“This spirit [of party], unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind…The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and counties has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism…It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.” These words, which sound strangely contemporary, were spoken in 1796 by President George Washington during his Farewell Address.
During the first presidentap tenure in office, political parties had begun to form under the leadership of former brothers in arms John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. The Federalists, whose support hailed mainly from the Northeast, promoted a strong national government and favored England over France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The Democratic-Republicans of the south and west opposed centralization in favor of greater state autonomy and they supported France. Although both parties eventually would be replaced by others, factions would remain a constant fixture in American Politics.
At their best political parties provide representation for people with common interests, values, and policy preferences. They aid in the recruitment of candidates and provide a way for people to participate in the democratic process. Moreover, competition among parties helps preserve democratic institutions. Since parties don’t always hold their own members to account for poor decisions and bad behavior, the opposition plays an essential role in exposing ineptitude and malfeasance. If you want to see interminable corruption, check out nations controlled by single-party rule.
There is a dark side of partisanship, however; as Washington observed; it can elevate “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” to power, cultivate enmity among the electorate, and ultimately rend a nation. Partisanship is like “A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming it should consume,” he warned.
Throughout American history, factionalism has waxed and waned and there can be no doubt that it has been ascendant since the end of the Cold War. Partisan news sources, social media, and divisive political rhetoric by elected officials fan policy disagreements into fiery division. Sadly, partisan animosity may be even more pronounced in the next generation of voters. A new poll of college students found more than a third of Democratic college students would not be friends with a person who voted for the opposing party’s presidential nominee. Five percent of Republicans were similarly disposed toward members of the other party. When it came to dating, even more students indicated they would forgo a connection with someone who voted differently. Should D.C. politics be so all consuming?
“I’m disgusted with Washington politics,” Colorado state Sen. Don Coram told me a few days ago. He mentioned George Washington’s Farewell Speech and its warning to the fledging republic about partisanship. The Republican senator from Montrose is putting together a team to run for the 3rd Congressional District currently represented by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.
“The R by my name stands for rural,” he said, noting that Democrats and Republicans in rural areas occupy common ground on issues such as transportation costs, healthcare, broadband coverage, inflation, water, and other concerns.
Coram has served in both chambers of the General Assembly, and on his local school board. He is known for working with colleagues of both parties and has a successful track record in passing legislation which isn’t easy to do in the minority. “I’ve disagreed with everyone on something or another, but I haven’t been disagreeable,” he told me. “You can get your point across without being mean.”
Some might argue that the difference between Coram and his primary opponent is less one of substance more of style. I would argue that style is a substantial concern. Excessively partisan behavior gets one noticed but does little else. In Congress, infamy and efficacy are often inversely correlated. Secondly, how we fight is as important as what we fight for because excessive partisanship damages democratic norms and institutions. Both parties are guilty. Primaries provide an opportunity to clean house.
Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer
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