When George Washington became President of the United States in 1789, there were no political parties.

Political parties first emerged during  Washington’s first term in office with the Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Party in 1791 and in the following year, the formation of the Anti-Federalist Party or Democratic-Republicans under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson.

 

As political parties began to play a greater and greater role in government, President Washington became concerned. In his Farewell Address he warned the nation against the rise of political parties:

 

“I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State. Let me warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities. . .Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.. . .A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.”

The nation did not heed President Washington and political parties grew and developed into political machines

A political machine is an un-democratic organization, which relies on rewards for political power. It also uses patronage, the spoils system, "behind-the-scenes" control, and longstanding political ties to maintain its power and continued control.

 

In the Book of Mormon a story is told of an extreme political machine called the Gadianton Robbers:

 

And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of God. and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.

 

They claimed to be a good and moral organization. The leader of the Gadianton Robbers said:

 

"I am the governor of this the society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us".

 

But they had become criminal conspiracies. And eventually the chaos they generated destroyed the nation.

 

As we look at our nation today we can see the disruption caused by political parties. And we can see that it is the same as the Gadianton Robbers—they protect and pre-serve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed.

 

Is this our future? Is a America to fall as did the nation in the Book of Mormon story?

 

    

If, in Congress, positions and power were given based on race or religion, there would be a national out-roar.  Is giving positions and power based on political party any less discriminatory?

 

We must remove political parties from running our nation.

 

You think you choose your candidates?  You don’t they are chosen by the political parties, which represent only about ten percent of the nation.

 

You think your elected officers are working for you?  No, they are are working for their political party.

 

We must remove political parties from running our nation.

 

It can be done simply. All that is required is that the states no longer finance the elections of political parties. This is already done in some states. Further, no political affiliation should be placed on any ballot and every citizen should be allowed to vote for any candidate in any election.

 

On the federal level, in Congress no one should be chosen for any position based on political party affiliation.

Citizens will still be able to form political parties and act on behalf of any candidate. But that is all.

 

Political parties will no longer be running our nation and power will have been restored to the people