A Dysfunctional Political System

The majority of people’s political party choices are based on family tradition. Research has long shown that political beliefs and identity carry forward across generations — a process generally known as political socialization. Sixty-two percent of Americans raised by parents who consistently voted Democratic identify as Democrats today, while 57% of those who had Republican-voting parents report being Republican.

It is interesting in light of this finding, according to a recent opinion poll (2023) in the United States and other democracies, that political parties are the least trusted public institution, consistently ranking below the police, judges, even the legislatures which parties help to organize.

We can better understand contemporary views of political parties by remembering that distrust of parties is an attitude with a long and distinguished pedigree. When James Madison warned against “the mischiefs of faction” in Federalist 10, he was drawing on a well-established strand of political thought which portrayed parties as hostile and/or unfriendly to the national welfare.

While there are nine officially recognized political parties in South Carolina, plus “Write In”, South Carolina’s legislative elections remain overwhelmingly dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties, where Republicans have held a governing trifecta for 24 years. The state has notoriously difficult ballot-access laws for alternative parties. To run outside the major parties, candidates must either secure the nomination of one of nine small state-certified alternative parties or undergo a grueling petition signature-gathering process, as was the case with Bubba Cromer.

Only once since the Reconstruction era has an independent candidate been elected to office. Under the petition process James L. Mann “Bubba” Cromer Jr. was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Richland County (District 80) from 1990 to 1998.

Many citizens understandably question why and how voters continue to advantage Republican party governance while the state continually ranks in the lowest fifth among all states on major socio-economic indicators. The specific findings were:

Economy: 14th
Fiscal Stability: 20th
Natural Environment: 21nd
Health Care: 30th
Infrastructure: 36th
Crime & Corrections rank: 42nd
Education: 43rd
Opportunity: 42nd

But one should not assume that a higher ranking, such as for the economy, was great news. While the state ranked third in the nation in growth and was in the middle for its business environment, it ranked 40th in employment. And while its fiscal stability rank overall was 20th, it remains that its short-term stability (7th by rank) was not outbalanced by its 28th rank for long-term stability. Finally, the state’s rank of 21st for environment concerns did not present the whole picture, either. Overall the state’s air and water quality were ranked seventh in the nation, but its rank for pollution was in the lowest third of all states.

Some claim the problem is that the Republican party is in reality a liberal uni-party, placing the blame for that squarely on candidates who switched party to run as Republicans in order to get elected.

It is a fact ignored, however, that these “RINO” candidates (Republicans-In-Name-Only) were nevertheless elected,. Since no Democrat is likely to win against a Repulican in most races in the state, it is conversely true that those RINO candidates would not have been elected unless some Republican voters voted for them based on those candidates’ political label rather than their political position. Perhaps the reason why voters continue to advantage the Republican trifecta now experiencing a high degree of infighting should be more properly assigned to an undiscriminating, uninformed portion of the electorate.

Clearly, one reasonable solution among others is to become educated about how each party says it wants to govern and compare those goals to your own beliefs, hopes, and dreams. If you’re not sure what political affiliation would make a good fit for you there are many websites offering questionnaires designed to offer you insights.

Here’s a simple one, having ten questions.

Here’s another. It’s a much more refined questionnaire, even allowing you to state reasons for your choices other than the given options. This questionnaire will take a much longer time to complete, especially if you choose to click the links for additional questions not everyone chooses to answer in some categories.

Armed with better understanding of whatever political affiliation best mirrors your beliefs, you’re encouraged to find out exactly what is that party’s policy agenda. No matter the party, you’ll then be able to discern between candidates vying for your votes. You may be more likely vote based on policy rather than party or personality.

DEEPER DIVE: After deciding which party fits you best, come back here to learn about their platform.

There are 9 officially certified political parties in South Carolina recognized for ballot placement whose websites are listed below. The links take you to their actual “platform” statements (their political agendas, also known as “planks.”)