President George Washington

Political Parties Revisited

October 8, 2018

Dear President Washington:

Back in April I wrote to you about your thoughts in your Farewell Address regarding political parties. (if you need a reminder you can find that letter further down on this site.) I thought I would write you a quick letter since recent events have brought this issue to the forefront once again. The confirmation hearings of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court demonstrates how right you were all those years ago. Both sides, Republican and Democrat did nothing to distinguish themselves in what is supposed to be the civilized and polite body of the legislative branch. It has gotten to the point where both sides put the needs of the party ahead of doing what is right for the country and the people they serve.  From where I sit that is hard to argue with and the actions of that august body (and I use that term very loosely) were deplorable and an embarrassment for all those who serve in that beautiful building in the city named for you.

In your address Mr. President, you sought to warn us “in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.” You went further to say that, “the alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge is natural to party dissension…” Revenge is all either side has in mind.  You continued,” the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people (us) to discourage and restrain it.”  Most would agree with this statement but because of the division created by these parties, wisdom and common sense seem to have gone out the window. I think we must re-educate ourselves and start looking at issues as a whole and not red or blue and hopefully make up our own minds without the influence of party.

President Washington, maybe we can find a way to get a copy of your address into the hands of those who need to read it the most, our elected officials. Maybe then we can all hope that they will see how right you and all the other Founders, Signers and Framers were and still are. Which tells me and should tell others that since this grand experiment was based on all your hopes and visions for the future maybe just maybe we should be heeding your advice now more than ever.

All this dissension reminded me of a quote by Thomas Jefferson to whom I will be writing shortly to discuss his ideas on this.

Your Truly,

Andrew J, DeMarco

P.S. if anyone would like to read President Washington’s Farewell Address and maybe pass it along to their elected officials in Washington you can find it at:

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Washingtons_Farewell_Address.pdf

P.S.S. It is kind of ironic that it is a Senate URL and my guess is that not one of them has read it.