Secure Liberty - Learning

The development of political parties in the United States has been warned about since the beginning; specifically by George Washington in 1779. He made this statement to the people stating that the creation of political parties in our government would result in the "ruins of Public Liberty."

"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."

What George Washington meant by this is that when a country deals with major problems, the people of that country become vulnerable and in search of security and peace which allows the chief of some dominate political party who is more able than others to take advantage of these peoples' state of mind which destroys their freedom. This is a pretty extreme scenario but political parties can in fact influenced a nation's government because the two main political parties (Republicans and Democrats) have control of the House and Senate. Depending on whether there are more Republicans or Democrats in these positions will influence which way the government leans. This is also the same with the presidential elections. Whether a Democrat or Republican candidate is elected will allow the country to lean more towards a Democratic nation or a Republican one.

During a presidential election, many die-hard Democrats or Republicans like to help their favorite candidate with their campaign by donating money. But because there is a limit on how much money each person can give to a political party or campaign, Political Action Committees (PACs) were created, usually by corporations, to help raise money to give to their desired political party or campaign.  Each PAC is limited to raising 15,000 which is why recently Super PACs were created. Super PACs can raise as much money as they want but can not directly support a political party or candidate. Instead, they are to be for or against a cause or issue. The more money that is raised in a PAC or Super PAC, the more likely that candidate, political party, issue, or cause will be able to persuade the nation's people into their beliefs. Unfortunately, this can be a way to possibly change the results of an election but ultimately, I believe that the people already have set views and commercials probably aren't going to change these views.