Forum Overview :: ELECTION WATCH 2012
 
OK. by Arbit 09/04/2012, 3:46pm PDT
fight. wrote:

General George Washington wrote:

To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions, which all alliances in all times have experienced.

[...]

All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.

[...]

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.



Feel free to explain the relevance of all this to my post. I'm not saying it's irrelevant, just that it could be interpreted in a number of ways.
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Anyone really think anything will change no matter who wins the White House? by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 09/04/2012, 4:06am PDT NEW
    The Supreme Court, dipshit! NT by Mischief Maker 09/04/2012, 4:46am PDT NEW
        How to shut up a "both parties are the same!" libertarian failure by fabio 09/04/2012, 7:32am PDT NEW
            Speaking of libertarian failures, the Ron Paul kickstarter game is up. by skip 09/04/2012, 5:10pm PDT NEW
            Trying to figure out how they're different by don't contain crack 09/05/2012, 6:26am PDT NEW
                The democrats seem to have one trick at the moment: playing it safe. by Mischief Mephistopheles 09/05/2012, 6:37am PDT NEW
                Also: by Mischief Mephistopheles 09/05/2012, 6:43am PDT NEW
                3 issues! You've got the bases covered, friend. NT by fabio 09/05/2012, 10:03pm PDT NEW
                    Ok, add more bases by Mysterio 09/06/2012, 7:34am PDT NEW
                        Why are you going anonymous for this? NT by fabio 09/06/2012, 11:41am PDT NEW
                        You win, they're completely identical, no need for you to vote. NT by Fullofkittens 09/06/2012, 3:10pm PDT NEW
                            Please, I need people to vote by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 09/06/2012, 6:59pm PDT NEW
                            Substantively yes by Mysterio 09/06/2012, 8:28pm PDT NEW
    "the Democratic base tends to be liberal, if not extreme liberal to hard left" by Ha ha ha ha ha ha.. I fucking WISH 09/04/2012, 8:26am PDT NEW
        Re: "the Democratic base tends to be liberal..." by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 09/06/2012, 2:39am PDT NEW
            Re: "the Democratic base tends to be liberal..." by Ha ha ha ha ha ha.. I fucking WISH 09/06/2012, 11:33am PDT NEW
    I think this guy does a good job of summing up the current political climate by Arbit 09/04/2012, 11:05am PDT NEW
        You dont win wars outfighting the enemy, you win by destroying their ability to by fight. 09/04/2012, 12:21pm PDT NEW
            OK. by Arbit 09/04/2012, 3:46pm PDT NEW
                Re: OK. by fight. 09/04/2012, 5:49pm PDT NEW
    The Eastwood speech is the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen. NT by Souffle of Pain 09/05/2012, 10:53pm PDT NEW
        Jon Stewart nails Clint Eastwood by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 09/06/2012, 2:45am PDT NEW
            Re: Jon Stewart nails Clint Eastwood by Mysterio 09/06/2012, 5:58am PDT NEW
            Guys, no one take this fool seriously NT by Jon "jaw drop" Stupid 09/06/2012, 11:58am PDT NEW
 
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