Political parties: Oh, what a mess
The recent political turmoil our nation is facing has forced me to sit down and really consider the political parties, what they stand for and whether they’re necessary.
In 1792, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison founded the Democratic-Republican Party and in 1854 the Republican Party was founded by anti-slavery activists and modernizers. Until the mid-20th century, the Democratic Party was dominated by white Southerners who were the biggest defenders of slavery. This is quite a juxta-position to what the parties stand for today. Regardless of where the parties came from or what they represent, every president of the United States since 1852 has been either a Republican or a Democrat.
It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the parties started to resemble what we see today; that is, the Republican Party represents a conservative base and the Democratic Party represents more liberal issues.
The Democratic Party is the oldest existing voter-based political party in the world. Since 1912 the Democratic Party has taken a liberal stance on domestic issues. Since 1932, FDR’s “New Deal” has been largely responsible for ushering in modern American liberalism and determining the Democratic Party’s agenda. The Democratic Party is known for supporting social justice, social liberalism and the welfare state. The Democratic Party tends to be strongest on the East and West coasts.
The Republican Party, nicknamed the Grand Old Party or the “GOP,” rose to prominence in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Since its founding, the Republican Party has been known for favoring policies that aid American business interests and more aggressive military defense measures. The modern Republican Party represents economic liberalism, as well as fiscal and social conservatism. The Republican Party tends to be strongest in the southern states.
Interestingly, the Constitution of the United States doesn’t ever mention political parties because when it was signed in 1787, there was no such thing. It was our country’s existence as a Constitutional Republic that necessitated their formation. There was a need to win popular support of candidates among the states that led to the invention of voter-based political parties in the 1790s. You can imagine how difficult it was for candidates to campaign prior to the advent of radio, television, the internet and modern social media.
Although our current political system is considered a two-party system, there are many third parties today including the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, the Green Party and the Tea Party, among others. These parties receive minimal support compared to the two main parties.
Those who choose not to associate themselves with a party are called Independents. Over the years we’ve seen an increasing number of people register as Independents, likely because they are disillusioned with the Democratic and Republican parties. Many Independents claim to vote based on the issues rather than along party lines; however, studies show that those registered as Independents still tend to vote along party lines. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump collectively received 94 percent of the popular vote. In states with closed primaries, including Idaho, those registered as Independents are excluded from voting in the primary election altogether.
It’s undeniable that our two-party system creates detrimental division among friends, among families and among our nation. It’s gotten to the point that political discussions incite anger and sometimes violence. Many people wisely choose not to discuss politics at all.
This political division has become worse in recent years and I think it can largely be blamed on social media. Never before have we had access to such a large platform to voice our political beliefs. Too many times I’ve seen political discussions online end in name calling and accusations, because not only do we have this amazing platform to voice our opinions, but we also have more anonymity than ever before since we can easily hide behind our computer screens and our keyboards. We’ve become emboldened to unabashedly tout our political affiliation without repercussions. After all, we can simply “unfriend” or “block” those who question and challenge our beliefs.
In addition to this great division, the two-party system also seems to create a blind loyalty and a country in which it no longer seems necessary to be informed on the candidates or the issues. Our lives are busier than ever and it’s easier to simply vote based on whether there’s an (R) or a (D) following the candidate’s name, rather than doing any actual research. Fox News and MSNBC have only exacerbated this blind loyalty. It’s become more like rooting for your favorite sports team than being politically aligned, considering the only event in our nation that creates as much contention as the presidential election is the Super Bowl. It doesn’t seem to matter what the candidates stand for anymore, only what party they belong to.
We have more information at our fingertips than ever before, yet we’re also more uninformed than we’ve ever been when it comes to politics. We’re so busy worrying about why the other party is wrong that we don’t stop to wonder if we’re right. We should be voting for candidates based on their platforms, not the party they align themselves with.
Political parties may no longer be necessary or beneficial, but they are so ingrained in our society that they will always remain. The fact is, this country will continue to remain divided and will accomplish very little if the parties don’t start working together. Instead of approaching our political adversaries with righteous indignation, maybe we should approach them with an open mind and an open heart.
- • •
Laura Tenneson is a Hayden resident.