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Waking Times

In an inspiring op-ed on the 4th of July, the now-former Republican Congressman Justin Amash took to destroying the idea of identity politics, notably the two-party system, which he says is destroying the country. Amash declared that he is no longer going to identify with a party and declared himself an independent.

“Today, I am declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party. No matter your circumstance, I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us. I’m asking you to believe that we can do better than this two-party system — and to work toward it. If we continue to take America for granted, we will lose it,” he wrote.

In the op-ed, Amash, who was brought up by Republican immigrant parents, noted how the two-party paradigm is catering to smaller and smaller audiences, causing the vitriol to grow and become amplified by the loudest extremes on both sides. This vitriol, which is stoked by only a handful of people, according to Amash, is tearing the country apart.

“With little genuine debate on policy happening in Congress, party leaders distract and divide the public by exploiting wedge issues and waging pointless messaging wars. These strategies fuel mistrust and anger, leading millions of people to take to social media to express contempt for their political opponents, with the media magnifying the most extreme voices. This all combines to reinforce the us-vs.-them, party-first mind-set of government officials,” wrote Amash.

“The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions.”

The irony of Amash leaving the Republican party cannot be understated as him and Thomas Massie are arguably the most small government, pro gun rights members of the party. Amash has been unafraid to challenge his own party on multiple occasions as they circumvented the constitution to wage illegal wars, erode gun rights, and grow the surveillance state.

This uncompromising stance taken by Amash has made him an enemy to the neocons and establishment lackeys alike. This is why it should come as no surprise that after trying to bridge the divide between a country torn apart by identity politics in a well-written op-ed, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to call Amash a “total loser.”

Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is “quitting” the Party. No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019

After Amash declared his independence and pointed out that “modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral,” he proposed a solution.

Most Americans are not rigidly partisan and do not feel well represented by either of the two major parties. In fact, the parties have become more partisan in part because they are catering to fewer people, as Americans are rejecting party affiliation in record numbers.

These same independent-minded Americans, however, tend to be less politically engaged than Red Team and Blue Team activists. Many avoid politics to focus on their own lives, while others don’t want to get into the muck with the radical partisans.

But we owe it to future generations to stand up for our constitutional republic so that Americans may continue to live free for centuries to come. Preserving liberty means telling the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that we’ll no longer let them play their partisan game at our expense.

We agree.

As TFTP has previously reported, there would have been very little difference in the current state of affairs had Clinton won in 2016, as Trump has carried out most of her biggest plans, including war with Syria and Iran, and diminishing rights. Having an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ behind one’s name only serves as a distraction to the masses, tearing them apart using the same few divisive issues, as both parties march on toward more war and rights violations behind the scenes.

It is entirely possible to disagree with both liberals and conservatives. It is called thinking for yourself. TFTP will often be accused of supporting a certain party because we report on a piece of legislation that is supported by a certain party. However, both sides sometimes have good ideas as long as those ideas offer more freedom and not less. The same thing goes for calling out politicians. Just because someone has and R or a D doesn’t mean you can’t call them out for their tyrannical policies.

Being pro-self defense and gun rights makes no one more a Republican than supporting legalization of weed makes someone a Democrat. These ideas promote freedom, and that is what will truly lead to peace and prosperity.

For the majority of Americans, the United States political system is seen as a football game. Any time their party is in power, it’s as if they are ‘winning’ and the other party or team is ‘losing.’ But what most Americans fail to see is that both ‘teams’ have the same owner. That owner cares not about which one of their teams is ‘winning,’ just so long as its one of their teams in the game.

The controlled politicians, the rigged system, and the elite are not some vast conspiracy as much as they are a tendency of the state in general. As long as a system exists that allows government force to be bought and sold for the benefit and privilege of a few, these atrocities will continue.

The money shoved into the pockets of politicians on behalf of special interest groups, aka bribery, has become so mainstream and widely accepted that no one even bats an eye at the billions doled out to their elected officials on behalf of lobbyists, including supporters of Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans and Democrats alike sit back in their plush, taxpayer-funded offices in white marble buildings, rubbing elbows with elite businessmen who pay them to write laws that create unfair advantages for their industries. In the extremely rare case that a politician resists this corruption and refuses to conform, they are ridiculed by fellow lawmakers, painted as kooks by the mainstream media, and their supporters labeled as radical nutjobs. Case in point—Kayne West.

Meanwhile, We The People argue over the various privileges granted, and how much of our paychecks can be stolen by the almighty rulers on high.

Seeing outside of the two-party paradigm is a difficult task. It can take years for people to break their conditioning and see the political system for the rigged game that it is.

The good news is that once you see the system for what it is, you cannot unsee it. No one goes back to sleep, despite the fact that waking up to the system can be particularly stressful.

Hopefully, readers of Amash’s op-ed are shaken out of their sleep and open their eyes to the us vs. them mentality that is tearing all of us apart.

**This article (Brave Congressman Blasts 2-Party System as ‘Existential Threat to America’ then Quits His Party) was originally published at The Free Thought Project and is re-posted here with permission.**

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