Ch 1.6 | Beware of political parties

Our first three presidents all advised the new nation about the danger of political parties.

In his farewell address in 1796, George Washington warned us about the influence of political parties.

They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community.

Washington’s successor, President John Adams, wrote in 1780:

There is nothing I dread So much, as the Division of the Republick into two great Parties, each arranged under its Leader, and concerting Measures in opposition to the other.

President Thomas Jefferson quipped:

If I could go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.

Our nation's founding fathers were brilliant!

Moving to present day, I couldn't agree with Joe Manchin more when he stated:

It is clear that most Americans are exceedingly frustrated by the growing divide in our political parties and toxic political rhetoric from our elected leaders. Our political discourse is lacking engaged debates around common-sense solutions to solve the pressing issues facing our nation.

As the team at No Labels recently suggested, we are witnessing

A 'clown show' in Congress. And the joke is on us!

So how do we get the best out of our elected officials and the Democratic and Republican parties? This is the most important question guiding our work.