By Lucy Adkins
Politics today seems black and white: Democrat and Republican; Liberal and Conservative. It seems like there is no in between, like there is no further choice. But it isn’t as black and white as it seems.
“Political parties are a difference in ideology,” said Robert Lemmon, Foundation of Technology teacher. Though George Washington, in his 1796 farewell address, warned against the creation of political parties, saying the creation of political parties would prevent the branches of government from using their Constitutional powers and hinder the execution of laws created by the government, Lemmon said, “Political parties were formed in the closing years of George Washington’s presidency.” Thomas Jefferson and John Adams ran as candidates of the Democratic Republican and Federalist political parties, respectively.
Citizens, obviously, did not listen to the first president’s warning, and hundreds of years later Lemmon said, ideologies “have grown and changed.”
Those changing ideologies have given birth to a number of political parties: Democrats and Republicans – and many more. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) delineates these political parties in America, identifying the top eight political parties as the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Tea Party, Green Party, Constitution Party, Independent Party, Libertarian Party, and the Reform Party.
Each of these political parties has its own values and beliefs. Each party also has an official website, which shares their values and morals, along with promotion of candidates and a calendar of future events.
The oldest active party in the United States is the Democratic Party, which was founded in 1848. They believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect and that healthcare is a universal right. Their 2016 platform identifies their top issues as civil rights, education, immigration reform, and many more. Currently, there are 17 democratic candidates running for president including Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Tulsi Gabbard. The Democratic Party is one of the two main parties in the United States. The Democratic Party’s official website is www.democrats.org.
The Republican Party, founded in 1854, values the American Dream: the tradition of family, life, religious liberty, and hard work. They outline 11 principles for American strength which includes preservation of the Constitution, government reform, economic growth, keeping a strong military and secure borders, and many more. Four Republicans are running as candidates for the 2020 presidential elections. They include Donald Trump (running as the incumbent), Mark Sanford, Joe Walsh, and William F. Weld. The Republican Party is one of the two main parties in the United States. Their website is www.gop.com.
The Tea Party, founded in 2009, is a party that “stands for every American” and wants to keep the American Dream alive. “At its root the American Dream is about freedom. Freedom to work hard and the freedom to keep the fruits of your labor to use as you see fit without harming others and without hindering their freedom.” They think that we are most free when the Constitution is followed and when every branch is being checked and balanced. The Tea Party believes that no one should go around the Constitution no matter the issue. “The government has become too big and too powerful and many of those in Washington have grown out of touch with the people they represent.” The Tea Party’s 2020 candidate for president is and Joe Walsh. You can learn more about this party at www.teapartypatriots.org.
A party that has grass root activists and environmentalists is the Green Party. They value “respect for diversity,” “feminism and gender equality,” and “ecological wisdom.” Their four pillars are peace, ecology, social justice, and democracy. They support clean water laws, the Green New Deal, and decentralization of wealth and power. They believe that everyone should have Medicare and value non-violence. They plan to elect a presidential nominee in July of 2020. You can learn more about them at www.gp.org.
The Constitution Party values “integrity, liberty and prosperity” above all else. It was founded in 1991, and is one of the five parties nationally recognized by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Their mission statement is “to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity through the election, at all levels of government, of Constitution Party candidates who will uphold the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.” Many states have state legislatures that are involved with the Constitution Party, such as Idaho and Missouri, but currently they do not have a candidate running for president in the 2020 election. The Constitution Party’s goal is to limit the federal government to its delegated, enumerated, Constitutional functions. Their official website is: www.consitutionparty.com.
The Independent Party, formed in Utah in 1993, strives to return the control of the government back to the people as the Constitution intended and to permanently restore American sovereignty and independence from foreign entanglements. Their mission is “To promote respect for life, liberty and property; strong traditional families; patriotism; and individual, state and national sovereignty — with a strong reliance on the Declaration of Independence and allegiance to the Constitution for the United States of America — by petition to God and by political and educational means.” Their official website is: www.independentamericanparty.org.
The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, believes they are “The Party of Principle” because they “firmly stand by their principles.” They strongly oppose any government interference into their personal lives and believe that all Americans should be allowed to pursue their dreams and goals. The Libertarian Party believes that everyone is entitled to liberty and that no one should have to sacrifice their dreams for someone else’s. No Libertarian is set to run for President in 2020, but many are holding positions in their states such as County Commissioner and County Attorney. You can find their website at www.lp.org.
The Reform Party sits in the middle of the political spectrum; they are working to re-establish trust within the government. They believe that a new tax system should be created and that Americans should be given more job opportunities. The Reform Party’s slogan is “Honest Leadership, Real Solutions.” Part of their mission statement states: “Together we will work to re-establish trust in our government by electing ethical officials, dedicated to fiscal responsibility and political accountability.” Their website can be found at: www.reformparty.org.
If you are unsure of where you fit into the scheme of things, don’t worry! There is no rush to figure out who you are, no matter what others think. You might feel pressured by your parents or loved ones to think like them, but they can’t think for you. You get to make those decisions. If you want to learn more about how your ideologies fit into the political party designations, Pew Research Center offers a Political Typology Quiz. It takes your answers and matches you to a party’s values. But remember, do not feel a rush to decide. Good things come to those who wait.
TJ Chronicle 