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Mon 27 Dec, 2004 04:05 am
To the victor belong the spoils?
Our founding fathers viewed the party system as a pathology:
Quote:"Political discussion in eighteenth-century England and America was pervaded by a kind of anti-party cant. Jonathan Swift, in his Thoughts on Various Subjects, had said that 'Party is the madness of many, for the gain of the few.' This maxim, which was repeated on this side of the Atlantic by men like John Adams and William Paterson, plainly struck a deep resonance in the American mind. Madison and Hamilton, when they discussed parties or factions (for them the terms were usually
interchangeable) in The Federalist, did so only to arraign their bad effects.
In the great debate over the adoption of the Constitution both sides spoke ill of parties. The popular sage, Franklin (who was not always consistent on the subject), gave an eloquent warning against factions and 'the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters.'
George Washington devoted a large part of his political testament, the Farewell Address, to stern warnings against 'the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party.' His successor, John Adams, believed that 'a division of the republic into two great parties . . . . is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.' Similar admonitions can be found in the writings of the arch-Federalist Fisher Adams and the 'philosopher of Jeffersonian democracy,' John Taylor of Caroline. If there was one point of political philosophy upon which these men, who differed on so many things, agreed quite readily, it was their common conviction about the baneful effects of the spirit of party." R. Hofstadter, The Idea of a Party System 2-3 (1969) (footnote omitted).
RUTAN ET AL. v. REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ILLINOIS ET AL., 497 U.S. 62 (1990)(JUSTICE STEVENS, concurring).
Look at what our modern day two party system has done to us . . . we are a divided and conquered people. The Republican Party is in control of the government. The party leaders preyed upon the fears, ignorance and prejudices (the madness) of the many to gain control. Now, the elite few will benefit from the spoils system while the rest of us will have our individual rights marched to the slaughterhouses and eviscerated.
You apparently have a very narrow view of the pilitical system in this nation.
You seem to have an opinion that all govt is centralized at the federal level.
Agree that the 2 party system is a problem, yet I see many "parties" represented on the ballot each election day. The problem is the voters seem to want to maintain a 2 party system by overwhelmingly voting for either of the 2 parties.
The two-party system, while imperfect (as are are things of humankind), provides a far more stable, consistent, and cohesive government than may be had through any other democratic system. Here, administrations change, but we've had the same government for more than 2ΒΌ centuries, even with having had a civil war - a relatively signal accomplishment.
Amusing, really, that some opponents of the party in power now find it convenient to attack the two-party system. Entirely consistent with human nature to perceive external causeology as reason for internal failure. Silly, but entirely human-like; lose a game or two, and rather than strive to improve one's play, seek to change the rules.
what if changing the rules and system are necessary to facilitate an improvement in the overall play of folks?
If it were so, it would be to be desired. It ain't, and it ain't.
timberlandko wrote:If it were so, it would be to be desired. It ain't, and it ain't.
Not by you anyway, from your statement but I don't think you can speak for everyone, and since when does this race of beings on the whole desire or strive towards what's good for us consistently?
About the only constant common to humanity is inconsistency
the two party system as demonstrated in the USA is like going to a buffet and having a choice of all you can eat broccoli or brussels sprouts.
timberlandko wrote:About the only constant common to humanity is inconsistency
what do you know? We agree... :wink:
Re: "the madness of many, for the gain of the few"
Debra_Law wrote:...Look at what our modern day two party system has done to us . . . we are a divided and conquered people. The Republican Party is in control of the government. The party leaders preyed upon the fears, ignorance and prejudices (the madness) of the many to gain control. Now, the elite few will benefit from the spoils system while the rest of us will have our individual rights marched to the slaughterhouses and eviscerated.
Translation: You lost a fair election.
I don't see what the fuss is all about re a two party system. I went to two parties on New Years many years ago and had a really good time at both of them. I guess you complainers are just being party-poopers.
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