Show Wanted Two s strong rong parties The Founding Fathers didn't overlook overlook overlook over over- look much in in establishing a system of government for the United States One thing they didn't anticipate however however how ever was a mechanism that has been crucial to the stability we have enjoyed for formost most of years the two party political system The Constitution divides national power among the executive legislative legislative legislative legisla legisla- tive and judicial branches of the federal government The oil that has kept this check balance structure t fe viable however has been the frequent elections that have given citizens an opportunity to turn out of office officials officials officials off off- of one party in favor of those of another with another with an occasional independent independent independent dent clipping in as well Following the 1976 election however it must seriously be questioned how healthy the two-party two system is The Republicans went into the election holding the White House but little else They emerged from it without the White House and with even less power in other places than before November 2 Only one of about every four governors govern govern- ors is a Republican Only one of three members of the House is And the Democratic edge over the GOP in inthe inthe inthe the Senate remains as before the election election election elec elec- tion at 62 What is so disturbing about this For one thing the last Congress the was notable for the large numbers of Democratic members who committed committed commit commit- ted unethical illegal or immoral acts Yet v very ry few of these notorious individuals individuals individuals were turned out of office at the polls The integrity democratic system depends on 1 the good goed Jl of voters a judgment that was sorely lacking this time around Lord Action of Britain perhaps said it best Power tends to corrupt And absolute power corrupts absolutely If some members of the majority party believe they will be reelected regardless regardless regardless regard regard- less of their conduct in office that is indeed a corrupting kind of power Republican National Chairman Mary Louise Smith has now resigned her post and a scramble is on for a suc suc- cessor For the good of the entire nation it is to be fervently hoped that the new chairman will succeed in picking picking picking pick pick- ing up the pieces of the GOP and making it a viable contender for national power again |