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Two political rivals take the field, and only one survives. In 1804, the duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and his political rival, leading Federalist Alexander Hamilton, led to the death of the latter. Today, political rivals still duel; they just use competing policies instead of pistols.
Today, we are watching duels between the Republicans and Democrats over the debt ceiling, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, abortion, the COVID emergency, and just everything else under the sun. It seems, rather than killing each other with guns, the parties are trying to destroy each other with policies. It reminds me of the warning George Washington gave us in his farewell address.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, … 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.
Has the alternate domination of one party over the other led us to the ruins of our own liberty?
The Constitution Study with Paul Engel on America Out Loud Talk Radio can be heard on weekdays at 4 pm ET. Listen on iHeart Radio, our world-class media player, or our free apps on Apple, Android, or Alexa. Listen to other episodes of The Constitution Study, available on podcast.