Since the 1920s, America’s two political parties have been in steady decay. In the wake is a deterioration of trust between the people and the government, the government and the people, and the people between one another. At the root of it all is a powerful ideology that crept into the country’s fabric. The cancerous philosophical plague behind it has finally taken root.
Let me explain in some detail…
Political parties were a foregone conclusion by the late 1700s. That’s despite numerous warnings against them. Groups formed as a basis to build coalitions. Suppose you want to pass legislation, especially dramatic, widespread impactful laws. A consensus must be gained among lawmakers and the voting public who puts them into office. As political philosophies grew, the early president’s made bold policy decisions, and lawmakers and voters picked sides.
By the 1920s, a shift began in the country’s political psyche. This led to the rise of modern-day conservatism represented by the Republican Party versus progressive liberalism and the Democratic Party. A new philosophy embraced by liberal thinkers said the government would look to the people as a source of sovereignty.
Before this time, literature and school civics lessons taught America was a “Republic.” Under President Woodrow Wilson (D), the term was changed from “republic” to “democracy.” The administration introduced a new way of governing as a result. They created “managers” using two methods to change how America worked.
First, they created government boards and appointed highly educated people to them. Because of their education, these government board members were considered “moral.” The implication was they would look out for society better than elected officials. Their task was to make rules and regulations constraining private businesses motivated by greed.
As such, they would control production and consumption and manage international trade. The goal was to distribute profits and redistribute wealth to create a more equitable society.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in 1932 during his “Commonwealth Address” that there would be a new social contract. The people would give the government power, and the government would provide the people with rights.
This transformed America. The Declaration of Independence argued vehemently against this kind of thinking. It said that God ensures the rights of people. This change was swift and dramatic for society, government, and the two political parties.
Today, we can see the inheritance of the 1920s reframing of America.
So, how did this inheritance lead to two political parties failing America today?
I’ll start with Democrats and then switch to discuss Republicans.
The political shift from the 1920s and 1930s took time. As older guards taught in the traditional ideals of republicanism faded, the philosophies of the two parties changed.
Traditionally, Democrats and Republicans argued about economics, war, and peace. Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign focused almost exclusively on economics. Still, he also ran on public school choice, a balanced budget amendment, opposition to illegal immigration, and support for NAFTA.
These are all opposite of today’s Democratic Party. Since 2008, the party has delved deeper into the political philosophy established a hundred years ago. Economics has dwindled from creating a prosperous society to using cultural issues to strip prosperity under the guise of “equity.”
I’ve written extensively about this… equity is the process of income redistribution under the guise of social justice to create a more just society. In any other context, that would be called socialism.
To justify the equity agenda, Democrats lace it with identity politics – race, gender, and transgender – sprinkled in with abortion rights.
Columnist and fellow at New America, Michael Lind, explained that Democrats use three means under false pretenses to accomplish their goals:
- Anti-racism to pursue social reconstruction.
- Go beyond civil rights, ignore gay rights, and redefine humanity so that gender is a subjective self-definition.
- Climate change is an excuse to “radically restructure the society of the U.S. and other advanced industrial democracies.”
Here’s the most interesting part — most Democratic elected officials disagree with what’s happening in their party. They know it hurts them politically. They know they are on the wrong side of history and are making a mistake by not pushing back on the fridge elements within the party.
The Republicans aren’t any better. Today’s GOP is the 1990s and early 2000s Democratic Party. They also have shifted. While the public identifies with Republicans as conservatives, few are truly left in the party. All one needs to do is study their voting records. It’s in plain sight for all to see.
Politics is about two things: relationships and communication.
Republicans are now so divided between modernism (i.e., classical liberalism) and the conservative wing that they can’t agree on much of anything. They can’t talk about policy, and when they do, they fumble through their words. They’ve become the “Ax the Entitlements” party. That’s not true. Reforming failing programs is not the same as eliminating them.
Regardless, Republicans can’t decide who they are anymore. Are they for limited government? Their record says they are not. They spent money rivaling any Democratic-led government during the Trump administration.
At the same time, they have yet to conclude verbally that the federal government will never be limited or small in our lifetimes. They also can’t tell voters why smaller government benefits families, why checks and balances and the separation of powers are vital to the proper role of government in citizen’s everyday lives; they aren’t focused on restraining government spending where it matters, and they don’t appear to be interested in policies that encourage economic growth and expanding liberties and freedoms for individuals.
It always comes back to the same things — more government and more control over your life. Don’t take my word for it. While they profess one thing with their lips, they do another thing with their votes in Congress.
Both parties are missing something.
Republicans can’t agree on what they stand for today and can’t talk to voters about things that matter.
At the same time, they allow an admitted liar like George Santos to remain in Congress instead of expelling him for his egregious lies to his constituents. They have that power in the Constitution. While it should be used with extreme caution and rarity, he deserves the boot. Still, with a razor-thin majority, Republicans are afraid they can’t lose Santos’ vote. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said the people had spoken on election day. I disagree. They voted for someone who they believed was telling them the truth. They didn’t vote for the person we know who lied to them.
Where are the right and wrong principles, regardless of the consequences to the GOP?
Democrats appear intent on changing the republican form of government that has worked extraordinarily well since 1788. FDR said it best. The government is now the arbiter of rights. It’s not nature or God who gives them. It’s elected and unelected bureaucrats.
This is why our parties are failing America.
There is one solution and one solution alone.
The American people must stop all of this with the power of their vote. Politicians are more scared of voters than lobbyists or their money. “We the people” hold the power in this country. Still, that won’t happen as long as Americans are in the dark about the founding principles of our country, trust parties and their candidates with blind faith, and turn their backs when one of their own does wrong.
I hope you’ll join me on social media to share your thoughts.
The Conservative Era, Copyright 2023
