Ramon Arias | May 16, 2016
Political parties mean social fragmentation; they can never unite a society. Every election reminds us how divided we are, and this presidential election is no different. The divided Democrat Party is in untidiness; Democrats and their sympathizers have a choice between a hard-core left ideologist and an elite socialist with leftist ideological leanings. The divided Republican Party isn’t any better; most of them don’t like the nominee for not being conservative enough, and the elites are looking for the alternative “right conservative.”
Not many Americans know that we have far more than a two-party system. People think that is all there is because the Democrat and Republican parties are dominant. In reality, there are five major political parties: the Democrat Party (1828), Republican Party (1854), Libertarian Party (1971), Green Party (1991), and the Constitution Party (1992). Also, there are 32 minor political parties not including independents. Then, we have the many regional parties without any affiliation to a national party. This political muddle began with The Federalist Party (1789-1820) followed by the Democrat-Republican Party (1792-1824). Do you know that we also have non-electoral organizations that function in like manner to political parties? Yes, we do. There are 28 of them that mostly promote the Marxist ideology.
Every political party has political principles, and so do the non-electoral organizations. These principles are called political platforms, party ideologies, party philosophies, or party doctrine; all their sources come from ideas that shape their worldview. If all this resembles political Babel to you (Genesis 11:11-9), that’s because it is; nothing good and lasting has ever come out of them. Each political party wants to influence society by getting their candidates elected to public office. Can these forms of political structure produce a free and just society? History shouts back with a resounding, NO! They are not able to bring about a perfect social experiment; it is an impossible dream due to their opposing views about the right and wrong of morality as it applies to all areas of life and institutions.
Did the founders envision a society so dominated, divided and confused by loyalties to political parties? Not at all, at least not in their early considerations when forming this experimental form of government. Had they known what they were creating they would never have proceeded. George Washington’s Farewell Address on September 19, 1796, makes the distrust and dangers of forming political parties very clear because of their predictable outcomes and he warned future generations to be educated and watchful, so this would not happen because it would certainly destroy the nation:
“I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful [destructive] effects of the spirit of party generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & 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 & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & 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.”
As political parties gain popular acceptance, that means they also gain more power and control to lead society in their ideological vision. Historically, for the most part, this has led to an infected presidency with ideas that the Founders considered corrupt, when they take hold of the federal executive, legislative and judiciary branches; this is not fictional, people have suffered. There are exceptions, but the fact remains that very few fought to make good on their word to serve all Americans.
Washington, in his Farewell Address, also mentioned the antidote, not only for politicians but also for the general population:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness – these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, ‘where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?’ And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
In George Washington’s time, they knew much about other religions and the role they played in culture, which was incomparable to biblical Christianity. To say that he had in mind any other religion than Christianity is inaccurate due to the teaching that came from the predominantly Christian pulpits. For the most part, the colonial pulpits understood and taught the sovereignty and righteousness of God for a stable society. Therefore, it is easy to note that biblical principles shaped early America. That was the America then, and those were the foundational principles that defined its character as citizens acknowledged that God rules in the affairs of men and nations.
The America of the 21st century is far from its original foundations, which is why people are confused for not knowing the principles that are the sustainers of life and the world; if they are unfamiliar with them how can they make wise decisions for any election? Is everything lost? It all depends if we are willing to learn from the past so we can boldly break this treacherous social cycle. I recommend you read a book, which you may acquire at our online store, written by Dr. Joel McDurmon, “Restoring America One County at a Time” How our freedom was lost and how we can get it back.
What can we do in the upcoming presidential election? Most Americans think of the leading political parties as the most qualified to govern because the other three major parties make small inroads with no chance of winning at the presidential level. Those who think that they can come up with their “conservative” candidate as a third-party option, better think again. Just remember businessman Ross Perot, who ran twice as a third-party candidate for the U.S. presidency, first as an Independent in 1992, and then for the Reform Party in 1996. His participation in 1992 gave us Bill Clinton, and twenty-four years later we continue to suffer the national and international consequences.
I know people are fed up with the political establishment, but that is not a justification for losing focus in our minds. We have to think things through calmly and come to the conclusion of who, in the dominant parties, can give us the best opportunity to work with to do our very best to turn this nation back to the God of the Bible. As we do this, we must learn and consider how God, throughout the Bible and universal history, uses ungodly people to work His purpose in time and history.
“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” Deuteronomy 32:7
“O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old.” Psalm 44:1