It seems that there are a lot of far-right Republicans in office or trying to control who gains office. It also appears to be one of the indicators of fascism (which we really don't want):
Forcible Suppression of Opposition: Eliminating political dissent through force, intimidation, censorship, and the use of secret police. It rejects democratic principles like free elections, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.
As well as:
Use of Propaganda and Symbolism: Extensive use of propaganda, rallies, symbols, and leader cults to mobilize the population and enforce conformity.
What is real and true doesn't seem to matter, as long as you can outshout, browbeat, label, or lie enough about your opposition to make you look pretty.
Excellent article Becky. I made this very same argument in some of my comments in the Reid Harlocker’s article published on Jan 21st.
The whole premise of political parties being “private parties” is seriously flawed. Elections are the mechanisms by which we choose public officials who govern and wield power over EVERYONE, not just the “members” of that political party. So the moment taxpayer dollars fund an election of any kind, and the winners gain public power, the “only members get a say” argument falls flat on its face.
People don’t owe loyalty to a party just to have a voice in choosing leaders who will govern their lives. Parties with integrity seek to earn voter support by offering ideas and values that resonate with the MAJORITY of voters, not by locking the doors and actively attempting to choose only those voters who will support their platform no matter what.
“A healthy party persuades. An insecure party polices.” Perfectly stated.
Not to make light of the situation, but the song lyrics of “Hold on Loosely” came to mind - “Just hold on loosely, but don’t let go/ If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control”.
I think a segment of this party is approaching the stranglehold stage. Freedom? Not for me or thee.
Again Idaho’s Republican Party is corrupt and power hungry! Stop voting for these people, they do not have regular Idahoans daily needs in mind ever!!!😡
It is the theory that the Republican Party is a private membership club that is destructive. It is as if some people can only think in black-and-white terms, i.e., you are either in the club or out.
“In the club” means that you adhere to every party line with no dissent, no discussion, no challenge, and are there only by a salute to the dominant.
If you’re “out of the club”, you can’t even run for Office, or present any challenge to the current status quo, whether it lean left, right, or even betrays the principles of the party - in cases where the platform remains, but the leadership sways a different direction.
In reality, the Republican Party was founded in 1854 as a political party, not a private club. A political party is necessarily open to all who agree with most of its principles, because certainly there is no one who agrees with all of its principles all of the time.
Again, it is the black-and-white thinking of people like Hari Heath, Brent Regan, and others who think the Republican Party is a private club that is destructive to the very end of the party itself.
The fact that they don’t see this is incredible. My advice is that they stop with the junior high school “black-and-white” thinking, and get with the nuance of a true political party.
The model set up by this country’s founders was through (small “d”) democratically elected representative governance. Requiring pre-clearance of representatives via pre-set qualifications distrusts the individual’s liberty of independent thought and opinion.
Question becomes, "Who owns the Republican Party Name and structure." Could anyone form a "republican" party association of some sort? How would that appear on the ballot? How would the "real" republican party get on the ballot? Could the republican party become balkanized?
Given all this fracturing among the GOP, what a pity the Idaho Democrats can't seem to make any hay out of it, and make us a two-party system. They have no say about what happens here, and only have a great deal of handwringing to show when laws are made and things are done they don't like.
It seems that there are a lot of far-right Republicans in office or trying to control who gains office. It also appears to be one of the indicators of fascism (which we really don't want):
Forcible Suppression of Opposition: Eliminating political dissent through force, intimidation, censorship, and the use of secret police. It rejects democratic principles like free elections, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.
As well as:
Use of Propaganda and Symbolism: Extensive use of propaganda, rallies, symbols, and leader cults to mobilize the population and enforce conformity.
What is real and true doesn't seem to matter, as long as you can outshout, browbeat, label, or lie enough about your opposition to make you look pretty.
Excellent article Becky. I made this very same argument in some of my comments in the Reid Harlocker’s article published on Jan 21st.
The whole premise of political parties being “private parties” is seriously flawed. Elections are the mechanisms by which we choose public officials who govern and wield power over EVERYONE, not just the “members” of that political party. So the moment taxpayer dollars fund an election of any kind, and the winners gain public power, the “only members get a say” argument falls flat on its face.
People don’t owe loyalty to a party just to have a voice in choosing leaders who will govern their lives. Parties with integrity seek to earn voter support by offering ideas and values that resonate with the MAJORITY of voters, not by locking the doors and actively attempting to choose only those voters who will support their platform no matter what.
“A healthy party persuades. An insecure party polices.” Perfectly stated.
Not to make light of the situation, but the song lyrics of “Hold on Loosely” came to mind - “Just hold on loosely, but don’t let go/ If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control”.
I think a segment of this party is approaching the stranglehold stage. Freedom? Not for me or thee.
I agree with you Becky. We need a bigger table of informed voters and party members, not a taller fence!
This is more than just distrusting the voters - this is outright control. We know this is happening within the KCRCC . Be very careful, Idaho!
Again Idaho’s Republican Party is corrupt and power hungry! Stop voting for these people, they do not have regular Idahoans daily needs in mind ever!!!😡
It is the theory that the Republican Party is a private membership club that is destructive. It is as if some people can only think in black-and-white terms, i.e., you are either in the club or out.
“In the club” means that you adhere to every party line with no dissent, no discussion, no challenge, and are there only by a salute to the dominant.
If you’re “out of the club”, you can’t even run for Office, or present any challenge to the current status quo, whether it lean left, right, or even betrays the principles of the party - in cases where the platform remains, but the leadership sways a different direction.
In reality, the Republican Party was founded in 1854 as a political party, not a private club. A political party is necessarily open to all who agree with most of its principles, because certainly there is no one who agrees with all of its principles all of the time.
Again, it is the black-and-white thinking of people like Hari Heath, Brent Regan, and others who think the Republican Party is a private club that is destructive to the very end of the party itself.
The fact that they don’t see this is incredible. My advice is that they stop with the junior high school “black-and-white” thinking, and get with the nuance of a true political party.
Nice reply, Art. Hope you and Leslie are well!
Becky, these tyrannical authoritarians are seriously disturbed and a threat to our free expression. Thanks for exposing their latest childish stunt.
The model set up by this country’s founders was through (small “d”) democratically elected representative governance. Requiring pre-clearance of representatives via pre-set qualifications distrusts the individual’s liberty of independent thought and opinion.
Question becomes, "Who owns the Republican Party Name and structure." Could anyone form a "republican" party association of some sort? How would that appear on the ballot? How would the "real" republican party get on the ballot? Could the republican party become balkanized?
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Given all this fracturing among the GOP, what a pity the Idaho Democrats can't seem to make any hay out of it, and make us a two-party system. They have no say about what happens here, and only have a great deal of handwringing to show when laws are made and things are done they don't like.