Party time

Party has always held such positive connotations in our culture – a birthday party, a party boat, the phrase “I want to party with you!” Hell, just talking about it makes me want to party right now.

But somehow, politicians were able to hornswoggle a seemingly free, fun-loving word into becoming an ugly and divisive institution as they tend to do with most everything when they created the party system.

While the two-party system has been a part of U.S. politics for so long that it may be hard to imagine America without it, it would certainly be worth it to try.

Imagine an American election, even a whole presidential term, where partisanship was based on the wealth and influence of a person’s ideas and not on the wealth and influence of his or her party, where no candidate or president would fight a battle of good and evil with every address to the nation, Senate or Congress, and where bills would be voted on based on the needs of the constituents and not on the basis of party interests.

It sounds far-fetched – utopian even – but what good has the party system brought this country or its voters, besides an express lane on the ballot?

Why do you think that each presidential election comes down to the wire? Is it because each term the candidates are so evenly matched in wit and leadership that the country just naturally splits? I think not.

The words “democrat” and “republican” have become so iconic with two distinct, set ways of thinking and acting – not just politically – that it leaves little room for change or progress.

The two-party system brings nothing but segregation and division, not only in Washington, but throughout the country.

Blue and red aren’t just colors; they are ideologies. They are symbols for the mistrust, fear and trivial arguing that are proliferated by pundits, television personalities and even news outlets every day.

Thoughtful debate in this country has been demoted to the repetition of propaganda and limericks from party-backing protestors.

The Democrats and Republicans have monopolized the political market and party preservation seems to be the tops on every political agenda. Never mind sound health care reform or economic recovery.

There’s a bill passing through Congress and everyone has to get their party’s and their party’s special friends’ interest included.

George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation, warned Americans about a party system.

“I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state,” he said. “It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another...”

Two-hundred and thirteen years later, the accuracy of these words has been proven. A change needs to be made, and if America is able to overcome the stranglehold of party politics, we would certainly have something to celebrate.