I have been writing for years that the Republican Party is disintegrating. It is imploding. The reasons are clear and cannot be repaired.

Let’s begin with failed leadership. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, former Speaker, John Boehner, and former DNC Chairman, Reince Priebus, placed their party first and ignored the needs and wishes of the majority of Americans. This has been a trend for over 25 years.

When our founding fathers wrote the Constitution, and created our ‘Democratic Republic,’ they had sound and thoughtful reasons. It would be impossible to institute a totally democratic system. The many issues which need attention could not be voted upon by the entire population. Their plan would allow the people to elect representatives whose directive was to vote for the wishes of the people. Republicans constantly ignore this fact and therefore their duty. They vote for themselves and for special interests.

The second reason why the once Grand Old Party is in demise is the fact that extremism has become the new normal in the party. They no longer have the will or the ability to deliberate and compromise, which are the foundations for good government. The men and women who call themselves ‘Republicans’ today lack any of the principles and fail to offer any of the ideas which once made their party a valuable member in the governing process.

It began in 2010 when the billionaire Koch brothers created the TEA Party. They funded the elections of men and women who had zero qualifications to hold public office. Their only requirement was that they support the wealthy, and refuse to negotiate with all Democrats and all moderates in the Republican Party.

In the House, a group which has moved so far the the right that they are always wrong, calls themselves the ‘Freedom Caucus.’ Now this failed party has an even more unqualified and immoral man as their leader. They have bowed to his fascist demands, and our country has become more divided and less respected than at any other time in our nation’s modern day history. While the rest of the developed world is moving forward, socially and economically, our failed leaders are moving us backwards.

Former presidential candidate and current Governor of Ohio, John Kasich has voiced his own concerns.

“I’m starting to really wonder if we are going to see a multi-party system at some point in the future in this country,” Kasich said during an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl on “This Week.” “Because I don’t think either party is answering people’s deepest concerns and needs.”

With congress’ approval rating moving into single digits, we should all be concerned about our government’s future. For eight years Republicans did nothing; and they continue to follow this trend. Although Republicans control all three branches of government, they have accomplished less in the first year of Trump’s failed administration than at any other time in history.

Kasich will be leaving office next year, his term has ended. He said that he would like to remain influential in the Republican Party.

Kasich is a Republican; not one in name only. I may not always agree with his views, but he has ideas, principles, and loves his country. That is more than I can say about the pretenders who are in Washington today.

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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