The Dangers of Political Parties

This past week, six Democratic House and Senate members, all military or intelligence veterans, released a video urging U.S. service members to disobey any “unlawful orders” they might receive. This action sparked significant backlash from Republicans and President Trump, who accused the lawmakers of “sedition.”

The lawmakers emphasized that service members take an oath to the Constitution, which includes the legal duty to refuse orders that are manifestly illegal. They stated they “have your backs” if service members follow their oath and refuse such orders.

Republican leaders, including House and Senate members, strongly criticized the video as “ill-advised and provocative,” arguing that it undermined the military’s chain of command and could be dangerous. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the members were encouraging service members to “defy the chain of command.” Donald Trump reacted to the video with a series of social media posts calling the lawmakers “traitors” engaging in “seditious behavior, punishable by death.”

Watching this unfold, I could not help but think of George Washington’s warning in his farewell address about the dangers of political parties. Washington warned that political parties could be detrimental to the nation by fostering division, empowering self-interested individuals to seize control, and making the country vulnerable to foreign influence. He cautioned that the “spirit of party” could distract public officials, incite hostility among citizens, and lead to corruption—ultimately threatening the stability and liberty of the United States.

Specifically:

Dividing the nation: Washington worried that parties would create factions based on regional or group interests, overshadowing the common good and national unity.

Enabling self-interest: He feared that ambitious and unprincipled men would use political parties as “potent engines” to gain power for themselves, at the expense of the people’s will.

Opening the door to foreign influence: Washington warned that party passions could make the country more susceptible to manipulation by foreign powers.

Weakening public administration: He argued that the “spirit of party” would distract public councils and weaken the effectiveness of public administration.

Inciting conflict: He believed that parties could stir up “ill-founded jealousies and false alarms,” leading to animosity and even riots or insurrections.

Reexamining his prescient warnings, perhaps it is time, as a nation, that we reconsider the role both political parties and their members play in our daily lives—and heed his wisdom spoken over 250 years ago—by tamping down the harmful rhetoric. Let’s not wait for another 9/11-type event to restore our national unity and sense of purpose.