(new) federalist

The Party of Fair Play

The (New) Federalist Party is intended to accommodate any number of ideologies, primarily by focusing more on the structure and process of government and less on the individual issues. And yet, the few core values of the Federalist Party can be applied to any issue to derive what could be called a baseline Federalist position. The cardinal value of a Federalist is to be fair ‒ not only to respect the rules, but also to respect the positions of people in opposition on an issue. Next is a pair that goes hand-in-hand ‒ to be effective, and efficient. Efficiency in considering an issue involves considering other people who have dealt with the issue, and effectiveness involves identifying and replicating successful dealings.  Federalists also value friendliness and professionalism. When considering an issue, we are mostly dealing with the abstracted ideas of people. The mind naturally favors ideas, so cultivating friendliness is a way to put the focus back on people. The closeness of friendliness is tempered with the respectful distance of professionalism. Federalists are here to make friends, and to get the job done. Finally, Federalists value fun, and caring ‒ because all work and no play does not a proper Party make! Federalists do not shy away from the serious issues - there are Federalist stances on abortion and the death penalty, for instance - but they also make time to concern themselves with issues decidedly less serious.  For instance, why aren’t voting days national holidays?  Why are the new, hybrid public busses dirtier and less comfortable? Why are tv channels allowed to trim off footage of a movie to make room for an advertisement? Why is Round Table allowed to call itself “the last honest pizza” when it is clearly not even the only “honest pizza”? Other “Parties” try to get people engaged in politics by emphasizing how serious and important it is; Federalists suggest that it could even be fun. Sometimes you want someone to laugh with, other times you need a shoulder to cry on ‒ that’s where the fun gives way to caring. Federalists insist on playing fair, and even fighting fair, as a way of demonstrating caring for their opponent, even their enemy. Federalists see the government primarily as an instrument of care ‒ of the people, for the people, and by the people. We say: ask what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.