Every citizen ought to be committed to America’s founding principles. As responsible citizens, each of us must understand and uphold the core values that created our nation. The same applies for every self-described Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, etc. 

For example, as responsible Republicans and Democrats, each of us must understand and uphold the extension of those core constitutional principles and values personified originally by our Founders and represented successively by exceptional bipartisan leaders

Unfortunately, beginning way back and continuing down through the years politicians and their operatives manipulated both the party organization for their advantage as well as the public policy issues.

During the early years of Martin Van Buren’s political ascendency – prior to the Civil War – he and his minions set about methodically redesigning their party’s organization around patronage, payoff and the political manipulation of the people. 

Van Buren’s political design worked. Ultimately, he became the eighth President of the United States.

The political virus spread. Political parties of all stripes adopted the practices.

While some may prefer to deny the historical reality, or for some reason question the degree of habituation in their party, such practices took root within their parties and spread like political weeds beyond the party organizations. 

As a result, taxpayers got the U.S. Post Office, Civil Service, and a whole lot more to pay for. Practiced at all levels of government, we now have more public employees than needed.

It was about control … of the party, the system, and ultimately the people. 

It didn’t matter what was the genesis of their original political movement, or the political polemics back then. Nor, does it really seem to matter today. It's still about control.

And, the control apparatus continues to include patronage appointments, payoffs (albeit more indiscreet these days), as well as continuing political manipulation of the people.

Growing numbers of Americans have realized the truth of this. The bottom line is Americans wearing citizenship lenses are sick of all the vote buying. 

Citizens adding taxpayer bifocals quickly experience virulent flu-like symptoms.

But the people who look closest see the cancer that has infected our body politic.

We can wonder whether Van Buren would willfully smile today, or regret what he unleashed so many years ago. In either case, it's time to rid all party structures of the political termites that have undermined America’s founding principles.

If we are unwilling to do so now, we will be as wrong as Van Buren was back then. As individuals we may consider ourselves Democrat, Republican or Unaffiliated. But we all are Americans.

While pondering your decision, remember both John Kennedy’s entreaty and Ronald Reagan’s warning:

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”  And, if we fail to act, “we will doom ourselves to a thousand years of darkness.”

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications and founder of Citizens for Change. A professional member of the National Speakers Association, he is available pro bono for charitable fundraisers and public forums and can be reached via email at richolivastro@gmail.com or by phone at 1-877-RichSpeaks.