The top news on news media mainstream or alternative seems to preoccupy with the never-ending infightings between two major political parties most days. Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines — and partisan antipathy is deeper and more extensive — than at any point in the last two decades. And ideological thinking is now much more closely aligned with partisanship within each party than in the past. As a result, ideological overlap between the two parties has diminished: Today, 92% of Republicans are to the right of the median Democrat, and 94% of Democrats are to the left of the median Republican according to a report from Pew Research. As ideological coupling with personal animosity towards the opposition party rises, very little can be accomplished in the White House, the congress, and the senate. In the end, common sense is lost, logical reasoning is lost, basic human decency is lost, and the country loses.
Nevertheless, these sentiments are not shared by all — or even most — Americans. Many ordinary non-politically-active-citizens do not have uniformly conservative or liberal views. People are independent from Democrat or Republican party are consistently at a level of 30–40% of total population last twenty years while people affiliated with either political party are decreased to the level of 30% from 35%. In 2018, 42% of US adults identified as political independents, compared to 30% who identified as Democrats and 26% who identified as Republicans. Gallup conducted a survey by asking people the same question every month from 2004 to this day: “In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an independent? ” The results of near 400 polls are graphed as follows:
It is interesting to notice that the percentage of independents has slowly increased at a rate of approximately 0.5% per year. In meantime numbers of both Democrats and Republicans are shrinking. People affiliated with either party are fewer than those not associated with any party. For example, independent or unaffiliated voters make up the largest percentage of voters in nine states: Alaska (58.08%), Arkansas (87.94%), Colorado (45.99%), Connecticut (41.58%), Massachusetts (60.17%), New Hampshire (39.09%), North Carolina (35.47%), Oregon (34.71%), and Rhode Island (45.48%).
In contrast to the rhetoric of the politicians, most do not see either party as a threat to the nation. And more believe their representatives in government should meet halfway to resolve contentious disputes rather than hold out for more of what they want. Unfortunately, the current voting process starts with the party primary where the majority independents who shy away from the party affiliation can’t participate and no voice from the first place. When it comes to the general election, the independents must take side without meaningful alternative. Thus, the free society seems not entirely free and fair to the independent voters.
On the other hand, party affiliated elected public officers and law makers increasingly react on issues or vote on the policies based on the party line. It makes one wonder what they really think as an individual, if they are independent thinkers, and how they would vote if they were not associated with the political parties. The current politics are not only apathetic to the real feeling of vast majority of independents but also makes the politicians merely followers of their parties instead of representatives of all people.
Then history teaches us that US politics is not always like what we see today. George Washington did not belong to a political party. He ran as a nonpartisan candidate in the presidential elections of 1789 and 1792 1. The Constitution that Washington helped draft in 1787 makes no mention of political parties and did not anticipate them. President Washington was famously opposed to political parties. In his Farewell Address to the nation in 1796, he warned against the dangers of political parties and urged Americans to avoid becoming divided along partisan lines. He believed that political parties were inherently divisive and could lead to the breakdown of national unity. He argued that the pursuit of partisan interests could lead to a neglect of the common good and to a loss of focus on the needs and interests of the entire nation. Today, his viewpoint on political party is ever more pertinent and his alarm on danger of political parties is echoing even more deafeningly:
“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. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion. Thus the policy and will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
However, despite his efforts to form a government that was above partisan ties and petty squabbles, he was unable to prevent the emergence of political parties. During Washington’s presidency, factions began to emerge that would soon form the first two political parties in the United States: the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. There have been several instances in US history where political parties have attempted to suppress free speech. One example is the Sedition Act of 1798, which was passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress and signed into law by President John Adams 1. The law made it a crime to publish “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against the government or its officials. The Federalists used this law to prosecute and imprison several newspaper editors who were critical of the Federalist Party and its policies. With the split of Democratic-Republican party into two separate parties, US had tradition of bipartisanship in politics. The success of US political system used to build on the sentiment of compromise and forbearance among the position parties. There have been periods of bipartisanship in American politics, such as when Republicans supported legislation by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson in the early 1960s, and when Democrats worked with Republican President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. It’s important to note that throughout most part of history both parties respected the rights of others to express their opinions, even if those opinions are critical or dissenting.
Now, the question is how we should do to make America less political and more productive?
First, society as a whole and each citizen as a responsible individual needs to view and think apolitically. Apolitical reasoning adapts the process of making decisions and forming opinions without being influenced by political ideologies. This type of reasoning is important because it allows individuals to evaluate information and make decisions based on facts and evidence, rather than being swayed by partisan biases.
One of the key benefits of apolitical reasoning is that it promotes objectivity and fairness. When individuals are able to set aside their political beliefs and evaluate information objectively, they are more likely to arrive at fair and balanced conclusions. This can help to reduce polarization and promote greater understanding between individuals with differing political views. Another benefit of apolitical reasoning is that it can help to promote more effective problem-solving and allow us to focus on some of nation’s pressing issues such as economy, innovation, manufacturing, and STEM education. Resolving those issues will truly lead the country to the promising land and make the country stronger. America at the present time needs more production, not politics.
Secondly, the decision-making process needs to reduce the influence of political parties and promote bipartisanship and cooperation between different political groups. One step that must be taken is to deepen campaign finance reform to reduce and even eliminate the influence of money in an election and to make the political system more representative. Buying largely negative ads with the money contributed from own political base is undemocratic. It may further alienate independent voters and discourage them from participating. The goal of a liberal democracy is to give all people opportunities to make informed decisions.
An extreme measure could be to pass laws to prohibit elected officials to associate with any political parties and only nonpartisan candidates can be elected as President of United States. While the Constitution outlines the structure of the government and sets limits on its powers, it does not regulate the existence or activities of political parties. However, striping the power of political parties in elections would likely raise significant constitutional issues, including concerns about freedom of association and freedom of speech.
Thirdly, we should strive to be less political and more independent from any political party. In a democratic society, there is even less needs for emphasizing political affiliation since all people are working in one indivisible nation under God. Therefore, encouraging people to become independent is paramount in promoting objectivity, fairness, and effective problem-solving. By setting aside political biases and evaluating information objectively, individuals can make better decisions and contribute to a more productive and less political society.
Let’s make the U.S more independent!!
