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Division and Multiplication

By Gordon Francis Corbett

          An epistemological principle says that we learn about the world by distinguishing one thing from another, or one quality from another, by learning their respective characteristics.  Thus, we come to know that a chair is not a dog, and that heat is not cold.

          The same principle works in politics.  Every political creed has its own characteristics.  Liberalism differs from conservatism, and both of them disagree with libertarianism.  Their definitions differ, as do their premises, their purposes, and the set phrases of verbal shorthand that their adherents use to communicate.

          Nevertheless, some political rhetoric repudiates this elementary thinking.  During our biannual election seasons, we frequently hear words like, “John Smith does not believe in dividing us.  He believes in bringing us together.  Support Smith and help to unify America.”

          These phrases are designed to create problems for Smith’s opponent, Jones.  If Jones does not believe in bringing us together, he must believe in dividing us, or at least, in doing nothing to achieve unification.  This is especially true if Jones offers the voters a philosophy radically different from Smith’s.  On the other hand, Jones must offer the voters something different or surrender the race to Smith. 

          Today, the two major parties really constitute one party, whose two branches agree philosophically, but compete by offering the voters differences in rhetorical style and in physical appearance.

          That is where you and I come in.  We show the voters, in stark, clear, rational terms, that our philosophy differs radically from our opponents,’ and why it beats theirs.  When those voters grasp the nature and the advantages of that difference, they will see that we offer them what Barry Goldwater once called, “a choice, not an echo.”

          Only rational division can let our ranks multiply.

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