Trust in Principles, Not Parties

In the modern political landscape, Americans are often pushed into a false dichotomy—Republican versus Democrat, right versus left. But this framing misses the real issue: Who is looking out for the average American? Who is fostering an environment where hard-working people can achieve their dreams? And just as critically, who is grasping for power rather than stepping aside to let the people thrive?

The truth is that political parties evolve. Consider the fact that much of today’s Republican leadership was once part of the Democratic Party. Ronald Reagan, once a New Deal Democrat, famously switched parties, saying, "I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." Political alignments shift, but the fundamental principles of liberty, limited government, and the empowerment of individuals remain the cornerstone of American prosperity.

The Dangers of Party Loyalty Over Principle

George Washington, in his Farewell Address, warned against the dangers of blind allegiance to political factions: "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government." His words ring true today as politicians, regardless of party, often prioritize maintaining power over serving the people.

The focus should not be on whether one identifies as a Republican or a Democrat, but on the policies and principles that guide governance. Are our leaders promoting economic freedom, personal responsibility, and the ability for individuals to build better lives for themselves? Or are they simply consolidating power under the guise of partisanship?

Creating an Atmosphere for Success

Thomas Jefferson believed in limited government’s role in fostering individual achievement, stating, "A wise and frugal government... shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement." The question every American should ask is not which party is in power but which leaders are committed to getting government out of the way so that citizens can thrive.

Today, we see policies that increase regulatory burdens, restrict economic opportunity, and create dependence on government rather than self-reliance. Taxation, overreach, and unnecessary bureaucracy stifle innovation and success. This is not about party lines; it is about whether our government is enabling or inhibiting the American Dream.

Power Versus the People

James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," cautioned against the accumulation of power: "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." This warning serves as a reminder that when political parties seek power for power’s sake, they no longer serve the people but instead serve themselves.

It is time to move beyond party loyalty and instead demand principled leadership. Instead of asking whether someone has an R or a D next to their name, we should be asking: Are they promoting freedom? Are they ensuring a fair playing field for all? Are they empowering people rather than controlling them?

America was built on the idea that government exists to serve its citizens, not the other way around. The political debates of today should not be about which party holds power but about which policies allow Americans to pursue life, liberty, and happiness without unnecessary interference.

As Washington, Jefferson, and Madison warned, the greatest threat to the republic is an entrenched political class more focused on its own survival than on the well-being of the nation. If we are to restore true American prosperity, we must reject blind partisanship and instead demand leadership that prioritizes the success of the American people over the preservation of political power.

My .02

Bob Schoneman