Welcome To The No Party System
Party's over.
Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and others have made a lot of hay over the years calling America a One Party System. “The Republicrats”, they jest, “is the only real option this country has.” Their critique of course is that the Republicans and Democrats have become so similar over the years that calling them two separate parties is a bit of a misnomer. (This was of course before the War in Iraq. Military occupations have a way of dividing people up.) But now things have gotten even worse. This week, after the Democrat-controlled Senate Finance Committee failed to pass the Public Option, we entered into a new a even more rare period of America politics: the No Party System. And yeah, it’s about as much fun as it sounds.
The Republicans ceased being a real party right around the time Sarah Palin asked to give her own Presidential concession speech, something that’s never happened in the history of ever. Republicans were being severed in two parts: old, fiscally conservative stalwarts who could be reasoned with on some social issues (i.e. John McCain), and young, complete and utter lunatics (i.e. Sarah Palin). Occasionally the two sides can agree on something (they both love “Two and a Half Men”!), but for the most part their division has effectively dissolved the party. Who’s the leader of the Republican Party? No idea. What’s their cornerstone belief system? Haven’t a clue. Who will run for President in 2012? Uh…Charlie Sheen? When Republicans get together for lunch meetings do the order pizza or Chinese? (Trick question. It’s neither — they don’t trust foreigners to cook for them.) Turns out semi-logic and absence of logic are a lot like oil and water. Sorry, Republicans, you just don’t mix. One party down.
"I'm gonna need $50,000 before I can speak to you...."
The Democrats officially bit the dust on Tuesday, when Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus voted against the public option because “it didn’t have enough votes.” A pretty impressive twist of logic, as the only surefire way for a bill to not get enough votes is to not vote for it yourself. Max Baucus, not surprisingly, has received nearly 4 million dollars in donations from the health sector since 2003, a number that is only exceeded by the three major Presidential candidates in 2008 (Obama, McCain, Clinton). Because there’s no “Max” in “Party”. No “Baucus” in “Democrat”. His caption should be changed from “Sen. Max Baucus (D)” to “Sen. Max Baucus ($)”, just so we all know where his allegiances lie. And when Baucus officially gave the thumbs down on the Public Option it was the political equivalent to yelling “Ollie Ollie Oxen Free”! Everybody’s free! Forget the Party, make your own deal — it’s so much more fun that way! Look – the vast majority of the public (65%), and the absurd majority of the Party (81%) want the Public Option. The Democrats have the bodies to pass the Public Option without a single Republican vote. Yet they still can’t pass a Public Option. To me, that means they don’t have party. Super Majority, meet Super Meaningless. What voters elected en masse less than a year ago – that’s down the toilet. Because Mad Max didn’t think anyone else would vote for it. Got that?
But Mad Max hasn’t taken down the Democrats all on his own. No, he had the help of four other Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee. I wonder if they got any donations from Big Medical?
Wow. How much does it cost to destroy the unity and purpose of an entire political party? Apparently a little more than $19 million.
So now we’re Partied out. No more hats, no more blowers, no more working as a united front. It’s every man, woman, and Baucus for himself. Can’t wait for Convention season, when we have to cover 535 of the damn things. Oh well, at least there’s an upside: no more Michael Steele.
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Brian,
There is so much wrong with lobbying right now. That $19 million is for four people, from one industry. Imagine if we tabulated all the money for all the legislators. That amount of money could be put to a lot better uses. It disgusts me.
You’re right, of course. Somebody just had to call it, and that somebody was you. Good on you.
Can you give a credit to the Baucus photo at the top of the article, by the way? That is one fantastic shot, and I’d love to know who took it.
sure, the photo is by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images North America.
i found it here http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ap7xLA1ZDXc/Senate+Votes+Economic+Stimulus+Package/DT96oDO5SZW/Max+Baucus
it is a great shot
In response to another comment. See in context »Nice one, thanks. Yeah, great moment; it reminded me of Chris Anderson’s Romney/Michigan Primary shots: http://www.magnumphotos.com/archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.StoryDetail_VPage&pid=2K7O3RHT8GXT
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by brian donovan and susan ducan. susan ducan said: everyone drink Welcome To The No Party System: True/Slant Michael Moore, Ralph Nade.. http://bit.ly/3gdp2x who will last [...]
