DEVIL’S ADVOCATE - Democrats and Republicans should stay divided

	By KEN JOHNSON

For as long as there has been a two-party system, there have been calls to work together for the good of the American people. The latest plea for unity came from President Bush in the State of the Union Address.

“To confront the great issues before us, we must act in a spirit of good will and respect for one another,” Bush said.

This is not only wishful thinking, it is a bad idea—bad for the American people. American history teaches us that opposition gets results. Think if we had “reached across the aisle” when the British monarchy was repressing freedom seeking people in the Americas. How about “being bi-partisan” with Robert E. Lee and the South in the Civil War? I’ll let you imagine the results.

When President Bush campaigned in 2000, he ran with the catch phrase “compassionate conservatism.” He was trying to unify a country divided by President Clinton’s questionable morals and the vast right-wing conspiracy. Appropriately, Bush won a close race, contested for months after Election Day.

A truly American candidate will run on the platform of “passive aggressionism.”
This candidate will challenge the opposing party with sarcasm and insensitivity. This will create an atmosphere of competition, where not just the best, but most insulting to the others ideas will win.

In politics, economics and sports, competition is the best policy. This is no time for buddy ball.