Party Politics
Many bemoan party politics, complaining that they turn our processes into corrupt, ugly fights. George Washington cautioned us in his Farewell Address, after the only non-partisan presidency, that we should shun political parties.
In our vibrant, messy, prosperous republican democracy, party politics have been corrupt and ugly, but they also serve as a bulwark and strength. Perhaps it is cliché, but competition does make us great, and fierce competition with fair rules generates our remarkable success in an experiment that relies more on an ephemeral social compact than the might of a sovereign.
Built into the Constitution is a separation of powers, pitting legislative, judicial and executive powers against the other with checks and balances to promote fair play, accountability and progress. The progress may be halting. The accountability may be flawed. The play may be rough, but we persevere, and our system grows more just, even in fits and starts, as we struggle with each other.
Others marvel at us, how we can thrive in peace even as we vehemently disagree and debate. We argue and maneuver and posture in the hope of winning hearts and minds and votes, instead of converting at the ends of bayonets or oppressing dissent. Minority parties rail and protest and vote, eventually waiting for the pendulum to swing them back into the majority, when they will be held accountable by a minority party, so that no one can cause too much damage in a term of office.
Instead of turning to vigilante feuds and bloodletting over disputes and power, we sue, we litigate. We compete, and if the rules and the process is fair and open, even the losers acquiesce peacefully. Our economy is based on competition, investment and smarts and hard work, to corner a market, to innovate, to profit and to win customers.
In this same spirit of competition, a free market of ideas, litigation and debate, we raise our political parties to debate, to struggle, to compete for the hearts and minds and votes of the people. The parties recruit, yes, but the parties also respond. They may look like they are responding to polls and popularity, but they may just be responding to the people and their principles and preferences.
History may declare winners, but we still are in the conversation, the debate and struggle for the great hearts and minds of our nation. Although the parties may yield to temptation and may drive us mad with bad tactics and parochial snobbery, they are our vehicles for the mighty exercise of our social compact together. We compete, and the competition makes us stronger.
In our vibrant, messy, prosperous republican democracy, party politics have been corrupt and ugly, but they also serve as a bulwark and strength. Perhaps it is cliché, but competition does make us great, and fierce competition with fair rules generates our remarkable success in an experiment that relies more on an ephemeral social compact than the might of a sovereign.
Built into the Constitution is a separation of powers, pitting legislative, judicial and executive powers against the other with checks and balances to promote fair play, accountability and progress. The progress may be halting. The accountability may be flawed. The play may be rough, but we persevere, and our system grows more just, even in fits and starts, as we struggle with each other.
Others marvel at us, how we can thrive in peace even as we vehemently disagree and debate. We argue and maneuver and posture in the hope of winning hearts and minds and votes, instead of converting at the ends of bayonets or oppressing dissent. Minority parties rail and protest and vote, eventually waiting for the pendulum to swing them back into the majority, when they will be held accountable by a minority party, so that no one can cause too much damage in a term of office.
Instead of turning to vigilante feuds and bloodletting over disputes and power, we sue, we litigate. We compete, and if the rules and the process is fair and open, even the losers acquiesce peacefully. Our economy is based on competition, investment and smarts and hard work, to corner a market, to innovate, to profit and to win customers.
In this same spirit of competition, a free market of ideas, litigation and debate, we raise our political parties to debate, to struggle, to compete for the hearts and minds and votes of the people. The parties recruit, yes, but the parties also respond. They may look like they are responding to polls and popularity, but they may just be responding to the people and their principles and preferences.
History may declare winners, but we still are in the conversation, the debate and struggle for the great hearts and minds of our nation. Although the parties may yield to temptation and may drive us mad with bad tactics and parochial snobbery, they are our vehicles for the mighty exercise of our social compact together. We compete, and the competition makes us stronger.
posted by JRB at 9:38 PM
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