depression hit in 1929. The election in 1932 of Franklin Roosevelt promised a “New Deal” with massive government programs to help the unemployed. In reality, the programs helped little with World War Two being the actual catalyst for recovery. Republicans have traditionally tended to resist government programs to solve problems in favor of free market solutions. Democrats favored federal programs to solve problems. In other words, limited government verses big government. Today, voters increasingly identify themselves as independents. In fact, there are more independents than there are Democrats or Republicans. Nearly 40% of voters in the United States today have no affiliation with any political party. Surprisingly, Massachusetts counts 53% of its voters as independent with New Jersey at 48%. In the era of the internet, cable and satellite TV, with a news media that has given up on unbiased reporting, dozens of choices for bottled water, fifteen kinds of milk, a melting pot that is boiling over, and a lumbering party system that is almost totally unresponsive to its supporters, the two party system claims to speak for all, but in reality speaks only to a select few. Many politicians today speak in great generalities with quick-draw apologies for the slightest politically incorrect statement—“I’m so sorry that I said ‘all lives matter.’” Bill Clinton was probably the most talented at being all things to all people. He could change gears faster than any other politician of his day. Today the Democrat Party has become the party of pandering to every special interest or minority group. They are the poster children for tearing down everything that made this country great with a “better idea.” Yet, they never come up with anything that works except garnering power for themselves while convincing too many gullible people that they will have the chains of slavery returned to them if ever they are not in power. The Republican Party has become the party of not satisfying anyone except its financial supporters. They promise everything and deliver nothing. They promised to defund Obamacare and instead funded it. They promised to secure the border and end amnesty—they backed down. The Republicans promised to block the Iran nuclear weapons program—they didn’t. They have lied so many times, one can hardly keep count. Both parties have proven that government is no longer by, for and of the people. Is it any wonder why Trump is doing so well? The Donald’s poll numbers tell a story. And the story is not about Trump, it’s about the entire political establishment. It’s about lying, corruption, betrayal, fraud, distrust, greed and self-interest. It’s about whether any particular party has real worth anymore. Being an establishment candidate today is poison. Look at the poll numbers of Trump, Fiorina and Carson. The presidential election thus far does not show an excitement for any particular candidate or party, but a hunger for anyone who will tell the truth—for a real change.