That's the point I'm trying to make. As for the founding fathers seeing todays politics... I'm pretty sure they would be disgusted. The system is a far cry from what they had in mind.
Disgusted? I'd say they'd all roll their eyes and all shout in unison:
"Clearly, it wasn't worth the effort!"
"I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State… Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party generally.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the Administration of the Government and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it."
–George Washington
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."
–Thomas Jefferson
And lastly:
"Any nation that expects to be ignorant and free, expects what never was and never will be."
–Thomas Jefferson
You can almost imagine that Tommy was staring at one of Michele Bachmann's half retarded ancestors as he said that. But the guilt (and ignorance of history) isn't just on the right or with Republicans. The left and Democrats are guilty as well.
Anyone who more closely identifies with their party than with being an American is guilty! The enemy is us!
Looking at the partisanship and foolish infighting that's pretty much brought our government to a halt, does anyone have much faith that our Republic will last as long as one of the greatest in the history of mankind, Rome? They made it work for roughly 500 years. We seem to be badly stumbling and we haven't even gotten to half of that yet.