Elephants and Donkeys

bryand · Oct 2, 2008

Here is an excerpt from Glenn Beck's commentary today on CNN.com:

That's probably one of the reasons why George Washington hated the idea of political parties so much. Here's what he said about them in his 1796 farewell speech:

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."

I know that George had a habit for using big words, so allow me to translate into 2008 English: Political parties that put their own success over that of the country's will be the death of America.

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Maybe our political rants are really not relevant. I don't know.

RobWin · Oct 2, 2008

bryand said:
Here is an excerpt from Glenn Beck's commentary today on CNN.com:

That's probably one of the reasons why George Washington hated the idea of political parties so much. Here's what he said about them in his 1796 farewell speech:

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."

I know that George had a habit for using big words, so allow me to translate into 2008 English: Political parties that put their own success over that of the country's will be the death of America.

The article can be found here:
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Maybe our political rants are really not relevant. I don't know.

LOL, you mean like Sean Hannity & Rush Limbaugh do everyday and everynight on their radio and tv shows...

lots0 · Oct 2, 2008

George Washington was Right and so was Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson said:
"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all." --Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824.

Political Rantings like ours, have been a part of mans history throughout time.
What makes our country so special is that so far both parties have been able to compromise and come to some agreements without killing each other.

But if we allow one party or another to forget that we are all Americans and that we all want what is best for our country... We will end up like the Spanish, in their civil war, that pitted liberals against conservatives. In the Spanish civil War both sides lost, when a fascist dictator took control of Spain...

jetset · Oct 3, 2008

Great and highly relevant quotes through the centuries from Bryand and Lots0 in my opinion; it's a problem plaguing most 'democracies' imo, and this consolidation of power into ever fewer political party hands increasingly diminishes the power of the individual voter at grass roots level.

So many countries have seen political party apparatchiks dictating who's running things at even the most fundamental government levels, like municipalities/town councils and provinces where party affiliation rather than the will of the ratepayers or taxpayers increasingly takes precedence.

It's a sad progression but I don't see it being halted anytime soon, and the words of Jefferson and Washington seem to ring truer now than they did a couple hundred years ago.

The essence of a strong democracy in my view is a strong Opposition scrutinising and where necessary criticising the activities of the ruling party and its officials to ensure accountability. Never, ever let one party become too dominant - it inevitably leads to arrogance and the erosion of democracy.

Elephants and Donkeys

bryand

Beach Bum

RobWin

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lots0

Banned User - troll posts - flaming

jetset

RIP Brian

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