While the names have changed, the game has remained the same…for the most part.
George Washington was the ONLY President who ran and was elected without a party platform. During this era and the one succeeding it, lobbyists must have been formed as platforms were formed to coax the population. In those days, you needed only needed the popular vote in order to secure an election. So, of course, in an entrepreneurial American sense, someone came up with a way to organize the population so that areas of support could be identified and promoted while areas of dissent could be ‘worked on’. Interestingly, while many of the details are arguably different, all candidates then and now talk about the same issues. It would then, therefore, become easier for would-be Presidents to prep their campaigns and themselves on knowing these hot button issues.
Immigration, the justice system, federally funded infrastructure, budget concerns, spending concerns, social welfare, social liberties, taxes, religious freedoms, freedom from persecution/hate crimes, international affairs/relations, big federal government or states’ rights, national banking systems, etc. While some of the same old rhetoric from them is used now, there are areas in which you must tote the party line where you may not agree.
This is the problem with the two-party system…it has utterly failed us. I believe, the majority of the population falls somewhere in between. These two parties, as we discussed, were formed in the 1880s… It’s now 2021! The question remains of why we, as a society, are adhering to these antiquated party lines and lists of objectives that no one can possibly say they agree with 100% – on either side.
Unfortunately, however, these days, there is appears that there is no room for error. We have found ourselves in a precariously dangerous time when our own people are so fractured in belief and pride that we have begun to fight ourselves here at home.
Gone are the days of finding commonality. Even though a Republican may not abhor to a democratic principle, you’ll be hard-pressed to get them to admit to it and vice versa.
To revert back to the political climate of Washington’s political era, there have been candidates along the way who lost because they ‘leaned a little too far right (or left)’. Again, the middle ground does not seem to be an acceptable position to these party fanatics.
There have been those who ran on an Independent, Libertarian, or Green ticket, but they never made it far. Why? Because they don’t have the centuries-old Grand Old Party Republicans or the oldest party ever established, The Democrats behind them. Why is that necessary for a win? Well, the obvious answer is money, but also access to technology which is very crucial in today’s bids for candidacy. It has become a technology race in some ways – and not all of this technology has a positive message. In fact, in our most recent Presidential elections, we’ve seen quite the opposite. The rallying of fear and hate. There’s likely a statistic out there somewhere that would tell you, but I would venture to guess that over (at least) half of voters voted more out of fear than passion. That’s a sad state of affairs.
Kids upon kids, upon kids and now kids growing up today are being indoctrinated to act and believe as their parents do. Because it’s no longer a personal, private matter. It can get you banned from your family if you have a difference of opinion. Have you seen all the memes about how to ruin Thanksgiving dinner? By talking about politics. It’s all so sad but true.
The art of debate has left this society and terrified emotions rule the day. I have tried to discuss this with my own daughter. I personally, try to stay above the fray and don’t identify with either party. She, on the other hand, is VERY liberal to the point she disagrees with Democrats and promotes more liberal views on topics. I support her right to have her opinions but so often I hear hate coming out of her mouth versus the good that she thinks what she believes in would do. I am trying to teach her that supporting a cause doesn’t mean you hate everyone that disagrees with you, but her emotions and accusations start flying and our conversation gets squashed.
These are the conversations we MUST keep trying to have with our kids, so this cycle doesn’t continue.
There are reasons for her angst, however. Donald Trump had no real political leanings before taking the bid for president but had enough advisors to tell him he would never win without one of the parties backing him. At first, it was a toss-up, then, everyone thought it was a joke. Then Republicans started ‘disowning’ him for a lack of a better word because he DID NOT align with their policies! He managed to just USE their name and the party line, not wanting to crumble like the Federalists and the Whigs, lined up behind him in the end.
Throughout his candidacy and term as President, the word Nationalist was thrown around a lot…and that’s what his true party is The Nationalist Party. One day, probably not too far down the line, that may take up as a third-party alternate and unfortunately, one that seems to drive a lot of people.
Particularly in this day and time, it is interesting to reflect on the fact that in the beginnings of party history, Republicans were seen as the more liberal, civil equality promoting, larger government group; while the Democrats were primarily based in the south and fighting the equal rights movements, larger governments, and national financial institutions. My have the tables turned…and turned to an even greater extent. It leaves you wondering…what could possibly be next? This is surely an unsustainable climate of political affairs.
I’ll leave you with this quote by George Washington during his farewell address where he warned Americans about the dangers associated with political parties:
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.” Per Constitutionfacts.com, ‘he claimed the partisanship would lead to inter-political conflict, divide the nation and give rise to cases of tyranny.’
Wise words from an old ghost.
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