250 years ago, our nation’s founders declared to the world that America belonged to its people, not a king across the ocean. Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and Virginians put their egos and loyalty to their colonies aside to unite as simply Americans. Our nation’s founders understood that the idea of the United States wouldn’t work with division at its core. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington famously warned against dividing into partisan factions, as the priorities of the faction and its leaders soon overtake the priorities of the nation.
Unfortunately, the Democrat and Republican parties have proven President Washington correct. Today, the two-party duopoly has dedicated its resources to try and divide us into a Red America and Blue America. The idea is simple. We are so busy fighting amongst ourselves that the career politicians and their billionaire donors can continue plundering the middle class; if we spend all of our time looking left and right, we won’t look up and see who's really holding the power. Home ownership used to be a sign of a comfortable middle-class life. But today, the average age for a first time home buyer is 40 years old. Rising costs and allowing corporate private equity to run rampant has made even something as simple as homeownership out of reach for working class families. They continue to ride private jets while our public schools close, but instead of holding power accountable, we blame our neighbor.
Almost all of our political dysfunction can be traced back to party politics. Competitive races are disappearing, as an “R” or a “D” next to a name on a ballot is enough to win many congressional seats across the country thanks to gerrymandering. Political contests are no longer about selling the public on the best ideas. Rather, it has become about what happens behind closed doors in smoke-filled rooms among the party bosses. Both parties have amassed huge war chests, and breaking through the two-party doom loop is harder now than it's ever been.
Thankfully, there has always been one thing the United States can depend on - the American people. Everything great that this country has accomplished, it has done so because everyday people stood together as Americans and worked toward a goal larger than themselves, regardless of party. Democrats cannot claim the vast blue sky that frames the Nebraska prairie. The red that fills Memorial Stadium on a brisk fall Saturday does not belong to the Republican party.
We know this better than anyone here in Nebraska. George Norris is credited as the father of the Nebraska unicameral, which holds nonpartisanship as a founding tenant. To gather support for this endeavor, he didn’t go to billionaires or corporate lobbyists. Instead, he got in his car, and hit the road. It’s said Norris wore out two sets of tires in his mission, driving from town to town rallying support for his vision of a more representative Nebraska. Norris didn’t bet on big money to get the job done. Instead, he put his faith in everyday people believing in something bigger than themselves.
We need to bring the spirit of Nebraskan independence to Washington DC. Two million Nebraskans can show 350 million other Americans that they do not need to settle for the same two, tired options. The two parties may believe they rule this country, but the founders of this country ensured that true power lies in the hands of the people. This country does not belong to billionaires or corporate special interests. It belongs to the parents picking up overtime to make sure Santa can come this year. It belongs to those fighting for their rights in their workplace. It belongs to the men and women serving in our armed forces to defend our freedoms.
Our founders understood that the strength of the United States was our unity. They stood together to fight against the tyranny of a king across the ocean. Today, our democracy faces a new challenge. The two-party system’s chokehold on our politics threatens the very ideals this country was founded on. However, one thing that hasn’t changed in 250 years is the American people, and their ability to stand together against injustice. The parties and their donors can’t stop the American people, even with all their money and resources. Grassroots movements can return our democracy to the people. Together, we will write the next chapter of the American story.
–Dan Osborn |
