Length: 409 Words Reading Time: 1 Minute + 40 Seconds

I sometimes wonder what would happen to America if the Democrats or the Republicans eliminate the other political party.  We have significant swings in power every four to eight years.  And, in some instances, one political party or the other predicts the death or total elimination of the other political party.  Such an outcome for me is most disconcerting. I believe it is foolish for leaders of either political party to want such an outcome.

I am a great believer in balance in all things.  For America to survive as an exceptional nation and as an example for other countries to emulate, if they so choose, we cannot exist in either political extreme. The stability of a culture, a nation, a people requires balance. I believe this is a fact of nature. Everywhere I look, I see balance in the universe.

Here is another perspective on balance. If we have a single-party political system, then that is the first step to totalitarianism, and that means absolute power by an elite segment of the population. And Lord Acton was absolutely correct regarding absolute power: it corrupts absolutely.

I, for one, would like to see the rise of a third major political party with libertarian leanings. By the latter, I mean, I want individual liberty to be the primary consideration for public policy discussions and the legislation that emerges as a result.

I also believe the Founding Fathers wanted a limited government that balanced the power of the sovereign states against the power of the central Federal Government. I remain intrigued by why so many citizens want the Federal Government to insert its collective nose into the lives and activities of individual citizens.

Past performance is a proven indicator of future performance in the lives of humans and the actions of the state. The past performance of government at the state and federal levels has not been stellar. Centralized government is best when it confines itself to those powers that a nation requires at the national level. For example, our federal government should be responsible for national defense, border control and immigration, and the establishment of a common currency and a court system, to mention just a few. Otherwise, let the cities and towns have their say in what makes sense for them. These two governing entities–cities and towns–should be responsible for the policy issues that affect the citizens in their respective jurisdictions.