Partisan politics

[flaja]

Originally Posted by tw

Post WWI American politics has never been so partisan as it is today.

True, perhaps, but American politics today are likely not as hostile as in the past. Abraham Lincoln was called an ape and the original gorilla and this was by members of his own party. But this hostility didn’t prevent Lincoln from putting his most bitter rivals in his cabinet, and for the most part his rivals served him well for the good of the country. The good of the country is most often lost in today’s politics.

Gerrymandering is a new phenomena (a refined tool) resulting in a Congress of party extremists rather than two parties with numerous moderates. Better government means constantly crossing the aisle to create legislation.

Gerrymandering goes back to the early 19th century when Elbridge Gerry, as governor of Massachusetts(?), had a legislative district drawn to help elect someone from his party. But with today’s computer technology gerrymandering has essentially become an effortless task.

Take Hilary as an example. Her first legislation was a cooperative effort with John McCain - both moderates. But moderates have become rare in Washington which also explains the recent contentious atmosphere in Washington.

I don’t consider either Hilary or McCain to be moderates. Hilary is pro-abortion and wants socialized medicine; McCain supports high taxes and he went out of his way to keep many of GWB’s judicial appointees (at least some of whom may have been conservatives) off the federal bench.

I expect my representatives to work first for America - not for the party. That is the difference between a good politician and a bad one. The bad politician simply totes the party line. You cannot work both for America and the party simultaneously. When the choice arises - as it often does - I expect my representatives to buck party politics and work for the nation. Otherwise he has been corrupted. Obviously, that means working across the aisle often is necessary when Congressmen work for America.

I am not saying that only moderates should be elected to public office. Neither am I saying that politicians should not be partisan. What I am saying is that I am sick and tired of the constant bickering between the left and the right. I am sick and tired of politicians that won’t work together because they know that if they find a political solution to a political problem they will forfeit a campaign issue for the next election.

I think the best way to end the bickering is to implement term limits, give equal and un-hindered ballot access to all candidates and all parties and chose representatives by some form of proportional representation.

I would also support something comparable to what is used in the U.K. where the executive (prime minister) and the legislature (parliament) can force each other to stand for re-election when they are unable to get along with each other.