Both major parties love big government

Republicans like to pretend that they’re the party of “small government.” While they often blame the growth and inefficiency of government on “tax and spend” democrats: republican “borrow and spend” policies only produced a different version of big government. For the last 50 years: the size and influence of the federal government has grown steadily, regardless of which party was in power. Depite all of the rhetoric on both sides, the only real difference between the two parties is their beneficiaries.

Whether government spends money on welfare for the poor or welfare for business and financial markets, it’s still welfare. Whether government spends money on public education or vouchers for religion-based schools, it’s still education spending. Whether government spends money on regulating guns or regulating relationships, it’s still regulation. At the end of the day, each party’s politicians spend or forsake money in ways that benefit the patrons who ultimately control them.

Most of our laws are written by special interest groups who donate millions of dollars to a particular party or “representative.” The existence of a large and powerful federal government primarily benefits special interest groups, especially when “their party” is in power. When republicans are in power: it’s a great time to be a business owner, Christian proselytizer, defense contractor, or energy company. When democrats are in power: it’s a great time to be a public employee, union member, environmentalist, or A.C.L.U. lawyer. Some special interest groups donate heavily to both parties: so it’s always a great time to be involved with multi-national corporations, agri-business, or Wall Street, but I digress…

Both political parties also get to select or promote their own “activist judges,” who will interpret constitutions and laws in ways that benefit the party and its patrons. Giving corporations the same rights as individuals and defining campaign spending as a first amendment right goes a long way to ensure that there will be no meaningful challenge to our corrupt two party system. It should be no surprise that judges beholden to a party tend to interpret constitutions and laws based on the "needs" of the party or its donors. Unfortunately for the parties: when they pick the "wrong" judge, they're stuck with them for life

As a social liberal and fiscal conservative, neither major party works for me. Without meaningful campaign reform: politicians from both parties will continue to represent their donors first, and the taxpayers second. Both parties will continue to infringe on individual rights through a mixture of government entitlements, tax breaks, and “incentives” which reward certain behaviors while punishing others. Every election seems to come down to voting for the lesser of two evils: would I rather eat shit or drink piss?

Thoreau once said “the government which governs best is the one that governs least or not at all; and when people are ready for it, that will be the kind of government they will have.” I’m ready now...