Separation of Party and State?

Political parties have their place, but it shouldn't be where it is today - front and center.

Most American citizens would agree, the separation of Church and State was forward-thinking by our forefathers, to promote good governance and encourage the best leaders to step up to serve the People.

We separate Church and State via Constitutional law. Is it time we consider a separation of Party and State?  Party persuasion has become the new religion, folks. 

Take the politics out of government?  Hey, I know, it sounds impossible, doesn't it?   They're one and the same, right?  Uh, not exactly.  

We all know the old country music lyric, "you can take the girl outta the country, but you can't take the country outta the girl."  Well, we also know we can't take the politics outta government. No one would be so foolish to suggest such a thing; however, there are ways to reduce party power and influence it wields over the People.  We must remain true to our principles and continuously improve our government to fight corruption, as well as attract and retain the best leaders America has to offer.

We are an independent nation, founded on the concept of distribution of power to the People; the antithesis of a monarchy.  Time and time again, from Teddy Roosevelt's "rugged individualism" to Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream," we are reminded that America's strength lies exactly at the point at which bold ideas, optimism and courage converge as one.

Today, we elect leaders who we believe have the traits of a great leader, yet once elected, they often seem entirely dependent upon their party pals to make a decision.  Common sense and straight talk transform to convoluted lawyerspeak; important discussions are saved for lobbyists and the short-list of people who are on the need-to-know basis.  Clarity and optimism dim, becoming shrouded in political doublespeak.  The People are relegated to second tier status, filtered from the very leaders We elected via speechwriters and teleprompters, Press Secretaries and lawyers, publicists, advance teams and security details. 

While the Party elite gets carte blanche access to Our Governors' mansions and the Oval Office itself (the Peoples' office, by the way) the elected leaders become further isolated from the very people who not only elected them but gave them a grounded sense of reality.  Our leaders need access to the People as much as the People need access to the leaders. 

The Peoples' mandate must come first; not the Partys' mandate.  Partisan politics is stagnating progress in our nation. It has corrupted not only our system of leadership but the ability to attract the best leaders to govern.  If you get a chance, I suggest you go to your local County Party meeting and look around the room. Count the number of folks under-forty.  No matter which party you choose, they simply aren't there any more.

Future leaders are few and far between, and "party politics" - not "politics" itself - is scaring away the best of the best. That's got me very concerned.

We the People have allowed a system which breeds cowardice and groupthink to grow to a point of causing gridlock on Capitol Hill, not to mention our State Legislatures.  

Parties are supposed to organize to promote planks and platforms, weed out the poor leaders and provide a spotlight to promote the best of the best.  That's not happening today.  Money talks, leaders walk. Personal destruction rules, the People are treated as fools.

We all know the best leaders turn their backs on public office. Why? You know why. Ask a few friends you admire to consider running for office. The response is inevitably, "No way."  Ask why, and the first thing out of their mouths: "the party politics."

So, you and I are NOT AT ALL SURPRISED to witness the best leaders run - they dont walk - from public service, choosing a path of business, education, non-profit, clergy or any other path but governance and political leadership.

Yet those great leaders are the ones we need to do what needs to be done to help our country grow and prosper.

The word "politics" has become synonymous with corrupt party game-playing.  Yet the word "politics" means governing leadership. It's come down to the color of folks' ties and scarves - red or blue - not the common sense ideas they'd present if party politics wasn't playing a major role.

We the People elect leaders, not politicians. Let them politic during their campaign. Let them LEAD, free from the corruption of groupthink and financial temptations (and threats)  during their term. 

During their term, they are ours - the Peoples' leader; not the Party's leader.

I've always believed one should not come to the table with a problem without having given serious throught to solutions. So, here are three solutions I have, in order to create a "more perfect Union" by starting the path toward separation of Party and State.

I hope you join in the discussion with your ideas too:

1. Party Officials and Political Advisers may not enter nor communicate with anyone in the Peoples' Offices of the White House, Governors' Mansions.  See ya, Carl Rove. See ya, Dick Morris. If you want access to our President, you'll have to schedule a meeting at your office, not Ours.

2. When elected leaders must step down (due to resignation, retirement, medical reasons, death, etc), the law must be changed to ensure the political party does not determine who shall fill the vacant seat.  Rather, there shall be an election within 45 days, by and for the People, to determine who shall lead.  Allowing party bosses to decide who shall lead the People must be banned.

Note: This is a sneaky but effective trick of the trade that parties employ to gain or keep power. This is why you'll witness incumbents, knowing full well they'll be stepping down soon, keep this a secret from the People, then work out a deal behind the scenes. They'll run for re-election, knowing full well incumbents have an easier (and less expensive) path to victory than challengers. Shortly after they win re-election, they step down. Then, the Political Party Boss, oftentimes acting "surprised" by the incumbent's departure, then hand-picks the successor.  The next election is ALWAYS more difficult for the challenger to unseat the hand-picked incumbent. The Party  power grows; the Peoples' power loses. 

3. The position of Vice President, the second most powerful position in US government, should be elected directly by the People - separate from the Presidential "ticket." The Vice President is also the President of the Senate, representing the People with a Senate vote in case of a tie.  We, the People, must have THE POWER to determine exactly who shall be our leader-in-waiting, as well as the leader to drive the agenda of the U.S. Senate.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House, the third ranking position in US government, rather than being elected by the House of Representatives - a partisan-driven vote - shall be directly elected by a majority vote of the People.  This position should be REPRESENTATIVE of the PEOPLE, NOT the PARTIES. The Speaker shall not represent one specific district, but act as the leader among leaders, to drive the agenda of the People, and make progress.

Our forefathers instituted measures of checks and balances upon government itself, in order to form a "more perfect Union."  You and I know separating church and state has been an overall POSITIVE for a more perfect Union.  Not perfect, mind you - but "more perfect." 

Now, we need a system of checks and balances upon our political parties, which have taken our leaders hostage, and been granted far too much power, when the power belongs in the hands of you and me - the People. 

Whether you agree with the concept of a Constitutional Amendment for Separation or not, I hope you'll participate in this discussion to suggest ways to ensure INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP by our governing officials, to better represent the People, and work together to make progress on our behalf.

Your thoughts are welcomed...