The State of Our Union

As the 43rd President of the United States addressed his fellow citizens in his fifth State of the Union, we are a torn country. A country of us and them, in which people often identify themselves by the color and mascot of the party they vote for; rather than acknowledging others as fellow Americans. Because of this we've lost our sense of national unity. What good is a union if we refuse to acknowledge one another's point-of-view, and work together to come to a compromise? James Madison, while trying to convince his fellow colonists to adopt the new Constitution, wrote,

"AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."
-The Federalist, Number 10 1787

But, by continually setting aside the common good in exchange for the advancement of one faction over the other, we are neglecting the guiding principles of our nation's Constitution. A Patriot is not just a person that runs into battle to fight for their country; they are also those who have the strength to stand up, and question those who govern them in an effort to build a better nation. We must remember that the power of this government, which is by and for all its PEOPLE, is inherent within us; and every one of us is responsible to do our part to make it the best country it can be. Parties have fogged the vision of the American people for far too long and should no longer be an disruptive element in Government. So tonight as the President stands to address the most powerful nation in the history of the world, we must try put aside imaginary party lines in an effort to close the divide and reunite the nation. For as Abraham Lincoln once said, while addressing the Illinois State Congress on the issue of slavery, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

George Washington’s Legacy: This Founding Father’s Views on Political Parties

"I have already intimated to you the danger of
Parties in the State, with particular reference
to the founding of them on Geographical
discriminations. Let me now take a more
comprehensive view, & warn you in the most
solemn manner against the baneful effects of
the Spirit of Party, generally."
-Farewell Address of 1796

In his last action as the first President of the United States of America, George Washington wrote a Farewell Address that he hoped would act as a warning to a fledgling nation. He used this address as an opportunity to describe to the nation what he thought the effects of forming political parties would be on the democratic process, in addition to defining his vision for American foreign policy for decades to come. By devoting so much of his last address as President to the subject of parties Washington, who to this day is still considered one of the most influential Presidents in our nation's history in addition to being the only President in our nation's history who was not a member of a political party, was sending a clear message to those who would succeed him to avoid the establishment of these powerful political organizations. But, despite Washington's strong warnings against the establishment of political parties two factions began to take hold during his eight years as President. The Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton and the Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson were beginning to create a divide through the political landscape of the late 1700s. By making his views on parties so widely available, Washington hoped that just as his decision to hold the office of President for only two terms set a precedent for future leaders of the nation he would set another political precedent by warning Americans against the establishment of such political factions.
It was Washington's fear that by their very nature parties would be counter-beneficial to the democratic process. And, that as these groups evolve they would begin to invest all their powers into establishing one individual as their leader, and that this leader will eventually ignore or circumvent the ideals and principles of a democratic society for their own purposes. Washington was afraid that the exclusivity of political parties would not only limit who would run for office, but also who would run the parties themselves,

"The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline
the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute
power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of
some prevailing faction more able or fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty."
-Farewell Address of 1796

That the hierarchies within these factions would begin to become so obsessed and pre-occupied by the agendas of their parties that they would inevitably lose touch with the public, and cease to reflect the interests of those whom they were elected to represent, was a huge concern of Washington's. These despotic groups could then be more closely related to the tyrannical government that we fought against during the revolution than a government of the people.
As was true of many of the American Patriots of the time, Washington felt that it was the people who make up the fourth and most important check and balance on American government. He also believed that it is their inherent duty to maintain that power,

"The very idea of the power and the right of the
People to establish Government presupposes the
duty of every individual to obey the established Government."
-Farewell Address of 1796

By allowing these organizations to gain influence, under the auspice of uniting the people's powers, they would in fact subvert that power in an effort to extend their own authority over the people; which in turn would then eliminate the people's ability to effectively rule their rulers. They in turn have the opposite effect and divide the people into separate camps that inevitably oppose one another. In the late 1800s Lord Acton, an English historian, wrote, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely." This seems especially relevant to Washington's fears of what would happen with the development of political parties. Throughout their histories the members of these groups have been involved in scandals that have plagued these political factions almost from their beginnings, and these scandals continue to today's current political party members. So secure in their hold on power over the American political process, that today's politicians from both major parties are constantly having to reassure the nation's citizens that the system is still functioning as it was intended and, "that the government is not for sale," as Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fischer recently asserted in response to the latest federal scandal.
Washington strongly believed in the principles of a government governed by the people, and he used his last address as the President of the United States as a way of detailing the dangers facing the young American political process. This is not to say that Washington was without his flaws he, like many of his contemporary countrymen, was a slave owner. It was partially because of this personal flaw that he knew that the Republic would not always be perfect, and he believed that the people would adjust the system by adding new amendments to the Constitution to bring up-to-date. It was his fear however that the establishment of political parties would divide the American People and fracture the young nation. As the first President of the United States, and the so-called "Father of his Country," Washington was very conscious of the impact that his actions would have as leader of this young nation, and hoped that his warnings would leave lasting impressions on his fellow citizens. Washington's greatest fear, for the young nation, was that by institutionalizing the government within these powerful factions the people would lose their ability to police their government; and in doing so a "Culture of Corruption" would develop that would destroy the foundation of the Democratic society that so many have died to construct.

