The GOP broke our politics.
The American people have shown their discontentment with the President through protests, petitions, and even the midterm elections. Now, even his party is dissatisfied with his performance. Earlier this year, Justin Amash became the first, and only, House Republican to call for impeachment trials against the President. The representative from Michigan has a history of being a thorn in the President’s side. He has publicly criticized Trump’s bullying attitude and questioned the integrity of his fellow party members. Now, Amash sides with House Democrats and Progressives on going forward with impeachment proceedings.
Rep. Amash has made himself an enemy of the GOP. He walks an uphill battle, as the party he once believed in now condemns him. However, Amash’s honesty shouldn’t be worthy of praise. It is shameful that standing up to injustice is greeted with such fanfare. Amash’s decision to leave the GOP says much more about the state of our politics than his integrity.
Lately, Amash has made a big splash in the media. On July 4, he published an op-ed in the Washington Post, criticizing the deep polarization in American politics and calling on others to “join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties.” He discouraged the idea of a two-party system and announced his departure from the Republican party. Then, three days later, on State of the Union with Jake Tapper, he said that he “hasn’t ruled out” a presidential campaign. Amash may be a threat to Trump’s second presidential run. Trump’s overall approval rating is rising. However, his score with independents is still an abysmal 34%. If he runs as a Republican, he may be an alternate option for independent voters unsatisfied with Trump.
Rep. Amash’s statement is not brave or heroic. Having a spine is not a courageous act. His announcement shows that our democracy is failing. It shows how far we have gone from the original design. Our government has grown perverse and immoral. Public trust of the government has reached an all-time low (17%). Instead of creating an atmosphere where compromise lives, politicians have run to the fringes of their parties. Parties have grown much more radical in the last few years, and the GOP has been abusing their power.
The fact that we have a Justin Amash points to major flaws within our political system.
Politics has become a game, and the GOP has been rigging it for quite some time now. They have twisted the rules of Congress. Their obsession with winning power has stripped rights from every marginalized community. The GOP has stolen voting rights from people of color in battleground states like North Carolina and Georgia.
Within the last two years, we witnessed the GOP remove regulations on corporate greed and gun reform while placing new restrictions on women’s bodies. They refused to create a sensible immigration system and paths to citizenship, choosing instead to throw them into concentration camps. Conservatives ignore actual social issues like police brutality. They nominated Supreme Court Justices on their terms, manipulated government shutdowns and budgets as weapons and bargaining chips, and abused the filibuster to shoot down legislation they do not approve. Their use of insubordination to the laws of Congress is a mockery of the very freedoms they claim to protect.
The party of “freedom” has succumbed to conformity and strict compliance. Over the last two and a half years, the president has been caught up in numerous scandals and has picked our democracy apart piece by piece. He received intel from a foreign power to win an election and sided against America, choosing to bow to dictators in Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Russia. He sets his family and ardent supporters in positions of power instead of qualified candidates. The president even promotes loyalty to him over obedience to the law. The Republican party encourages groupthink and vehemently attacks anyone who speaks out against their agenda.
We’ve reached a truly appalling time in American politics, where civil service comes second to self-service. For years, Republicans manipulated the system, catering themselves over the American people. Sadly, it shows no sign of stopping. The GOP has gotten so corrupt and vile, that anyone who agrees with proven facts somehow warrants acclaim. Is this the standard we are setting for our leaders now?
The Republican party is responsible for the culture of insurrection within Washington. They have broken the system. This administration’s selfishness knows no limits. The president is a petulant and selfish man, simultaneously seeking approval and disregarding judgment.
Will there be another in the Republican party to step up and call out their fellow brethren?
Is there an end to the lawlessness and absurdity within the Republican party?
How much further over the edge can we go?
