Two Party System

The last President of the U.S. outside of the current two party system was Andrew Johnson. Yes, president number seventeen, who followed Lincoln. Considered in the history books I read in school, not very successful. He was a member of the War Union Party. Johnson served from 1865-1869. Facing an oppositional legislature, Johnson was impeached but the procedure failed by one vote.
Prior to Johnson, Millard Filmore was elected the Thirteenth President as a member of the Whig Party. He was formerly a member of the Anti-Mason party. The Media are still trying to tie everyone in power to the Masons or some other secret organization. Paranoia must be painful. LOL.
Since Andrew Johnson, we have been locked in a two party struggle. It has always been my opinion that the two party system served us well. In other countries we see a majority cobbled together through coalition. The by-product of that is compromise. I do not favor compromise, I favor victory.
If that seems a bit pig headed, it is. I like to win. But I am also astute enough to realize that not everyone agrees with me. Fine, so you want it your way, “go to burger king, or move out of state.” How is that for a position? Won’t win me any elections I am sure, nor many friends in today’s left leaning climate. My goal is not to make friends but to move people to take charge of their government at the local level.
The two party system no longer seems to work at the local level. Here is my assessment of why– money now dominates politics at all levels. Obama is outspending Clinton 4-1. That is two his money, or the money raised by his anarchist friends plus two more from political action groups. (Yes, thank you John McCain for compromising with the McCain-Feingold Act).
No one can overcome that much financial firepower– not even the Clintons. That will be the state of things in the general election also. My prediction is the ratio will be more like 10-1. As the heavy favorite, Obama will look pretty foolish when he fails. So, will all those who have taken sides against the current power structure in the liberal wing of the party.
Which is part of my point about the two party system, no longer are there just a few basic points to consider. With all the special interests lobbying for a voice, parties are spread across the spectrum.
Democracy is majority rule. There is nothing in the concept that says, minority interests need a voice. Read that correctly– minority interests do not need a voice when it has a negative affect on the majority.
I am environmentalist. I love nature, being outside, I live in the woods with no close neighbors. Almost daily I see, deer, turkey, and many small animals. I feed them at times when the weather is very bad. We have bird houses and feeders. There is nothing that I can see, would be beneficial in reducing the number of animals on the earth. Nature should balance that out and it will in time. Nature’s time not a local community which finds coyote’s an annoyance.
But if the majority wants to build a pipeline through my front yard, I have few options. Move or live with it. I can lobby, yell, scream, carry picket signs, write letters, blog, try to gather support. In the end, if the majority wants a pipeline there should be a pipeline. I have to deal with it. No I am not advocating drilling in ANWR. My suggestion is– start walking and you will find extra dollars lost to Middle Eastern Oil.
When leadership stops to consider every whiner that stands up in a meeting, little gets done. Yes, I want my day in court, if the pipeline runs through here. But, com’on, two hundred ninety nine million, nine hundred ninety nine thousand, nine hundred ninety six people oppose me, the wife and two dogs. They each get a vote in the household. LOL.
This may seem a cruel concept but it is the way. Business must maximize it’s time and money. Things must be focused and people must be driven to accomplish the goals. Otherwise, the business closes and no one wins. Government should be more business like and less P.T.A.
The democrats were the party of the working man. Today they are the party of special interests, with a lot of old democrats trailing along. The republicans have been classed as the party of business, big and small. People came across the party lines to vote for Reagan. That coalition remains the dream of power hungry republicans. The concept of a “big tent” party needs to be put to rest. We need a political system of leaders, willing to state their personal positions and stand by them in office. Not people who line up at the party trough and gorge themselves on the corruption of big government.
Which brings me to the final point– localize. So far, it has been a national debate about the pipeline, but it should be a local debate on most things. How well do I want my children educated? Am I willing to raise awareness and build support for taxes to increase educational standards in my community? Do we need better health care facilities? Am I willing to vote for a bond to raise money for it? Do I want no fault divorce as the standard in my state? How do I want those who are inside the U.S. illegally treated in my community, state? To me these are important issues on which I do not want to compromise. At the local level I can find those of like mind. We can build a community which reflects our values. Doesn’t mean you have to like it. Nor do you have to visit.
Politics at the local level make sense. Those living in dense metropolitan areas will not have the same the same political views as one living on a thousand acre ranch in Utah. We are a varied nation with many different life experiences. Why should our views be subject to compromise?
National responsibility is primarily security and commerce. Most everything belongs at the state and local level. That gives each of us a stronger voice in our lives.