The American Party

George Washington was no friend of the idea of political parties. He warned that they could be corrupted and leveraged by people with contrary and subversive aims. He lost that argument as I described in extensive detail in my book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2017 Archway Publishing.

“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” ― George Washington

The Republican Party today controls Congress and represents the Executive Branch led by Donald Trump. President Trump's actions and words produce a body of evidence that he is a racist bigot and unfit to perform as President of the United States. Worse, Trump is under investigation for possibly conspiring and colluding with Russians to interfere in the free election process.

More, President Trump consistently attempts to undermine the rule of law and to impose authoritarian dictates that are ruled illegal by the Courts. Throughout his incumbency, he has attacked the three branches of government, even Congress that is led by his party host.

The question posed in this article is about the purpose of political parties. They represent a brand of ideology and values embraced by their members. Candidates who run at their hosting have personal manifestos that are intended to align with their parties' platforms.

Party platforms are a foundation of value statements and policies advocated by them. Candidate manifestos may differ by degrees from that of their host where differences are either new directions in leadership or deviations by disagreement.

Citizen voters have the responsibility to do three things:

1. Participate in the formation of party platforms.

2. Know the extent to which individuals agree with platforms.

3. Know and understand candidate's manifestos and their alignment with party platforms.

Extensive problems exist from many factors.

1. There are no standards for political parties in America. (No quality control and performance management criteria)

2. The process for generating platforms is deficient and untimely.

3. There are no requirements and standards for candidates to produce manifestos and to demonstrate alignment with host parties.

The purpose of political parties is to produce candidates for office by known standards and foundations.

Washington's concern about corruption is valid as evidenced by today's situation. The US Congress has become so corrupted by powerful monied influences that they have permitted the erosion of the principle of one person one vote that is equality.

Three things must happen to improve the situation:

1. Establish standards for the performance of political parties including liability for vetting candidates.

2. Establish standards for platforms and manifestos.

3. Change and improve the laws to eliminate corruption by monied influences in the process.

Voters must act with urgency to address these needs, which is why my next book will discuss these topics.

Maybe we just need The American Party.

The American Party