Posted on 09/16/2010 6:34:24 AM PDT by Abin Sur
As many times as I've explained how party trumps person in the real world of politics, some people misunderstand my meaning. It doesn't mean party trumps principle, although broad-based political coalitions may compromise conflicting principles. And it doesn't mean that individuals can't make a difference in politics and public policy. But like it or not, we have a two-party system, and that's not going to change anytime soon.
Minor parties and their candidates can be spoilers, but rarely do they win elections. Either Republicans or Democrats will be the majority party in legislative bodies, and with that majority status goes control of all the committees and subcommittees, the locus of power.
Let's say Republican voters helped elect a conservative Democrat to Congress over a moderate Republican, and that conservative Democrat gave his party a 218-217 majority in the U.S. House. Misguided Republicans who voted for this conservative Democrat would get the unintended consequence of Nancy Pelosi presiding as speaker, a majority of liberal Democrats running the show, the GOP relegated to minority status and its legislative agenda stymied.
In Europe's multi-party parliamentary democracies, when no single party wins a majority of seats in parliament, a governing coalition is patched together after the election to forge a legislative majority. That coalition then elects a head of government, the prime minister. In our constitutional republic, the executive branch is independent of Congress, and the president is elected by the people. But, like the Europeans, we also have coalitions. The difference is that the distinct coalitions of our two major parties are already in place before the election.
The Republican coalition is an alliance of conservatives, middle- and upper-income taxpayers (but not leftist Hollywood millionaires and George Soros), individualists who prefer limited government, those who are pro-market and pro-business, believers in American exceptionalism and a strong national defense, social-issues conservatives and supporters of traditional American values.
The Democratic coalition includes guilt-ridden liberals, collectivists, labor unions, government workers, leftist academics, plaintiffs-lawyers, lower- and middle-income net tax-receivers, identity-politics minorities, feminists, gays, enviros, nannyists, and activists for assorted anti-gun, anti-capitalist, anti-business, anti-military and world-government causes.
I say party trumps person because regardless of the individuals who win legislative seats, in the final analysis the agenda of the majority party's coalition will be served. This also applies to the occupant of the White House or the Governor's Mansion, who will accommodate his party's coalition with policies and with appointments of like-minded people to judgeships, key executive branch positions, boards, commissions, etc.
Independents who may variously swing their votes to Democrats and Republicans may idealistically pride themselves on voting for "the person, not the party." But whether they intend it or not, they'll be hitching their wagon to the agenda and interests of one of the two major-party coalitions. If they vote quixotically for minor-party candidates, they'll still ultimately be governed by Democrats or Republicans.
In Colorado's chaotic governor's race this year, party still trumps person. Tom Tancredo may, as a matter of convenience, be running as the nominal candidate of a minor party, but he's still very much a Republican in spirit and agenda. If he or Dan Maes is elected, the GOP coalition will be served.
John Hickenlooper isn't nonpartisan or bipartisan. He's a Democrat by choice. He may have a little wiggle room but, if elected, he'll still be beholden to and bound by the big players in his party's coalition. Don't hold your breath waiting for Hick to defy the teacher unions or government employees.
You can pick the "lesser of evils" between the two major parties and get in the game or indulge your idealism and independence. It's your vote to cast as you wish. But it won't change the reality of the system.
KMA, Mr. Rosen, and your party elitism.
8-years ago I would have believed that, but there’s not a dimes worth of difference between the two parties any more. I’m voting for the conservative, no matter what party they’re in.
DITTO!!!
The only thing on the agenda of professional republicans is to get elected. And harvest the perks of office.
Party is about BRANDING.
It is based on the notion of allowing voters to know those associated with X party will vote based on that party’s platform.
The GOP has lost brand name loyalty because they outsourced the branding to the melmans, log cabins, gopride, pro-abortion, anti-war, RINO liberals.
we in america vs THEM in DC.
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