America and Factionalism Revisited

The ascendance of the Democratic Party to total control of both houses of Congress and the White House has led to an ever increasing level of factionalism in the United States. A poor economy combined with a seemingly oblivious Republican Party swept the Democrats into power. The mantra of "change you can believe in" enticed a majority of voters to try something different. As is often the case in life, you sometimes get more than you bargained for and such is now the case in Washington D.C. Many voters were oblivious to just what the consequences would be if Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid gained an ally in the White House and failed to critically analyze just what candidate Barack Obama would become if he became President. All of us are now reaping what the majority of voters sowed last November. I find it amazing that our citizenry is "surprised" by runaway spending and the attempt to centralize control of many aspects of our society, ie. health care, at the federal level. Even more surprising is the Democratic Party's disbelief at the opposition to their efforts growing nationwide. The White House's call for citizens to "narc" on their neighbors and Speaker Pelosi's contemptuous description of individuals expressing their opposition to universal health care at town hall meetings as mere thuggery is truly alarming. So, what is to become of our Republic? Will you lie down in subservience to the current majority or, will you stand tall and peacefully voice your concerns and force the legislature to return to their roots and remember that they are merely our elected representatives and not overlords of American society?

James Madison penned, The Federalist No. 10(www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm), on November 22, 1787. He published this essay under the name of Publius and hoped it would further increase support for the fledgling constitution. He dealt specifically with human factionalism in society and offered safeguards to prevent the eventual destruction of any given society. His findings led him to believe that a republican form of government was the only method through which individual liberties could be preserved. It is often funny how common it is for history to repeat itself. The following excerpt from his essay vividly describes our current government:

"The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into
the public councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which
popular governments have everywhere perished; as they continue to be the
favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations."

An unchecked party majority of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government could seriously weaken our nation. The best method of countering this sickness is to demand that our representatives listen to our opinions, both in support of or opposition to, their efforts in our capitol. If these same representatives should fail to heed our voices, it will become our duty as citizens to remove them from office through the peaceful power of the vote. An involved citizenry is requisite sustenance for a vibrant republic so; I humbly ask the Democrats to explain to me just why they are surprised at the opposition they are now being presented with? Did they not oppose, sometimes in a civil and oftentimes uncivil fashion, the previous administration? Was this not their right?

Many on the Democratic side of the aisle view our constitution as a living, malleable document. Most conservatives view it as a bedrock supporting constancy within our republic. Most Americans are centrists and don't appreciate extreme factionalism within our culture. Neither the far left nor the far right maintain a majority of our populace. Once again, Madison addressed the importance of our constitution as the most effective form of inoculation against rampant factionalism:

"If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is
supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its
sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse
the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the
forms of the Constitution."

Madison clearly demonstrates in Federalist No. 10 the importance of our constitution to civil order in America. It is not a document to be tampered with and the public knows this. I have thus far not been surprised by a single event emanating from Washington D.C. I can say with complete satisfaction that I did not vote for President Obama nor; do I support the rampant spending and legislative efforts of Speaker Pelosi or Senator Reid. The Democrats hope to stir up the fire of factionalism in the belief that such discord will keep them in power. It is time for independent thinkers without party allegiances to demand more from our representatives or force them from office through the power of the vote in 2010.

The Final Gasp of the 1960s

The whirlwind of activity in Washington D.C. portends the final hopes of the Flower Power Generation. Even though he is too young to have actively participated in the socio-cultural events surrounding the 1960s, President Obama’s associates and mentors are for the most part, products of this movement. Political power brokers in the Democratic Party draw their social sustenance from the values espoused by this counter cultural movement. Individuals such as, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd, Henry Waxman, Barney Frank, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Harry Reid and numerous others in both Houses of Congress are now in a position to aggressively pursue the long lost dreams of liberalism and socio-economic equality.

The above mentioned individuals have risen to power and are now in a position to fulfill their dreams. Knowing this, they intend to begin a last ditch effort to remake America in the image of the hippie movement. With the Democrats in control of two out of three branches of the federal government, they intend to aggressively change our culture through the enactment of new laws designed to enforce their views. Their policies must be in place before 2010 or, as with other distinct cultural movements throughout our nation’s history, the psychedelic social fantasies of the 1960s will become relegated to mere mention in history books.

Contrary to the endless hyperbole roaring forth from the left and the right, most Americans are centrist in nature and maintain a uniquely American ability to remain ambivalent over many social issues facing our nation. We do not like to do things quickly. For instance, the issue over slavery was contentious during our nation’s founding and yet, it took over a century before the issue was settled. Women sought equality in the 1840s yet; they still struggle to gain parity with their male counterparts. The Democrats would do well to heed the warnings and realize that our citizenry does not react well to being force fed.

All of us need to wake up and not allow an extreme position on socio-political values to become the law of the land. Every one of us needs to look in the mirror and ask ourselves; who are we and what is to become of our country? All is not lost however; for the Democratic Party knows full well that it must move quickly because the youth of our nation who witnessed the horrific attacks of 9/11 are even less likely than the voters of today to accept a political schism that would forever separate us from the hopes and dreams of our founders. Let all of us return to school a month early, demand answers to our questions from our representatives and senators and remind them that we are the employers and they are our employees.

De Oppresso Liber