Share this article on social networks

America has always had two functioning political parties, but the divided Republican Party threatens democracy.

Whether at the state or national level, what defines the Republican Party today?

During its history, it has been known and identified as the party of Abraham Lincoln, and more recently the party of Ronald Reagan.

Today, the party is most frequently identified as the party of Donald Trump. Based on all the infighting, will the party be able to gain its footing?

Trump is known by many labels. A business mogul. A TV personality. Most importantly, he’s known as a U.S. president embroiled, during and after his presidency, in rhetoric and behavior that defy the traditions and institutions on which America was built.

Many of his pronouncements and actions defy and denigrate the Constitution, the rule of law. Trump’s divided Republican Party threatens democracy.

When the Republican Party is identified as the party of Lincoln or the party of Reagan, clear images come to mind because of the personification, policies and actions of those two leaders.

In describing the party of Lincoln, it was founded on the basic belief that government should address and do those things that individual states could not do in the areas of education, transportation, social welfare, economic policies.

The party of Reagan can be considered the party that became most known for its conservative principles, policies and agendas, which focused on smaller government, lower taxes, promoting free enterprise, strengthening the national defense and emphasizing traditional values.

Divided Republican Party Threatens  Democracy (Photo by Marily-Nieves/iStock Images)

And now, the party is unquestionably Donald Trump’s and very divided.

It also should be noted that throughout its history, the Republican Party has eschewed becoming known or adopting the name of leaders who demonstrated a lack of a moral compass or whose policies and practices were more destructive than good.

There was no party of Richard Nixon, for example.

The current divided Republican Party threatens democracy. It remains to be seen whether the factions will be able to come together, shed their disparate identity, dispel the control of destructive personalities and the extremist views that have it in their clutches.

That will be the only way to put an end to the quagmire of ineffectiveness that has taken control, or to stop the pursuit of policies for small factions and special interests.

Our republic, and democratic form of government, has survived and thrived because the two major political parties, despite deep differences and divisions, found compromise and moved forward — with the overall goal of doing what is in the best interest of the nation and its citizenry.

A divided Republican Party threatens democracy. It it cannot get its footing, what kind of party will survive?

Portions of this article first appeared in the Missouri Independent.

Share this article on social networks