By Taylor Sterling
The phrase “put politics aside” is an appeal to transcend partisan or ideological divides in order to address an issue of mutual concern. Often invoked during crises or moments of national significance, it suggests that the issue at hand is so important that it should take precedence over normal political calculations. However, skeptics may see it as a tactical move designed to quell opposition or gain broader support for a particular agenda. A routine refrain by elected officials to make it sound like they’re not engaging in politics when they’re actually… engaging in politics. It’s code for “Can’t we just do things my way?” My fellow Americans, we are seeing Presidents George Washington’s words of warning culminating into prophecy. We are seeing the breakdown of our government and a weakening of that government. The current elected officials are contributing to the destruction of our democracy by their divisive and angry rhetoric and their refusal to try and unite the country. Both parties are equally to blame. Washington In his farewell address warned the nation about the dangers of party politics, paraphrasing; he believed those elected would start voting what is good for the party and not what is good for the country or considering the will of the people. It is time to put our elected officials on notice and remind them they do not represent their party or the President, once elected they represent the American people and their loyalty should be to the country, and we the people are the country. If you are an elected official, a party leader or even the President, If you are not a person of integrity, a person of honor, a person who does not have the integrity or the courage to hold the president or members of your party or the members of the opposing party accountable for offensive or divisive rhetoric, lies, half-truths or exaggerations and if you can’t hold other elected officials, no matter the party, accountable for character assassinations and the demonization of others because of political differences, then you are not the man or women this country needs to be their representative. If you also can’t bring civility and reason to the office and try to promote unity to a divided nation and speak out against those whose offensive language and divisive rhetoric is dividing this nation. It’s time to end party solidarity and speak up for truth and vote the will of your constituency. “A house divided against itself, cannot stand. “Abraham Lincoln. As our elected officials you are our representative, our voice in our government. You are not our parents who tell us what needs to be done, but you are obligated to give us the facts and let us decide the best course of action. We need our elected officials to enter all discussions with an open mind and with the good intentions of doing what is best for the American People and the country, always keeping in mind what the majority of the people want, and if your constituencies are among the minority be respectful of the will of the majority and make your position and the reason that you are not in agreement in a clear and concise and a respectful manner. “He serves his party best, who serves the country best.” Rutherford B. Hayes. The State of the Union Address is a good example of the ills of party politics, which was originally an honest evaluation of the state of the nation and after 1913 when President Wilson revived the practice of presenting the message in person as a platform to rally support for his agenda. It is now a pep rally for the party in power. It is like a high school football pep rally with the opposing team and their fans in attendance. It is time to leave party politics out of it and get back to an honest evaluation presented to Congress in writing and stop the televised version that is nothing more than a pep rally. “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
