Political Parties: What Now?

by Susan Snelling

Political parties in America have been around since the Constitutional debates. According to “The Origins and Functions of Political Parties” from Grolier Online and “The New Book of Knowledge,” in the late 1700s, two factions arose over the role of the central government. The roles in question were if the central government would be weak or strong.

The faction for a strong role of central government was led by John Hamilton. This faction was called the Federalists. The faction for a weaker central government called themselves the anti-Federalists. The anti-Federalist party was formed in response to the Federalists, who were the first political party in America.

Not all the Framers of the Constitution were for political parties. James Madison was reluctant about political parties but saw that they were probably necessary. However, the Founding Fathers in general were against political parties. In 1796, George Washington went so far as to warn against them.  Even Hamilton and Jefferson, who led the Federalists and anti-Federalists, were against factions that result in political parties.

The Federalists, called the Democrat-Republicans, were composed of wealthier Americans such as the more educated and businessmen. The anti-Federalists were populated with small farmers and other laborers, usually people at the lower end of the income level. Unlike the Federalists who wanted a strong central government, the anti-Federalists wanted the power to reside in the states and local governments.

In response to the concerns of the Federalists for protection from a strong central government, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote what became The Federalist papers. This was a series of essays addressing the concerns of those who wanted a limited federal government. The argument was that the way the Constitution was designed that it provided those safeguards. The protections from a strong central government were inherent in the Constitution. After the anti-Federalists saw their concerns were addressed and that the Constitution would give them the protections they thought the country should have, the two factions were able to come together and ratify the Constitution.

Today the two main factions expressed in political parties are known as the Democrats and the Republicans. The Democrat party tends to believe that government is the solution to all of societal ills and that a strong central government is key to alleviating those problems. The Republicans tend to oppose a strong central government as the answer but lean more toward states’ rights.

However, the federal government has gained power and expanded under the leadership of both parties although more so under the Democrats. There are other marked differences between the political parties in how they interpret the Constitution and in how they see America. It is up to those who are educated on the original intent of the Framers and the Constitution to oppose, through the political process, those with views and actions that would tear down the pillars America was built upon.

Having the enemy at the head of government is troubling enough but when the enemy is of your own party that would be downright vexing. Alexander Hamilton said “If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not invoke our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures.”

What if the political party in power thinks nothing of shredding the Constitution in order to keep that power or gain more? What if the political party in power adeptly uses the Fourth Branch of government (the bureaucracy, administrative state, deep state, etc.) as a weapon against their political opponents including the average citizen?

This includes use of the judicial system (corrupt left leaning judges), the DOJ, FBI, CIA and so forth against those who have an opposing worldview. What if the political party in power has allies on the other side of the aisle through do nothing congressmen or those who are compromised somehow? ‘What if’ in these cases and more is a reality today. There are no what ifs, but the ‘what now’ that this is the case.

In a letter to James Warren, October 24, 1780, Samuel Adams wrote: “If ever the Time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall possess the highest Seats in Government, our Country will stand in Need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its Ruin.” That time is now.