© 2008 by Michael Swickard, Ph.D.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” – Abraham Lincoln
The flan has hit the fan. We Americans are financially in the sewer due to the misdeeds of Congress and the president. Both parties are to blame and, sadly, we allowed them to propose the solution, which turns out to be more of the same “waterhead” thinking that making the government bigger will solve the problems big government created in the first place.
But that is not what is so bad about our current crisis. Despite the enormous dangers our nation faces, no one of either party is trying to unite us as a nation. Instead, they divide us with partisan antics in the face of unprecedented peril. Sadly, it seems Americans do not care that, instead of solving the problems, the Republicans and Democrats continue to fight to increase their own power without concern for the damage being done this nation.
It appears we Americans have the government we want. By our voting patterns we want the politics of slash and burn and take no prisoners for the enemies in the other party. We vote these people into office and cast off those reaching across political boundaries to unite.
The two-party system
Some lay the blame for our problems on the two-party system. The “father” of our country, George Washington, opposed political parties and advised our nation to forego them in his farewell speech made on Sept. 19, 1796: “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 — and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.”
If George Washington was alive today he would not be surprised that each party promises to take the property of one citizen to buy the fidelity of those receiving the pork.
Moments of unity haven’t lasted
Washington and Lincoln tried to unite us for our own good. Also, we had a momentary uniting due to terrorist Osama Bin Laden’s attack of Sept. 11, 2001. We were “One People” for a few weeks. Even in the uncertain hours we endured partisan rhetoric. Quickly it was business as usual in their war on each other. Our enemies benefit more from the partisan wrangling for power than even the partisans do for themselves.
Because service is for partisan gain, politicians no longer serve the people, humble hat in their hand. Instead most come to office hand for their plunder outstretched, “What am I bid?”
They come to Congress poor and leave rich. The partisan-run government makes paying them tribute a requirement for getting anything done in Congress. We Americans know this and do nothing since it is both parties who are doing it.
Both parties continue to war on each other because the battle is crucial for both parties to retain their power. In a partisan-balanced system, they trade power and keep all other parties out.
Partisans demand straight-ticket voting and push for one-party exclusive rule. In
It seems the longer people are in office the more partisan they become, because if they are not partisan, the partisans of their party throw them out and get someone who is a partisan warrior. Partisans feel betrayed when one of theirs reaches across to the other party for the good of our state or nation.
The danger of one-party rule
I am concerned because we are close to a one-party rule in
All statewide offices but one are held by Democrats; so are the Legislature and every member of the New Mexico Supreme Court. The Green Party and Libertarian Party are constantly held down by the ruling Democrats who are trying to keep them off the ballot. In other states it is the Republicans keeping third parties off the ballot. It is wrong for either party to do so.
Polls indicate it is likely that all five congressional seats will be in Democrat hands in January along with a coat-tails surge for statewide Democrats. Given the incumbent advantage, once one party pretty much owns their offices through the incumbency, the party bosses run
We can only take small steps, such as always voting for someone who unites rather than divides and voting for those people who do not first serve the partisan cause rather than the people. Sometimes only partisans want to be elected so we have little choice.
Split tickets that focus on the best candidates regardless of party are our only hope. Maybe we need a sea change to young, non-partisan candidates who will unite us as a people.
In his wish to unite us as a people,
Swickard is a weekly columnist for this site. You can reach him at michael@swickard.com.