Letter to the editor: Political choice is a good thing

When viewing history, it is important to use a “wide-angle lens.”

No political party has a monopoly on virtue. The last segregated units within the armed forces were disbanded in 1954 under President Eisenhower. But the process began with Executive Order 9981 under President Truman. The vote by congressional Republicans in opposition to the creation of both Social Security and Medicare exceeded 70%.

George Washington had no political party. Hamilton and Madison (in the Federalist Papers) warned of the dangers of political factions (parties). Each of our current parties “splintered” from other parties — the Democrats from the Democratic-Republicans in the 1820s and the Republicans from the Whigs in the 1850s. Today, with the huge cost and complexity of campaigning, the size of the country (both in area and population), political parties are a “necessary evil.”

Political parties form around support for, or opposition to, important issues. At its inception, the Republican Party found support in the “North” where the abolition of slavery was an issue. At the same time, Democrats found support in the “South” where “states rights” was an issue. Regional support changes over time as issues change.

Either way, voters have the final say on political parties via the “ballot box.” And that’s a good thing. Having a distinct choice is also a good thing. Otherwise you have a single-party system.

David Prevost

Springdale