The search for independent thought

In his farewell address from public service on Sept. 17, 1796, George Washington decried at considerable length the rise of partisan party politics.

"Let me ... warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party," he said ... "The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual, and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."

With partisanship in both Washington and Springfield seeming to increase with every election, it is difficult two centuries later to dispute our founding father's warning.

Most of us cherish independence and bipartisanship in our political leaders. We want them to be free of the influences of lobbyists, special interests and party bosses.

And yet, for the most part, we seldom see true independence and bipartisanship exercised.

George W. Bush was elected president in 2000 in large part because of his image as someone who worked across party lines as governor of Texas. And yet as president, his partisanship frittered away the rare spirit of unanimity born from the tears of 9/11.

Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 in large part because of his promises to find common ground. And yet as president, he failed to not only to search out common ground on health care reform; he failed to find even a single opposition vote.

In Illinois, House Speaker Michael Madigan is demonized for his iron-fisted control of Democratic legislators, and certainly, we have been one of his critics - not so much over his views, per se, as because of his demand of lock-step loyalty from his troops.

But this is a structural issue, not a party issue.

Republican House Leader Tom Cross of Oswego illustrated that last week.

As reported by Chase Castle on Saturday, Cross removed state Rep. Bob Biggins of Elmhurst from his position as minority spokesman for a House appropriations committee and state Rep. Bill Black of Danville from his position as deputy Republican leader because he was upset that they crossed the aisle to vote in favor of a Democratic budget proposal.

We don't particularly agree with the votes Biggins and Black cast.

But it is a sad state of affairs that, as elected representatives, they apparently are not allowed to exercise independent thought.

Sadder still that that is the case with almost all of our elected legislators.