Over the years, I have watched George Washington's warnings and advice come to fruition in regards to political party lines. The father of our country warned , in his farewell speech from his last term as president, to beware the negative impact political parties could have on the nation.
"However [political parties] may now and 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 and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
FAREWELL ADDRESS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796
It is a shame that we have reached a point that every issue has to be divided over party lines and partisan politics at the expense of the nation. Old George must be turning over in his grave.
This great nation started in the 1700s as a bold experiment in culture and government. Never before had a nation set out to form a government without a monarch, without an absolute leader, but with checks and balances and branches to maintain that. The idea of a "president" elected by the citizens for 4 years was unheard of at the time, especially since that presidential office would have with it responsibilities as well as checks and balances
Along came political parties, people who claim, by words or actions "I am a republican/democrat first and an American second." I recently heard someone say that she would never be friends with someone who was not republican, and another say that he hated democrats. My thought is that these people likely hate themselves first, and have found a political party which allows them to foster, and encourages that hatred. In fact, the top agenda for both major parties in this nation seems to be first and foremost, opposition to the Other Party !
I have caught a lot of hate on this and other forums for saying that I am an American first. (Not Christian first, not Democrat first, not Republican first...etc etc ad nauseum) I want what is best for our country, and decisions must be made to serve the best long term interests on the country. I am an American first and foremost above all else.
The recent government mishandling of the Covid pandemic was a sad example of political issues interfering with a community crisis. The Covid crisis was , and still is, a medical and community health problem. It is/was not a hoax, it is/was not germ warfare, and it certainly WAS NOT a political crisis, BUT That is the first direction it took. The problem was very quickly turned into a political issue. Playing Party politics and games as well as poor leadership across the board delayed testing, vaccines and treatment which cost some 600,000 of my countrymen and women their lives. Turning a health crisis into a political crisis cost lives. And to party leaders, who want to blame the other side but fail to work across party lines, we the people have to suffer.
I have removed my designation from my voters registration card as to which party I support. While little will likely change, except the channels I am watching on TV or the forums I read, the American flag still flies over my house.
"However [political parties] may now and 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 and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
FAREWELL ADDRESS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796
It is a shame that we have reached a point that every issue has to be divided over party lines and partisan politics at the expense of the nation. Old George must be turning over in his grave.
This great nation started in the 1700s as a bold experiment in culture and government. Never before had a nation set out to form a government without a monarch, without an absolute leader, but with checks and balances and branches to maintain that. The idea of a "president" elected by the citizens for 4 years was unheard of at the time, especially since that presidential office would have with it responsibilities as well as checks and balances
Along came political parties, people who claim, by words or actions "I am a republican/democrat first and an American second." I recently heard someone say that she would never be friends with someone who was not republican, and another say that he hated democrats. My thought is that these people likely hate themselves first, and have found a political party which allows them to foster, and encourages that hatred. In fact, the top agenda for both major parties in this nation seems to be first and foremost, opposition to the Other Party !
I have caught a lot of hate on this and other forums for saying that I am an American first. (Not Christian first, not Democrat first, not Republican first...etc etc ad nauseum) I want what is best for our country, and decisions must be made to serve the best long term interests on the country. I am an American first and foremost above all else.
The recent government mishandling of the Covid pandemic was a sad example of political issues interfering with a community crisis. The Covid crisis was , and still is, a medical and community health problem. It is/was not a hoax, it is/was not germ warfare, and it certainly WAS NOT a political crisis, BUT That is the first direction it took. The problem was very quickly turned into a political issue. Playing Party politics and games as well as poor leadership across the board delayed testing, vaccines and treatment which cost some 600,000 of my countrymen and women their lives. Turning a health crisis into a political crisis cost lives. And to party leaders, who want to blame the other side but fail to work across party lines, we the people have to suffer.
I have removed my designation from my voters registration card as to which party I support. While little will likely change, except the channels I am watching on TV or the forums I read, the American flag still flies over my house.