Partisanship in Democracy By T.S. Khanna, January31, 2016.

Foundation for Better Government

(www.bettergovt.blogspot.com)

January 31, 2016

Partisanship in Democracy

By T.S. Khanna, January 31, 2016

George Washington, in his farewell address in 1796, emphasized,

“Let me warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of (political) party…..The spirit of party serves always to distract the public councils, and enfeebles the public administration.  It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments occasional riot and insurrection.”

At every presidential election, Washington’s words resound with greater eloquence.  At the election time, we notice that the two-party system is dividing the nation into two non-compromising cultures.  Two fundamentally different economic philosophies are now in conflict: capitalistic economy v/s socialistic economy.  The U.S. government was designed as a wealth producing capitalistic democracy that performed remarkably well.  But now wealth consuming socialistic democracy is fast gaining ground under the two-party system.  America is at the cross-roads.  If allowed to go unchecked, it is likely to lead to economic ruin.  For how long more and how much more can we keep borrowing?

Earlier, in 1786, Washington had stressed, “…men will not adopt and carry into execution the measures best calculated for their own good without the intervention of coercive power.”

It is a challenge for political Pundits to explore means to avert economic suicide of the nation by our two-party system.  Can we abolish the party system and restructure democracy by letting all candidates run independent and all voters vote independently?  It should give direct and more power to the voters and eliminate exploitative opportunities for the party bosses.

Readers' comments are solicited.