George Washington was a fierce advocate of personal liberties. Before you jump in and agree with him on this matter, understand that the "personal liberties" he spoke about are little more than distant echoes and are nothing at all like what we now consider personal liberties today. He was also deeply concerned about tyranny of establishments and institutions in all matters. He was especially concerned about the influences of church bodies and the dictates of outspoken congregations and added that we, "worship by the dictates of our own conscience." I think the principal different between political parties in these matters exist in the interpretation of that reliance on conscience. I believe most democrats hold dear the use of conscience as the most important ingredient and valued freedom in the process of making decisions to benefit the greater good. What happens if legislators aren't of good conscience? I believe that are two party politics today have evolved into not simply democrat and republican. I believe we have evolved to a point where most American's are wispering christian and non-christian instead of republican and democrat. That's not to say that you can't be a christian and a democrat but if you search your hearts, you must agree that that is where we are headed.
Washington was also opposed to a party system of government. He believed that a two or more party system would encourage conflict and prevent governments from getting work done. It looks like he was right. Look how far we have fallen. In the midst of a national tragedy: a beloved politician is shot in the head by an allegedly unstable young man and members of the democratic party have perverted the words of a member of the other party in such a way to suggest that she is somehow responsible for this terrible event. That is deplorable political profiteering. Those responsible should be stripped of their political influence and publicly reprimanded.
What would George Washington say if he had a glimpse at the country that he fought so hard to create. Instead of using a tragedy to someone's benefit, let's focus our energy toward finding cures, or at least effective treatments for the mentally ill. Perhaps we could use this opportunity to find new ways to enhance security for political figures or for everyone for that matter.
