“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
Party Politics – the driving force of our government. It’s what keeps the wheels turning and the lights turned on. Why is that? What gives these individuals so much power over their fellow citizens? Because they are elected officials that directly represent their constituency? No, that’s not it. It is simply because they belong to a system of revolving door politicians that look out for their own. In simpler terms, they belong to the gang of either the Republicans or the Democrats.
By gang, I mean exactly the way it sounds – they are gangsters in suits. Rolling with their crew into the wee hours of the morning. They live and breathe their colors, Red and Blue. They continuously sell the same product in a different package, Rights and Freedoms. Also, just like their criminal counterparts, they analyze their market’s trends in supply and demand, then adjust accordingly to meet their customer’s demands.
I know what you’re thinking, that’s far-fetched, crazy even, but when you look at the way both the Republicans and the Democrats operate and act, it’s easy to see the parallels between the two.
Think about what gangs do and their purpose for existing.
- Create group identities in a community (Crips or Bloods)
- Protecting personal and community interests (Protecting turf, product, etc.)
- Managing and distribution of a product (Drugs)
Now, think about political parties.
- Create political identities in a community (GOP or DEM)
- Protect personal and community interests (Protecting districts, congressional seats, voters, etc.)
- Managing and distribution of a product (Ideology, freedoms, rights, etc.)
Strikingly similar is it not? Both organizations work with their gangs to achieve the same goal. To out sell, to out number, and to out control the opposition.
Look at the recent 2016 election. The DNC and RNC actively fought for control of state legislatures, congressional seats, and the presidency. They produced a product (party platform) and packaged it in a way that would appeal to their customers (constituents). While the two D.C. gangs were fighting for congressional and presidential turf, they also blocked outsiders from other parties that are a threat to their dominance in the political world.
Bernie Sanders was undermined the most by what he assumed were his political allies. Instead of working together with #feelthebern, the DNC worked with long time party shot collar, Hillary Clinton, to be the next chosen leader of their D.C. gang.
If political parties are just gangs in a different form, then why do we still allow them to control the government? George Washington, in his farewell address, specifically warned the freshly budding country not to get involved in political parties. He understood the danger of what they represented. They are a method for individuals “to subvert the power of the people” and take away their ability to have adequate representation.
In the same way that legalization of drugs would remove the ability of gangs to sell product, fixing the problems that exist in America would undermine the reason for party politicians to be elected. As we have seen in many elections, political parties only care about continuing their control on the voters and keeping their positions inside of the government. Why vote to fix the problem if it goes against the party and your position?
They will say or do anything to keep themselves in control and in power. This is the danger that the D.C. gangs pose to the American people. We must recognize that the Republican and Democrat hierarchies act like gangs to change the way we vote. Why continue the cycle of electing representatives who do nothing for us and only care about loyalty to their party?
Don’t let the territorial fighting between the Democrats and Republicans separate us from each other. We need to work together to fix the things that are wrong with America, not fight with each other because our drug dealers are having beef with one another.
Coy Mack is an OpsLens contributor, writer, and filmmaker. Coy is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving in Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines in 2008.
