When we cover political parties in 2301, I have us read through Washington's Farewell Address and consider his concern about the rising power of political parties. It's useful to reconsider his point in light of the voter id controversy in the the Texas Legislature, which seems to be a primarily partisan issue. The Republican Party is likely to benefit electorally from the requirement while the Democratic Party is likely to suffer from it. While the fight rages on, more pressing substantive concerns may well not be addressed. This was Washington's fear:
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
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.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.
Though I don't think Washington's concerns about party competition leading people to seek security in the absolute power of individuals has come to pass, it is likely that party competition has made it less likely that we can appropriately govern ourselves adequately. In my opinion the decision by the parties in Texas to place the Voter ID debate ahead of more substantive concerns proves that parties come before the public welfare in our democratic republic. Maybe Washington had a point.
