August 25, 2007
by Clay Barham

In the city of Trieste, a part of Italy on the northwest corner of the Adriatic, there was eleven political parties, each with their own newspaper.  Every event, large or small, reported to the public by one of those newspapers, had a different slant, each one to suit the purpose of the respective political party.  There were views expressed supporting Anarchists, Socialists, Fascists, Communists, Monarchists, Nationalists, Capitalists, Atheists, Theocrats, Syndicalists and Catholics.  Everyone knew the press reported along political and ideological lines.  What really happened was camouflaged in falsehood to suit an agenda, much as historians writing textbooks that support their personal bias.  Truth always seems lost in the abyss between fantasy and reality.

During election periods, any flat surface, moving or stationary, had numerous colorful posters promoting a party and its candidates.  The streets looked more like a circus.  In every party, the foundations of their beliefs described how their ideological community should be structured.  The romanticized and extolled virtues of their respective leaders always filled the pages of their newspapers. Everyone belonged to one ideological community or the other.  They would enthusiastically join with other party followers on peaceful and sometimes violent demonstrations.  One thing was missing.  There were no political parties supporting individual freedom.  No single individual or political party championed the role of an individual.  Only each party community was important.

In America, so far, we have two major parties and a bunch of splinter parties or offshoots from the majors.  We have Democrats and Republicans taking up what are supposed to be opposite sides on most issues.  From the Democrats and the left, we have Communists, Socialists, Environmentalists, or Greens.  From the Republicans and the right, we have the Libertarians, Constitutionalists and the Conservatives. The Independents and the Populists represent the so-called centrists or moderates, if such a position is possible. 

That means we have at least ten political parties in America.  The Press and media are generally center-left, with the exception of a handful of radio talk show hosts on the conservative-right.  The big difference between America and Europe is that, in America there is room for a political party to identify with individual freedom and the liberty to pursue legitimate self-interests.  That does not exist in any other nation of the world.  In the rest of the world, outside of America, only fashionable political communities exist, leaving no room for individual liberty.

Does this mean America is ahead of all other nations, because it does have political ideologies that accept individuals as a legitimate interest, or behind because it does? 

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Obviously, those in other nations see America as behind the curve because they provide no opportunity for the representation of individual interests.  That is understandable.  The Old World has never had to put up with individual freedom.  It is an unknown and often feared ideology.  The Old World views individual freedom as license to steal and murder, as the libertines are thieves, smugglers, pirates and murderers. 

In the Old World, the individual is some one never to be trusted.  Neighbor cannot trust neighbor.  Only those of higher breeding and compassion, the rulers, are to be trusted.  Lafayette responded to Tom Paine's desire to see George Washington, on his white horse, riding across Europe giving the gift of individual freedom, saying Europeans could not change.  They have never experienced what is like to be free.  It would be too drastic.

This demonstrates a difference in the Old and New World.  America is the New World because all individuals are expected to rule themselves, not ruled or cared for by the community and its representatives.  It has never happened before in the history of the world.  Did it work?  Look around and you will be able to answer that yourself.  America, with 5% of the world's population controls over 25% of is wealth.  It provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number.  That is not to say everyone is equally happy.  They are never as hopeless and bad off as the worst the Old World has to offer.

A Political Party in America today, which espouses the benefits of individual freedom, would be crucified in the press and media, as our press, media and politicians do not want Americans to be free of their leadership and domination.  It is too drastic a change for them.

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Clay Barham [send him email] has been a candidate for the California legislature and a stand-in talk show host for ABC.  He was educated in physical and behavioral sciences, with a Ph.D. in sociology.  He is the author of five books, with his latest being Foundations of Modern American Conservatism and Liberalism: The Roots of Freedom and Tyranny.  Visit his website at http://www.claysamerica.com.