"Party Loyalty - Freedom's Worse Enemy"
Such
was George Washington's assessment
of
the result of putting party interests above the principles of liberty.
The
words come from his immortal Farewell Address.
In
this address he warned that party loyalty could
(and
many times does) become freedom's "worst enemy."
He
said this "spirit of party" should be "discouraged" and "restrained."
These
are sagacious instructions that have all but been forgotten today.
Washington
knew that political parties
intrinsically
tend to compete with man's better nature and conscience.
More
than one person has compromised his or her principles
in
the name of "party unity."
This
"spirit of party" also competes with the spirit of liberty.
People
who sell their futures to a political party
almost
always come to the belief
that
what is good for party is good for the country.
However,
such is seldom the case.
This
is clearly seen in the way party loyalists
respond
to chicanery and duplicity.
When
practiced by the party opposite,
there
is moral outrage and righteous indignation.
But
when practiced within one's own party,
there
is complete indifference or even spirited absolution.
This
preoccupation with political parties
helps
explain most of the carryings on in Washington, D.C. these days.
It
helps explain why Democrats excoriate John Ashcroft
for
his religious beliefs while practically deifying Joseph Liebermann for
his.
It
also helps explain why Republicans will demonize Al Gore
for
questionable connections to Communist China,
but
will say nothing about similar questions surrounding Elaine Chao.
It
is party politics - nothing more.
The
only question we should be asking is,
what
is best for America?
If
Communist influence (or anything else) is harmful to America,
it
should be rebuked when found within the Democrat or Republican Party!
After
all, does it really matter if the party suffers, or even vanishes?
Does
anyone really miss the Whigs?
What
does matter is what happens to the country.
freedom
can survive without the Republican or Democrat Party.
However,
it cannot survive without the principles of liberty remaining intact.
It
is crucial that all of us remember
that
this constitutional republic of ours is an ongoing experiment in self-government.
It
is not government of, by and for the party;
it
is government of, by and for the people.
Therefore,
it is up to each and every one of us to hold ourselves,
our
elected representatives and, yes,
our
political parties to the historic principles that birthed this great land!
To
the degree that they support these principles,
they
should be supported;
to
the degree that they don't, they should be opposed.
Ignoring
and excusing unconstitutional governance
and
unprincipled leadership
simply
because it emanates from within one's own party
is
a precursor for "a frightful despotism."
We
need to learn this lesson, and soon!
is
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