“… we may define a republic to be … a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during [the people’s] pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior.”

— James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 39

Can anyone say any part of this statement applies to our government?

Government power no longer seems to derive from the great body of the people directly or indirectly, but instead from the two major political parties. The Democratic and Republican parties have made politics an all but private game no one else gets to play. Oh, sure, we have the occasional Independent or third party candidate gaining office, but these are such exceptional events that they in fact prove the theory. Even Ron Paul, famous for his Libertarian principles of government, ran last time for president and each time for Congress as a Republican, recognizing the need for some stamp of legitimacy from the current two-party system in order to succceed.

As for the concept of serving for a limited period, only the office of president has any term-limit requirements at the federal level. Far too often those in Congress serve more time in office than a convicted murderer serves in prison. Incumbents seem to treat their elected offices as if they were lifetime employment, confusing their own positions with that of the federal judiciary, and only conceeding a periodic changing of the guard to those wearing similar, if not identical uniforms.

And let us not forget the countless bureaucrats. While never seeking election for their positions of control, they nevertheless play a vital role not only in maintaining the power of the the government, but of the two party system as well. Their willing subservience to the parties that appoint them and protect them more often than not leads to the increase of the stranglehold of their patrons.

And as for serving during good behavior, this is no longer a subject that even manages to rise to the level of amusement. When our so-called political “leaders” are not lining their pockets with book writing deals, speaking engagements and investment “advice,” they are enjoying lavish travel on taxpayer-financed fact-finding junkets. When they are not betraying their marriage vows, they are treating their sworn oaths of office with equal contempt. When they are not robbing Peter to pay Paul, they are robbing Peter and Paul to pay themselves.

The way government talks about its successes reeks of snobbery. “Bi-partisan” support is touted as leadership when it is little more than guilt sharing for the terrible acts perpetrated on a mostly unsuspecting public. The belief that such agreement makes what they do acceptable is as ludicrous as two crime organizations agreeing on the method of a crime as its justification.

Is there a light at the end of this tunnel? Certainly here in Toledo, we are seeing a plethora of qualified candidates enter the local political arena without party affiliation. Fed up with the shenanigans on both sides of the aisle, we note that two of the five candidates for mayor are running as Independents. A number of those running for the “at large” city council seats appear to be Independent as well, including the five running under the “Teamwork Toledo” banner. Perhaps this is a hopeful design for the days to come, and that we can reject those of the “party” in favor of those best able to serve.

The Democrats and Republicans were not always the parties in power in this country. Since its founding, we have seen Democratic-Republicans, Federalists, Whigs and my personal favorite, the American Party (known at the time as the “know-nothings’). There is nothing in the Constitution justifying the continued existence of these two current players. There are, however, an increasing number of laws created by these two jealous titans to insure their continued preeminence. It is my belief that some new equilibrium is not only desired, but necessary if we are to avoid the death of the republic.

Tim Higgins blogs at http://justblowingsmoke.blogspot.com/.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Just Blowing SMoke, Opinion.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.