Washington today

"The very idea of the power and the right of the People to establish Government presupposes the duty of every Individual to obey the established Government.
All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and Associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, controul, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the Constituted authorities are destructive of this fundamental principle and of fatal tendency. They serve to Organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force-to put in the place of the delegated Nation, the will of the party; often a small but artful and enterprizing minority of the Community; and according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public Administration the Mirror of the ill concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the Organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common councils and modefied by mutal interests. However combinations or Associations of the above description may now & then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People, & to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; destroying afterwords the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
-George Washington in his Farewell Address of 1796

Senator Tom Delay's Mugshot; which
was taken after he was indicted on
charges of money laundering.

Political Parties and their Effect on American Politics: the foundation of the Anti-Party Political Movement

Friends, and Fellow Citizens.
It’s time to tell our Politicians to stop focusing on their own wellbeing, and start paying attention to the People’s needs. For far too long the welfare of the majority of Americans has been set-aside for the interests of the few. This is due in no small part to the polarization of American Politics that has developed over the last two hundred years. By marginalizing the so-called “third party” candidates the two party system, that has evolved, has created an atmosphere of political monopoly and stagnation. By raising the hundreds of millions of dollars required to get a candidate from one of the main political organizations elected, American political parties more closely resemble multi-national corporations. Modern corporations know the benefits to making huge political donations, and often will donate to both major political parties in order to guarantee special treatment no matter who wins an election. This money, that the parties are so efficient at raising, could be going to help the poor, the hungry, or the uninsured; but instead, more often than not it goes towards ensuring that the donors receive favors from their political allies. These monopolies, and the inter-party squabbling they create, have continually diverted politicians’ attention from matters of great social importance to America.
As politicians argue lethargic party agendas, four years after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Buildings, two and half years after the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and four months after the chaos of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, the 9/11 commission has recently released a new report stating that we’re no safer today than we were four years ago. There are also Global implications of the two party monopoly. As representatives of the people of the United States, many members have come to be viewed negatively by citizens of other nations around the world. This has a direct affect on the way Americans in general are viewed in foreign nations. We are often seen as polluters, murderers, and liars because of the way politicians pursue their parties’ agendas. In order to create a strong and safer nation we must have an active democracy, where a majority not a minority participates in the voting process.
The willingness of members from both major parties to bicker and be constantly implicated in scandals has created among many voters a lack of enthusiasm about going to the ballot box. This lack of excitement manifests itself in the form of dwindling voter turn out, and a general apathy towards the democratic process. The often mediocre candidates that are nominated by these parties are usually not all that different from one another and often spend years in stale offices far past their prime. No longer should Americans have to endure a government made up of politicians that are seen as being the “lesser of two evils.” America’s votes should not be defined by party lines. It is because of these arbitrary lines that to often politicians are quick to criticize their opponent’s approach to policy without presenting an effective alternative proposal to solve the problems facing our nation. This approach often does not offer voters many choices and can often lead to the establishment of sub-standard legislation. When party members in the Congress and/or the President can hold up vital legislation for years because of the, often juvenile, back and forth arguing that takes place; something needs to be done to bring about change. The only way to get our Democratic Republic back on track is by taking actions to ensure its future stability. We need to work together to return to a time when candidates had to stand on their ideals, separate from party agendas and platforms. For far too long individual candidates have let their party’s publicized agenda divert attention from their own point-of-view on American policy. The sign of a truly strong candidate is their willingness to stand-up for what they believe to be sound, foreign and domestic, policies separate of any party’s influence.
It is for these reasons that the only logical way to reinstate the integrity of our nation’s political process, is to eliminate All political parties. By holding each and every individual candidate accountable for their personal views the caliber of the candidates will improve. This presents a beneficial situation not only for the voters who would then have more candidates to choose from, but also for those who are seeking office who will no longer have to worry that they may offend members of their party. Candidates who no longer have to tow the party line are more likely to promote what they believe to be the most effective legislature. The debates brought up by these candidates will then be on the merit of the issues rather than the agenda of out of touch parties. By eliminating these parties every level of government will be reenergized by new people and new ideas. Which in turn will guarantee a safer, stronger, and better America that leads by example not force. With the elimination of the party system American citizens would once again be excited to participate in the voting process in order to leave future generations a nation of integrity.