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.