by Allan J. Ashinoff
Ployalty
August 06, 2006 07:37 AM EST



It seems ‘now more than ever’ politicians and political pundits are clamoring about the desperate need for party loyalty from the American people. Some say the very principals of the American way of life are at risk, while others talk of a culture of corruption that permeates America’s government. In either case, The American way is in mortal danger and whoever has the microphone is the hero while the opposition is the vilest of villains.

Political parties, like any business, have a legitimate need to raise money. But does any political party have the right to demand loyalty from Americans when its ideology and actions are seemingly based on a private agenda or the latest opinion poll? Should citizens feel obligated to support any person or party that is pursuing a private vision for America, even when that vision runs contrary to American history, nationalism, or the wishes of the American people?

It’s apparent that the American vote can be bought. With enough media air time or print exposure a candidate can say just about anything and have it fed into the minds of a relatively gullible public. Given enough time and exposure to repetitive ideas – the more scandalous the better- anything can be seen as plausible enough to cast doubt in a percentage of voter’s minds. True to the spirit of a western traveling snake oil salesman, a politician, for money’s sake, will polish his pitch and refine the art of doublespeak to present the most impressive but relatively meaningless rhetoric to potential donors. A true art form of the most distasteful kind, this doublespeak allows the listener to apply whatever meaning he or she chooses to the words of the orator. With a practiced smile and polished poise candidates promise whatever the voter is after, but after the election, in a different context, the true intention of those words is revealed and the voter is left feeling duped and simple-minded.

Political parties are practicing ‘ploy’alty; Party loyalty where the root meaning of the conjoined word is ploy. Parties feign concern over the desires of the American populace as a way to seduce contributions that enable the party to pursue its vision of what America should be. Poll after poll has confirmed the majority of all Americans desires regarding illegal immigration, gay marriage, foreign oil dependence, the national debt, and the government abuse of eminent domain; yet citizens land continues to be seized to increase the state coffers, the national debt still looms over the United States, ethanol is still not widely disbursed nationally, the sanctity of the institution of marriage (the bedrock of society) is still threatened, and President Bush is still assuring the Mexican government that nothing will happen anytime soon regarding Illegal immigration. Democrats and Republicans each desire blind party loyalty from the American people; but where is either party’s devotion to the wants of those who elected them, the original intent of the Constitution, or the core values which make up America’s culture?

Americans can no longer default to being a Democrat or Republican on the basis of a few hot button issues. The damage that either entrenched party is capable of (and apparently is most willing to do) has already corrupted the fiber of American politics and is undermining the future of America as a sovereign nation. Politician’s appear immune the nations laws and ready to say anything to sway positive public favor on themselves or their party. The result is a portion of the voting public disbelieving anything a politician says and distrusting the motives whenever a politician acts. All politicians are tainted by this perspective regardless of the individual’s integrity, party, or sense of duty to the nation. Decimated is the microfiber of trust required for people to care enough to take active interest in their government, their representatives, or their power in determining the shape of their nation.

Americans are increasingly placing their trust in a diminishing number of people who are feeding them their social and political perspective. Do these newscasters, actors, talk show hosts, and journalists believe themselves intellectually superior to the rest of America’s population? Do those who employ these media types believe Americans can be easily swayed from what’s good for their country by good looks, a spicier scandal, or fabricated misdirection? Is the media, a politician, or party acting in America’s best interests when they spread half-truths, unproven speculation, or outright lies?

American’s need to personally consider at each political candidate objectively to determine if the speeches made are party rhetoric or constructive ideas that could make the nation better. It’s been obvious for some time that the majority of the media can not be relied upon to provide clear, dispassionate, and impartial reporting on political candidates. Media outlets have taken sides and support political ideologies of one party or another. A voter must actively seek the true essence of who a politician is to simply determine if that person or any of those running are worthy of the public trust. A politician should never receive automatic approval across the board simply because one wears an ass or an elephant on a lapel pin.

Candidates should never be elected simply to spite the opposition. To vote against someone or vote solely for party regardless of the ideas a candidate brings to the nation degrades the value of the vote. To devalue the vote is to degrade the entire process set forth by America’s Framers. The American system was crafted to prevent any group or branch of government from becoming powerful enough to usurp authority from the American people. America’s Founding Fathers deeply distrusted the motives of government. America’s Framers recognized, vested, and institutionalized authority into the hands of the American people. It is the ability of the American people to look critically at those running for office, to determine if their ideas benefit the nation, if they possess personal character befitting the public trust, and loyalty to the Constitution and her people over all other allegiances. The Founding Fathers believed that ‘We the People’ knew what was best for ‘Ourselves and our Posterity.’ Has this truism been forgotten in America?

]b]‘Now more than ever’ American voters must independent thinkers; men and women who demand an accurate explanation of why a person or party deserves the power of leadership. American voters need to be fully satisfied that any candidate they choose to elect is going to ‘serve the people’ and not ‘rule the masses’. There are no ‘Red’ states and ‘Blue’ states only America. No grouping of states regardless of their leaning should be considered ‘fly over’ states to any arrogant political body.[/b] Americans, through complacency and disillusionment, have allowed the two party traditions to dictate its leadership though an absence of real choices on the ballot. The track record of these ‘winner by default’ candidates has resulted in a great portion of America being only remotely patriotic, apathetic toward voting, and nearly completely ignorant of this country’s history or its magnificence to the world. If there is to be a sovereign, capitalistic, democratic America that reveres its Constitution and its Bill of Rights in the worlds future, Americans must take their role as voter far more seriously than their commitment to ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, ‘24’, or a political party.
Simply put, Most Americans must re-learn how to think for themselves.