Over in ProfB's post a day or so ago, a discussion was started about the merits/problems with labels such as conservative, progressive, etc. and the two party system.

The discussion got me to thinking about how we got to where we are today. Since I remember little about my classes on American history as it relates to the Constitution, I Googled "Constitution Two Party System" and treated myself to an afternoon history lesson courtesy of wikipedia.

I have to tell you, it was a fascinating read and I found it much more interesting today than I did back in the day!

For those who, like me, need a little refresher course, I'll paraphrase very simply, what I read.

The Constitution does not mandate, nor even address the two party system. At first there were no parties, although "factions" began to develop. George Washington was re-elected without opposition in 1792. Shortly thereafter, Alexander Hamilton, who like Washington, promoted a strong central government, formed a network of supporters called the Federalists. In response, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who feared a strong central government, formed the Democratic-Republican Party.

Hamilton and Washington felt that opposition parties would weaken the government. Jefferson and Madison felt that the Federalists represented aristocratic forces hostile to the true will of the people. In a letter to Henry Lee in 1824, Jefferson explained:

"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, liberals and serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, whigs and tories, republicans and federalists, aristocrats and democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last appellation of aristocrats and democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all."

In 1800, the Federalists were swept out of power by the Democratic-Republicans when Thomas Jefferson was elected President. The Federalists fell apart and the Democratic-Republicans remained in power until they split into the Democrats (led by Andrew Jackson) and the Whigs (led by Henry Clay)  in 1824-1828. The Republican Party evolved from the Whigs.

So now fast forward to today. The country is split nearly down the middle. We have an incredibly popular President with a mandate for change, and an opposition party of obstructionists so pissed over losing that it is dangerously close to calling for an armed uprising. No one seems to be able to come up with a working definition that everyone accepts for the labels we use to identify people's agendas.