Are Both Political Parties More Interested in Winning Than Governing?
When Party Loyalty Becomes More Important Than Responsibility to America
By Michael Cunningham Sr. | Mike's Observations
There was a time when Americans could disagree about politics without automatically treating one another as enemies. Republicans were Republicans, Democrats were Democrats, and although they frequently disagreed, there was at least an expectation that once the election was over, somebody had to govern the country.
Today, I sometimes wonder whether either political party remembers what governing actually means.
It seems that winning the next election, defeating the opposing party, protecting political careers, and controlling the narrative have become more important than solving the problems facing the American people.
And I have a question for both parties:
When did winning become more important than doing what is right for America?
Washington Has Become a Permanent Political Campaign
We elect representatives to Congress to make laws, manage the nation's business, protect our constitutional rights, and safeguard the future of our country.
We do not elect them to spend every waking moment preparing for the next election.
Yet that is what much of Washington appears to have become.
Every disagreement becomes a political advertisement. Every legislative battle becomes an opportunity to raise campaign money. Every mistake by the opposition becomes something to exploit rather than something to correct.
If Republicans propose legislation, Democrats may oppose it simply because Republicans proposed it.
If Democrats introduce legislation, Republicans may reject it because supporting it could be portrayed as surrendering to the other side.
Not every vote follows that pattern, but the mentality is unmistakable.
Meanwhile, the American people are left wondering when somebody is going to address the problems they were elected to solve.
A government that spends more time fighting itself than serving its citizens is failing its purpose.
I Am a Republican, but I Am an American First
I make no secret of my political beliefs.
I am a Republican. I believe in constitutional government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, a strong national defense, and the principles upon which this nation was founded.
I support President Donald Trump and agree with many of his policies.
But supporting a president or belonging to a political party does not mean surrendering the ability to think independently.
I do not believe every Republican is right simply because he is a Republican.
And I do not believe every Democrat is wrong simply because he is a Democrat.
If a Republican betrays the public trust, I expect accountability.
If a Democrat proposes something genuinely beneficial to the country, I believe it deserves fair consideration.
That should not be a controversial position.
Unfortunately, in today's political environment, criticizing your own party can sometimes be treated as a greater offense than failing the American people.
That is not patriotism. That is political tribalism.
The American People Are Not the Enemy
One of the most disturbing developments in modern politics is the growing tendency to portray fellow Americans as enemies simply because they vote differently.
Political disagreement has become personal hostility.
Neighbors argue with neighbors. Families become divided. Friendships end because someone supports a different candidate.
And political figures and commentators sometimes encourage that hostility because anger generates attention, donations, and votes.
Think about that.
Americans are being encouraged to despise other Americans while the people benefiting from the division continue collecting their salaries and campaign contributions.
A Democrat who loves this country is not my enemy.
A Republican who disagrees with me is not my enemy.
We can disagree passionately about immigration, taxes, spending, national defense, religious liberty, and the proper role of government without abandoning our common identity as Americans.
The moment we decide that half the country is the enemy, we begin destroying the very nation we claim to defend.
Where Is the Accountability?
Here is another question worth asking.
Why do so many politicians demand accountability from the opposing party while making excuses for misconduct within their own?
If corruption is wrong, it is wrong regardless of political affiliation.
If dishonesty is unacceptable, it is unacceptable whether the person lying has an R or a D beside his name.
If government spending is irresponsible, changing the party controlling Congress does not magically make that spending responsible.
Yet too often, the standard seems to depend upon which party benefits.
That is hypocrisy, and the American people should refuse to tolerate it.
We should not have two standards of honesty, two standards of responsibility, or two standards of constitutional conduct.
The Constitution does not change depending upon which political party occupies the White House.
Compromise Is Not Always Surrender
I understand that there are principles upon which we should never compromise.
Our constitutional freedoms, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of American citizens should not become bargaining chips in political negotiations.
But there is a difference between compromising our principles and negotiating practical solutions.
A nation of more than 300 million people will never agree on everything.
Our constitutional system was designed to accommodate disagreement through debate, representation, and lawful decision-making.
Congress was not created so that one party could permanently silence the other.
It was created to represent the American people.
Sometimes that requires negotiation. Sometimes it requires standing firm. And sometimes it requires admitting that the other side has a legitimate point.
That is not weakness.
That is responsible government.
Politicians Have Forgotten Who Works for Whom
Perhaps the greatest problem in Washington is that too many elected officials appear to have forgotten who employs them.
They do not work for the Republican National Committee.
They do not work for the Democratic National Committee.
They do not work for wealthy donors, political consultants, lobbyists, or television commentators.
They work for the American people.
Their authority comes from the Constitution and the voters who place them in office.
Their responsibility is not to preserve their political careers at any cost.
Their responsibility is to serve the country.
When elected officials place party interests above national interests, they are betraying the very purpose of representative government.
And when voters excuse that behavior simply because the politician belongs to their preferred party, we become part of the problem.
Patriotism Requires More Than Wearing a Party Label
I am a Marine.
I understand loyalty, duty, commitment, and service.
But I also understand that loyalty must be directed toward something greater than personal ambition or organizational advantage.
When I became a Marine, my oath was to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
It was not an oath to a political party.
It was not an oath to a president.
It was an oath to the Constitution.
That distinction matters.
Political parties come and go. Presidents serve their terms. Members of Congress are elected and replaced.
But the principles of constitutional government must endure.
No political party owns patriotism.
And no politician deserves unquestioning loyalty.
Maybe the Voters Need to Change, Too
It is easy to blame Washington for everything that is wrong with American politics.
But perhaps we need to examine ourselves as well.
Do we demand honesty from politicians we oppose while excusing dishonesty from those we support?
Do we investigate claims before repeating them?
Do we vote for candidates because of their character, qualifications, and policies, or simply because of the letter beside their names?
Do we reward politicians who solve problems, or those who deliver the most entertaining insults?
Politicians respond to incentives.
If voters reward division, politicians will continue dividing us.
If voters demand responsibility, integrity, and results, politicians will have a reason to provide them.
The American people possess far more power than we sometimes realize.
But that power means very little if we refuse to hold our own side accountable.
America Must Come Before the Party
I have lived long enough to watch administrations change, political movements rise and fall, and generations of Americans argue about the direction of this country.
I have watched our nation accomplish extraordinary things.
And I have watched political division grow into something that threatens our ability to govern ourselves.
I do not expect Republicans and Democrats to agree on everything.
I do expect them to remember that they serve the same country.
I expect Republicans to stand for their principles without abandoning honesty.
I expect Democrats to stand for their principles without treating every Republican as an enemy.
And I expect both parties to recognize that governing is a responsibility, not a political game.
The United States is not a trophy to be won every four years.
It is a nation to be protected, strengthened, and passed to future generations.
If winning an election matters more to our leaders than the condition of the country after the election, then something is terribly wrong.
And if we, the voters, continue rewarding that behavior, we have nobody but ourselves to blame.
Here is my final question:
Would you rather see your political party win while America suffers, or see America succeed even if the other party gets some of the credit?
Your answer may reveal whether your first loyalty is to your party or to your country.
And that is something every American ought to think about.
What Do You Think?
Are Republicans and Democrats more interested in winning elections than governing responsibly?
Can you criticize your own party when it is wrong?
And would you support a good policy proposed by the opposing party?
I welcome respectful disagreement. Tell me what you think.
Visit mikesobservations.com and join the conversation.
Michael Cunningham Sr.
Mike's Observations
Eight Decades of Faith · Service · Adventure · A Life Well Lived
