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HISTORICAL TIME MACHINE REGARDING POLITICAL PARTIES
By: Austin Jennings and Jasmine Fristachi
Phase 1
ISSUE/PROBLEM
Political parties divide the country and reduce the efficiency of democracy.
Originating in Washington’s farewell address warning of the adversities brought
on by political parties, our country quickly ignored that message by the
formation of the Federalist and Anti-federalist parties. The two-party system has
survived today in the form of the Republican and Democratic parties, with
greater sectionalism today than in the last 100 years.
PURPOSE/GOALDetermine and analyze the creation of political parties over the course of US
history.
POINT OF VIEW
Political parties have been a deterrent in the progression of change and the
enactment of legislation across all branches of US government.
• Progression of parties: federalists/anti-federalists-democrats/republicans
• Big government vs. little government
CONCEPTS/IDEAS
Political parties were initially formed to simplify voting by allowing citizens to
identify a candidate by the party’s platform that they are representing.
ASSUMPTIONSPolitical parties, in their creation, were capable of negotiating in a friendly and
civil manner with each other. Due to seemingly symbiotic relationship, the
government and the people were unaware of the dangers of identifying as
one party or another.
INFERENCES
As time progressed and Americans grew more polarized over national issues,
the chasm separating the two parties created increasingly irreconcilable
differences within the nation.
IMPLICATIONS/CONSEQUENCES
• The passing of legislation became ever-more difficult
• People were and are forced to align with one of two parties, with the possibility that they didn’t agree completely with either
• Independent thought was stifled because of the immense difficulty in entering the harsh political climate
PHASE 2Asserting a position
PURPOSE/GOAL
Analyze the hyperpolarization in modern America and how it was a direct
effect of the development of political parties and how they evolved and
changed over time.
POINT OF VIEW
Political parties are destructive and counteractive to the natural progression of pure democracy and are detrimental to society.
EVIDENCE/DATA
• Gridlock within congress
• Gridlock between branches of government
• Citizens and government officials are acting solely in accordance to their party and their party’s views rather than what they truly believe or what may be best
CONCEPTS/IDEAS
Political parties are preventing true democracy because people are acting
based on bias and blind judgment calls that are solely based on party
ideology rather than facts and research.
ASSUMPTIONS
• The passing of bills is being regulated by the composition of congress at the time and how that bill conforms to each party’s platform rather than actual content
• People align themselves with a given party based on their parents’ or friends’ beliefs rather than the formation of their own fact-based opinion
INFERENCES
The trend of Americans forming their opinions based solely on what they hear
rather than what they believe or what they research increases the polarization
of the two parties, and increases the rate at which the parties are being
polarized. This leads to more and more gridlock, which leads to greater
polarization, and so on in a never-ending loop.
IMPLICATIONS/CONSEQUENCES
Uneducated citizens are setting a precedent for the future of politics. Political
parties become even more divided with less common ground than ever
before in history. As they agree and less and less, our government grinds to a
screeching halt and national tensions rise. Anytime national tensions have risen
in history, war has followed.
PHASE 3Proposing a solution
PURPOSE/GOAL
Travel back in time to the beginning of the 19th century to urge Americans to
resist the formation of political parties because of the inevitable divisions and
adversities that would ensue. A de jure non-partisan democracy is much more
efficient and true to the actual welfare of the people. This is a democracy in
which political parties that vote on legislation are banned. They may only be
present to comment on bills proposed, but can have no direct effect of the
passage of a bill.
POINT OF VIEW
The reduction of hostility between people due to no political parties to draw
lines between Americans would facilitate cooperation and open-mindedness
to accept and consider others ideas.
EVIDENCE/DATA
De Jure democracy already exists in Oman and Kuwait. This allows for
information and facts to play the main role in whether or not legislation is
passed while also accounting for the opinions of the people in the process.
CONCEPTS/IDEAS
De Jure style government promotes pure democracy by eliminating the
tendency to act based on identity rather than facts
ASSUMPTIONS
The lack of political parties would promote more educated leadership in the
country rather than those who simply excel at polarizing people.
INFERENCES
In comparison to the amount of legislation that is passed now, without the
presence of political parties, more beneficial legislation would be passed
more quickly and efficiently.
IMPLICATIONS/CONSEQUENCES
An improved national government that is more responsive and in tune to the
needs of the people. This government would be more capable of fast action
that directly reflects the will of the people based on what is actually best for
the nation as a whole.
SUMMARY
• Review causes and how political parties were initially supposed to be helpful
• Discuss adverse effects and changes in political climate
• Address current state
• Emphasize solution of De Jure non-partisan democracy