Just had to make an observation. After reading your article the first thing that came to my mind was a newspaper headline I will never live to see (unless the twilight zone makes a comeback)
“Congress passes conflict of interest law…….members barred from voting on bills effecting industries from which they have accepted contributions!”
Yeah, unfortunately we’d be left with lots of industries that no one could govern and lots of congressmen with nothing to do.
In response to another comment. See in context »Perfect circle.
In response to another comment. See in context »Now we’re back to the status quo, and healthcare reform.
Hilarious and so true. You did hit the true party affiliation, ($) what should we call it? The Daddy Warbucks Party…lets all sing,
Money makes the world go around
The world go around
The world go around
Money makes the world go around
It makes the world go ’round.
A mark, a yen, a buck, or a pound
A buck or a pound
A buck or a pound
Is all that makes the world go around,
That clinking clanking sound
Can make the world go ’round.
I said several times last year that the most important reform would be of campaign finance: we need full public financing of campaigns. I’m not sure where the political heartbeat is on getting that passed though, it might take a huge movement.
It really is the key to everything else on the domestic policy side at least.
I beleive that we need a new party. My sugestion would be the Tea Party. Our government is out of control and needs to be replaced by real Americans. Corruption to the hilt is the motto of Washington D.C. we the people have had enough of the affairs, stealing,bribes,back door dealings,and most of all not listening to the people. Remember they work for us. The takeovers of our private sector business in this country is a crime on the people of this country and should be punished. Free our country again and make us proud again as well.Paul
Brian-
Great job highlighting the self-interest involved with the muckity mucks holding federal elected positions, but I’m not sure what your conclusion is? “Power + money = influence x problems” isn’t really earth shattering. Breaking the equation down, power granted to these various committees and offices are really the only thing we have control over as a nation. Historically speaking, humans are remarkably susceptible to seduction by wealth, image, and social perks (hence “only human”), so I think the bigger question is why do we continue to place our faith in the rule of men at all?
“…we’d be left with lots of industries that no one could govern and lots of congressmen with nothing to do.”
Sounds ok to me, what’s so great about this government stuff anyway?
Well, without government we have one of the worst and most wasteful healthcare systems in the world. And government runs our public schools, police, mail, and military – which, while flawed, are among the best in the world. So let’s not get too carried away…
I would say my conclusion is personal greed and self-concern has gotten to a level where we’re losing even our political parties. And that, to me, is fairly shocking.
In response to another comment. See in context »I think that as access to information and the speed at which its spread continue to increase, this type of fracturing within political parties is going to become more common. Even in the best of times, both the Dems and Reps have had difficulty in herding their various elements together. A nation, a political party, a family… each one of these things is made up of individuals with their own agendas and motivations, which will can only become more diverse as the members branch out into the ever expanding pool of available thought.
Political parties are formed with the belief that by joining together under one banner, the people within them will have their interests better served than by remaining alone. But when that sentiment begins to fade (as you pointed out with Baucus breaking with party for personal gain), the underlying fissures within the mass of individuals will quickly become apparent. The fact political parties, corporations, and nations rise and fall upon the motivations of individuals granted too much power is the only constant I can observe in history. What I find shocking is that I hold the minority view on this subject when it comes to applying it to the latest calamity.
Additionally, I would counter that we have one of the best healthcare industries in the world IN SPITE OF government regulation. It is the physician that diagnoses me, and the surgeon who operates that preserves my well being, not a distant bureaucrat and economist arguing over the “proper” cost of treatment. Personally I would choose private or home schooling for my daughter, bodyguards for crime prevention (as opposed to investigation), and FedEx for my packages. Even our own military is contracting out to Blackwater, which is a private company. However, my choice is far removed and so diluted within the machinery of the state as to render it nearly insignificant, whereas the impacts are felt immediately by compulsion.
I’m afraid the healthcare statistics don’t jibe with your assessment, but I’m glad there’s someone out there who feels like they’re getting good care.
In response to another comment. See in context »