Conventional wisdom

What I gleaned about political participation from a party palaver

One of my frequent laments is how few people actually get involved in the political process. People do not educate themselves on the Constitution, on our founding history, on how government is supposed to work (as opposed to how it actually now runs), on candidates and their voting records, and much more. One of my biggest gripes, however, is actual participation (or the lack thereof) - how few people vote, how few people show up when it’s time to get something done. People just don’t seem to care.

One thing that struck me recently is how frequently “elections” seem to be held and that they often go unadvertised or poorly advertised to where voters don’t even know when or why elections are taking place.

What really drove home the lack of involvement, however, was my experience this past weekend at a political party convention. I suspect my emprise resembled that of others, regardless of political party affiliation. Considering the size of the Senate District in which I reside, the convention was sparsely populated. The question that left me asking was, “why were so few interested?” I believe I came away that afternoon with the answer.

The meeting began with some basic administrivia such as roll call. It was stated that Robert’s Rules of Order would be followed (I’m sure many in attendance have never heard of them or haven’t read them even if they have heard of them), then came the ever-so-enthralling reading of the (additional) rules. Needless to say, the attendees were rapt, though the eagerness with which we listened to this recitation could hardly surpass the anticipation of the next tasks: discussing resolutions and designating delegates to the state convention.

For any who have never attended such a convention, let me take a quick step back. Usually, after the primary elections, each party holds precinct conventions (or caucuses) for each voting precinct. At those conventions, attendees can submit “resolutions” (items they hope to have show up on a ballot at the next major election, or positions to be added to the party platform, each such position being known as a “plank”). Those passed by each precinct are compiled and passed on to the Senate District convention for discussion/debate/ratification.

Now we resume from where we paused. There was quite a list of resolutions at this convention - about 88, if I recall, and though some may have been familiar with whichever their precinct passed, prior to this meeting, no one had read the entire list. But, the list would be gone through that day to decide which entries would be passed on to the state convention (yet to come).

Delegates (attendees who had been delegated at the precinct convention to attend and be able to vote on resolutions) had opportunity to evaluate each resolution and decide whether it should be passed, rescinded, or amended. If amended, it needed to be changed, then the amendment voted upon, then the resolution voted upon. There was opportunity for discussion/debate, but only two pro and two con, and each person had one minute.

I’m sure at this point, you’re enjoying reading my recounting of this adventure about as much as I enjoyed embarking upon it. That said, from the better part of the day I spent there, I had a minor epiphany regarding politics and people’s (lack of) participation thereof:

• Conventions are tedious. Yes, citizenship is hard, and we all should be involved, but one must be prepared for the excessive ennui endemic to the event.

• Most resolutions have supporters and detractors.

• Resolutions may not be actionable items but simply issues upon which the party wishes to take a stand.

• Considering the amount of disagreement, people need to understand (not that they can’t apart from a convention) that parties are not monolithic, and even the planks in the platform will not reflect the positions or beliefs of all members of the party.

• Even at the most local level, the “good ol’ boys club” exists and is in full operation; many people are selected as delegates based on knowing, or being friends with, the precinct chairman.

• Despite being delegated, many will not step up to the mic and oppose a resolution with which they disagree nor even vote in opposition to a resolution with which they disagree.

• The party’s leadership (parties are corporations) does not necessarily embrace all that is part of the party platform.

• Candidates running under the banner of a party do not necessarily embrace the entirety of the party platform, but those candidates are generally beholden to the will of those leading the party (not to their own constituents).

In short, the system is broken. What I experienced made me even more firm in my belief (much like that of our founders) that political parties are a curse and should be eliminated.

The partisan system to which America has grown accustomed from its nascence corrupts the proper operation of government and representation. George Washington spoke quite woefully of political parties in his farewell address, intimating that:

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 enterprizing (sic) 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 councils and modefied (sic) by mutual interests. However combinations or Associations of the above description may now & then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People, & to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

I do not see how at this point we manage to do away with political parties, but I believe it must be done if America is to survive. They are not representing the people. They are not involving (most of) the people. And they are certainly not benefitting the people. They present a poorly constructed, though effectively deceptive, facade of serving the people while seeing only to their own interests. People need to awaken from their partisan stupor if ever we are to take back our government.