Can Republicans and Democrats ever work together again?

It wasn't always this way. Once Democrats and Republicans shared a common objective of creating an America better than the one we inherited. We often differed on methods and on exactly what "better" meant, but we all shared the belief that we lived in the best nation in the world and that it was our duty and privilege to build on that foundation for a better future. Somewhere along the way things changed.

Some claim things changed in the post WWII Cold War when we started being concerned with enemies within. Others lay blame on the Vietnam War where the public was manipulated into a war that many saw no reason for. It was a time when our government overtly began to ignore the will of the people to follow its own priorities and interests. Some suggest it happened more recently with the growing power of special interests, climate activism, and numerous competing groups all vying for the power to shape things according to their own vision, regardless of what others wanted.

Whatever the source, we now have a divide unlike any other at almost any time in our history. Even the Civil War, despite its bloody cost, was not so divisive. One group wanted to break free to pursue their own path, while a second group didn't want a separation. It wasn't so much a matter of two groups wanting to impose their will on each other as it was of one group wanting freedom and the other group in opposition. Although, on reflection, the situation today is much the same, just more extreme and all too close to the same form of conflict.

Hence we come to the question. In my own view, the Republican party has changed from the party of big business and big government into a more populist party that cherishes the values and virtues that were embodied in most of our history. These includes rule of law, and especially the Constitution, individual rights and liberties, the right to own property, to freely engage in business, to practice our own religious beliefs, to raise our children as we see fit, and largely to be left alone to pursue our own interests. Most Republicans today see our government as intrusive, overbearing, willing to use coercion to force compliance with actions and even beliefs with which we disagree, and no longer responsive or responsible to the people they would rule.

The Democratic party has also changed, although largely in the direction of becoming more of what it was before. From the earliest days of its founding under President Andrew Jackson who used to power of the government to forcibly relocate Indian tribes, leading to the "Trail of Tears", to the Southern Democrats who supported slavery, to the Johnson Democrats who fought against the Civil Rights movement, to the Democrats of today, the party has consistently opposed individual liberty in favor of the collective and the big State. 

The Democrat leadership today has drifted more and more Leftward to the point of openly advocating policies and actions that have the goal of destroying the very values and virtues that have exemplified America for more than two centuries. Regardless of the name, socialism, communism, Leftism, or any other, the roots of modern Democrat leaders are Marxist. The State is supreme, the individual exists to serve the State, individualism must be punished and eradicated. Religions, especially Christianity must be altered to support the collective, or if unalterable, be destroyed since there can be no authority higher than the State.

All this reflects a split within the Democratic party where its leadership has moved to the far Left, while the body remains more centered. Indeed, most of the Democrats I encounter are decent, ordinary folk who just want to lead good lives. Many of them question the extreme positions of their leadership, but are unwilling to go against what they perceive as the common direction.

They seem less willing than Republicans to think independently and more willing to accept what they are told are the "correct" positions on a wide range of topics. They are well aware of how vicious and mean some of those on the Left can be, and do not wish to provoke their ire by voicing agreement with any position not "approved". Heaven forbid that they should have any favorable thoughts of whatever Trump might have done, much less express any hint of agreement with anything he has said.

So there we have it. One group just wants to be able to get on with their lives, while another group wants to have everyone conform to their vision. One group wants freedom, while another wants ideology. The groups generally, but not exclusively, divide along party lines. The question then becomes can a collectivist ideologically driven group work peacefully with a more diffuse group based on individual rights and liberties?

Support Canada Free Press

History is not optimistic of that.

Could Mao have worked together with the Chinese Nationalists to devise plans for the greater good of China? Could the Communists have worked with the Monarchists toward a better Russia? Could the Nazis have worked with the Jews to mutually agreeable plans for rebuilding Germany? We have seen how well all those questions and many others like them have been answered.

So now we must ask such questions as: Can ideologically driven climate activists work together with nuclear power and oil companies to develop mutually agreeable plans for a better future? Can a small community of dedicated LGBTQ+ activists work with parents and businesses to devise an agreeable plan for coexistence without compulsion? Can those who hate and fear guns work with those who believe the right to keep and bear arms is essential to the right to self defense and to maintaining a free country to develop a mutually agreeable plan? Can someone driven by ideology ever work with someone who doesn't share that ideology?

The essence of an ideology is the idea that there is only one right way to think, do, or act in regard to a particular social structure or agenda. Its proponents hold themselves as superior to those who hold the "wrong" beliefs. Thoroughly convinced of their righteousness, they can justify nearly any action taken in service of their cause and against those who do not share their beliefs. They can exhibit an hermetic resistance to facts, observations, and opinions that do not support their ideology. When one party begins with the conviction that anyone who disagrees with them is wrong, is there any argument possible that might persuade them otherwise?

My own experience is that the only temporary solution is to agree to disagree. This is not satisfactory where power to coerce is available, such as in political systems. In efforts that range from local scale to national and even global, ideologues will work tirelessly to acquire the power they need to impose their vision on everyone. There is no law that will stop them, no norm they will not violate, no argument that will dissuade them until they have attained their goal. Like termites in the walls of a house, they will continue to chew away until they are removed or until the house collapses. And often after.

It would seem that our only recourse is twofold: court those Democrats who are questioning the direction of their party, but who are afraid to disagree, and work to expose and remove the far Left cadre who are wedded to their ideologies, whatever they may be. The struggle will not be easy nor pleasant. We will often be accused of that which the Left does themselves. They will call us names and use whatever tools they have to try to stop us. We must have confidence that truth will prevail. Any ideology that relies on false views of reality or lies and distortions cannot endure.

The Progressive Left followers of today's Democratic party are like lemmings. One can imagine each lemming believing they were progressing toward a brighter future as they raced toward the cliffs, secure in the knowledge that they were in the company of all the other lemmings who couldn't be wrong in their collective wisdom.

If we are not to be like lemmings, we must work to root out the corruptions of ideology and shine the light of truth and reason into the dark corners we find. Failure must not be an option. The fight will be long and hard.

Question: What do we have to lose?

Answer: Everything.

VIEW Comments