[AndyJackson]

Top of the list should be entanglement in foreign disputes. The GWB invasion of Iraq expended enormous capital and built up the wealth and power of the swamp beyond it’s wildest imaginings.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Wow, he was correct.

[Samurai_Jack]

Oh i memorized this one long ago...

“And of those who have overthrown the liberties of the republics the greatest number have begun their careers with an obsequious court to the rights of the people. Beginning as demagogues and ending as tyrants.”

That’s a really long sentence. Most today have trouble maintaining focus long enough to comprehend what he’s saying. It’s like the words are indecipherable to them. It’s very clear to me though.

[polymuser]

George Washington on political parties, from his farewell address:

“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.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”

[bert]

Were it not for the evolution of American political parties, America would be a nation of small coalitions.

The parties are gathering places for coalitions that can agree on enough of their differences to caucus together.

America could not function like Israel

[Albion Wilde]

BUMP

[Rapscallion]

Add armed combat vandals in masks and helmets. Why do cops allow that?