http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/political-insider/2013/feb/06/word-reince-priebus-and-ashley-bell-no-more-red-st/

In Jim Galloway’s blog, Political Insider, as referenced above, he states: “Republicans want to be a party for every American in every neighborhood in every state. That’s why we must end the practice of labeling states red and blue. That’s why we must build relationships in communities where we haven’t been. That’s why we must stop talking about ‘reaching out’ and start working on ‘welcoming in.’”

Although I differ with Galloway as to why “labeling states” as red and blue must go, I agree that must happen if both parties are going to learn to compromise and make laws that benefit ALL Americans. That’s because by using a Republican or Democratic label, and that alone to try to describe the essence of the political party that supposedly dominates political thought in that state is an injustice to anyone who describes him or herself as an American. That’s because any politically thinking person shouldn’t want to be described solely as being either a Republican or a Democrat, believing that by using that label, each has captured the essence of that person’s political philosophy, is wrongheaded. Yet, a lot of people do it. Politicians routinely do it. To the extent that’s done, political parties have hijacked our government because the politicians have shown their allegiance to their political parties rather than to the people they swore on our Constitution they would preserve, protect and defend. And that means they promised to serve ALL the people.

Labeling carries with it so much surplus meaning. The malevolence is not what’s said about your cause, but what is said about that of your opposition.

Talk show hosts frequently use character assassination by questioning their opponent’s motives, biases, prejudices, values, or a host of other qualities. They may besmirch their opponent’s character to such an extent that the listener may turn a deaf ear to what he or she may say in rebuttal.

Once the extremist has the listener’s support and buys into what the talk-show host says about his guest, then whatever is said in support of his position is accepted as gospel. When that happens, closed mindedness sets in and further intellectual inquiry about other points of view is ended and total acceptance of what the talk-show host wants his listener to believe is embraced.

In President Washington’s Farwell Address, he spoke at length about the “baneful” or deadly affects of political parties. He believed that ultimately they could destroy our freedoms.

In order for Galloway and the Republican party to become more all inclusive so more Democrats join the Republican ranks, the Republicans need to be more empathetic and compassionate toward the individuals who don’t readily embrace the Republican party, and be willing to work toward something greater than themselves by putting aside their selfish interests and pay more of their fair share of taxes and in so doing, respond to ALL Americans rather than just the rich and powerful.

In my recently published psychologically based book What Would Our Founding Fathers Say?: How Today’s Leaders Have Lost Their Way, I mention the basic creed and doctrine of both the Republican and Democratic parties, and that they appear antithetical to each other. To the extent that’s so, they represent two opposite ends of the continuum – therefore, the conclusions that they come to will remain disparate and different, unless both parties learn to compromise.

We must remember, the Constitution was written for ALL the people, not just the special interest groups and the politicians’ political constituency that got them elected in the first place. When they entered office, they swore their allegiance to our Constitution. Hence, they swore to preserve, protect and defend ALL of their fellow Americans, not simply their political party, which they appear to have done, here, in the 21^st century.