Trail West Dispatch #3

 

Trail West Dispatch #3                                                                     September 20, 2025

“Beware the one-party state.  The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start.  They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents.  So support the multi-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. . ..”             –Timothy Snyder

How can people who eschew partisan politics support the multi-party system?  How can they defend the rules of democratic elections?  What does it look like for political life to become “impossible?”  Perhaps a needful first step is to understand how a one-party state looks and what is at stake when one party in a nation controls all the major levers of power.  Consider that many authoritarian states have come into being via elections resulting in one-party control of the government. In the absence of a moral compass, many checks and balances can fall. I believe this is the reason for Snyder’s caution. 

In the US, a one-party state might look exactly like what we have now since the president’s party has a majority in both houses of Congress, and a majority on the Supreme Court.  The Judicial Branch has historically not been included when the US has been described as temporarily being a one-party state—because it was believed to be largely non-partisan.  That assumption probably needs to change, however, because of a significant ruling issued on July 1, 2024 about the January 6 insurrection, which gave the president immunity from criminal prosecution for most actions taken while in office. Among those who lamented this decision which seemed to suggest that the president can commit crimes with impunity were some of the most respected conservative lawyers in the country.  For this ruling and for other reasons (e. g. partisan manipulation of the appointment process), the Supreme Court is widely regarded as having lost its non-partisan characteristic.  The nine members of the court are made up of a 6-3 conservative majority.

While one-party control of the executive and legislative branches is not a new phenomenon, partisan divisions have sharpened markedly in the 21^st Century.  I concur with others who see that bipartisan support for congressional action is increasingly rare, as are decisions made with moral clarity to benefit the common good. Party loyalty too often reigns supreme. Also, under this regime, many government servants formerly considered non-partisan because they served administrations from both major parties (ambassadors, for example) have been replaced by loyalists.  This extends the reach of the party in power.

Every political figure is created in the image of God, and is thus deserving of respect, but remember that the entire political arena has minimal overlap with the Kingdom of God. While a political entity might at times do the right thing, none can consistently do God’s will. Unwavering loyalty to it is thus a mistake. 

Instead, keep on showing up on the side of right conduct, even when it antagonizes the party in power, praying for courage to do this. Never justify hatred or violence or consider anyone deserving of them.

Be a discerning witness.  Are the rules of democratic elections being defended?  Is political life becoming impossible for one party?  Observe carefully, document data if necessary, compare observations with Scriptural imperatives and Jesus’ example, praying as Jesus taught us to pray.  If you speak about what you see, do so honestly, even if it means naming wrongdoing in people who are part of the party with which you identify most readily—and sometimes even if it means kindly countering your friends and family.  Being peaceable is important, but saying “peace, peace when there is no peace” is neither righteous nor just—two concepts that are often paired in Scripture.

“. . . Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. . ..”                  --Miriam Iwashige