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Strung Out Episode 34 WHAT GEORGE WASHINGTON WARNED US ABOUT!

Author
Martin McCormack
Published
Mon 15 Feb 2021
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George Washington wrote his farewell address in 1796, when he finally served a second term in office.  Weary and wary of politics and politicians, Washington (with the help of Alexander Hamiliton) crafted what could be considered a "how to survive as a republic" guide.  One of the main warnings he had was about the factionalism of political parties and how those political parties can give rise to a despot.  As the History Channel noted in its story on Washington's speech:
According to Washington, one of the chief dangers of letting regional loyalties dominate loyalty to the nation as a whole was that it would lead to factionalism, or the development of competing political parties. When Americans voted according to party loyalty, rather than the common interest of the nation, Washington feared it would foster a “spirit of revenge,” and enable the rise of “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” who would “usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
It could be argued that the presidency of Donald Trump, his subsequent defeat to Joe Biden, January 6th insurrection, impeachment and acquittal by the Republican majority is exactly what Washington was warning us about.   Joining Martin is politician and analyst of all things political, David Heuvelman.  Together they walk through Washington's address, apply it to the current political climate and ponder if we are indeed witnessing the very thing that  GEORGE WASHINGTON WARNED US ABOUT!

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