Our founders were against a two-party system, but many Americans think that’s the best we can do.  In fact, some of them actually think it’s “American.”  Yet, nothing could be further from the truth and our founders warned us about the “greatest political evil” known as the two party system.  And that now has former Republican congressman Justin Amash throwing down the gauntlet on the two party system and declaring his independence by leaving the Republican Party.

For starters, listen to what our founders wrote about the very system we are in today, in which our liberties are being trampled upon by both parties playing off of one another, and the American people are the losers.

John Adams said:

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.

George Washington agreed, saying in his farewell presidential speech:

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 find 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.

There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

In a recent op-ed piece at the Washington Post on the Fourth of July, Rep. Justin Amash declared his independence from the two-party system.

“Today, I am declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party,” Amash wrote.  “No matter your circumstance, I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us. I’m asking you to believe that we can do better than this two-party system — and to work toward it. If we continue to take America for granted, we will lose it.”

I don’t think I agree with Amash on his claims about President Donald Trump engaging in obstruction and I haven’t really seen any evidence of that, which is something he was blasted last month over for saying so.  So was Judge Andrew Napolitano.

Still, what he is writing is exactly on point and exactly in agreement with our founders and it has turned Americans against each other while Democrats and Republicans wage their WWE-style fake politics where they unconstitutionally go to war, spend money, give away welfare, promote criminals and put a financial burden on us and our children that we simply cannot bear.  And I didn’t even mention the variety of rights they are trampling on with their “government solutions” to our problems.

“With little genuine debate on policy happening in Congress, party leaders distract and divide the public by exploiting wedge issues and waging pointless messaging wars,” Amash continued.  “These strategies fuel mistrust and anger, leading millions of people to take to social media to express contempt for their political opponents, with the media magnifying the most extreme voices. This all combines to reinforce the us-vs.-them, party-first mind-set of government officials.”

“The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions,” he added.

Yep, just like our founders warned us about.

However, Amash is not one to simply point out the problems but offers real freedom-promoting solutions to those problems and he tends to lead by example.

After claiming that “modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral,” he proposed the solution to the problem.

Most Americans are not rigidly partisan and do not feel well represented by either of the two major parties. In fact, the parties have become more partisan in part because they are catering to fewer people, as Americans are rejecting party affiliation in record numbers.

These same independent-minded Americans, however, tend to be less politically engaged than Red Team and Blue Team activists. Many avoid politics to focus on their own lives, while others don’t want to get into the muck with the radical partisans.

But we owe it to future generations to stand up for our constitutional republic so that Americans may continue to live free for centuries to come. Preserving liberty means telling the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that we’ll no longer let them play their partisan game at our expense.

Sadly, I have experienced some of the name calling and ripping that Amash has for simply pointing back to the Constitution when it comes to a Republican administration and the lies that are told and the unconstitutional behavior that is glossed over because that team’s jersey is in the Oval Office.

One thing I always appreciated about Amash was his willingness to be honest with those he represented and immediately tell them why he voted a certain way.

Along with Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, both were two congressmen who actually pushed for small government, they didn’t just talk about it.

Amash and Massie has pushed back against those who sought to violate the Constitution when it came to being aggressors in illegal wars, attacking the rights of people to keep and bear arms, violations of their rights to be secure under the Fourth Amendment and the growing police and surveillance state.

Sadly, even President Trump joined in the unwarranted tar and feathering of Amash, calling him “one of the dumbest & most loyal men in Congress” and a “total loser.”

Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is “quitting” the Party. No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019

However, unlike President Trump, Amash actually knows and cites the Constitution for his votes.  Unlike Donald Trump, he has held to his convictions.

Neither of those is associated with a dumb, disloyal or “loser” of a man.

In commenting on Amash’s piece, The Free Thought Project provided some thought-provoking commentary.

As TFTP has previously reported, there would have been very little difference in the current state of affairs had Clinton won in 2016, as Trump has carried out most of her biggest plans, including war with Syria and Iran, and diminishing rights. Having an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ behind one’s name only serves as a distraction to the masses, tearing them apart using the same few divisive issues, as both parties march on toward more war and rights violations behind the scenes.

It is entirely possible to disagree with both liberals and conservatives. It is called thinking for yourself. TFTP will often be accused of supporting a certain party because we report on a piece of legislation that is supported by a certain party. However, both sides sometimes have good ideas as long as those ideas offer more freedom and not less. The same thing goes for calling out politicians. Just because someone has and R or a D doesn’t mean you can’t call them out for their tyrannical policies.

Being pro-self defense and gun rights makes no one more a Republican than supporting legalization of weed makes someone a Democrat. These ideas promote freedom, and that is what will truly lead to peace and prosperity.

For the majority of Americans, the United States political system is seen as a football game. Any time their party is in power, it’s as if they are ‘winning’ and the other party or team is ‘losing.’ But what most Americans fail to see is that both ‘teams’ have the same owner. That owner cares not about which one of their teams is ‘winning,’ just so long as its one of their teams in the game.

The controlled politicians, the rigged system, and the elite are not some vast conspiracy as much as they are a tendency of the state in general. As long as a system exists that allows government force to be bought and sold for the benefit and privilege of a few, these atrocities will continue.

The money shoved into the pockets of politicians on behalf of special interest groups, aka bribery, has become so mainstream and widely accepted that no one even bats an eye at the billions doled out to their elected officials on behalf of lobbyists, including supporters of Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans and Democrats alike sit back in their plush, taxpayer-funded offices in white marble buildings, rubbing elbows with elite businessmen who pay them to write laws that create unfair advantages for their industries. In the extremely rare case that a politician resists this corruption and refuses to conform, they are ridiculed by fellow lawmakers, painted as kooks by the mainstream media, and their supporters labeled as radical nutjobs. Case in point—Kayne West.

Meanwhile, We The People argue over the various privileges granted, and how much of our paychecks can be stolen by the almighty rulers on high.

Seeing outside of the two-party paradigm is a difficult task. It can take years for people to break their conditioning and see the political system for the rigged game that it is.

The good news is that once you see the system for what it is, you cannot unsee it. No one goes back to sleep, despite the fact that waking up to the system can be particularly stressful.

Hopefully, readers of Amash’s op-ed are shaken out of their sleep and open their eyes to the us vs. them mentality that is tearing all of us apart.

Indeed, I hope more and more people awaken to how they are being played by both sides as the same agenda moves forward.

Finally, for those who go wherever the winds blows them through their favorite political idol, I ask you this, do they sound more like the founding fathers than Justin Amash?  Perhaps, people would do well to heed Amash’s words and the words of our founders.

Article posted with permission from Sons Of Liberty Media