Is Partisan Politics Killing American Patriotism (VIDEO DISCUSSION)

Are you a patriot?

With July 4th coming up, the question of what "patriotism" means to us as Americans is weighing on many minds, including Robert Reich's.

In a recent blog post on Huffington Post Reich argues that for many Americans, patriotism has become more about playing partisan politics rather than coming together for the common good. He argues that "regressives" in Washington claim to want to "preserve and protect" America, but instead of protecting our system of government many of them show every sign of wanting to be rid of it.

In short, Reich believes that regressives in Congress have substituted partisanship for patriotism, putting party loyalty above loyalty to America. For example, the GOP's highest-ranking member of Congress has said his "number one aim" is to unseat President Obama. Reich writes:

When arguing against paying their fair share of taxes, wealthy regressives claim "it's my money." But it's their nation, too. And unless they pay their share America can't meet the basic needs of our people. True patriotism means paying for America. So when regressives talk about "preserving and protecting" the nation, be warned: They mean securing our borders, not securing our society. Within those borders, each of us is on our own. They don't want a government that actively works for all our citizens.

So when did extreme partisanship turn into so-called "patriotism," and when did allegiance to ideologies trump a love of country? Does true patriotism mean paying for America as Reich says? We want to hear from you.

Watch above a video discussion with Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, and former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, and Huffington Post's Ahmed Shihab-Eldin.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[montanason]

09:49 PM on 07/01/2012

Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but
as an act of self defense against a homicidal maniac.

In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.

But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.

All the war propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes
invariably from people who are not fighting.

War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they
are going to profit from it.

Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

Nationalism is a power hunger tempered by self deception.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength (On the manipulation of language for political ends.)

We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.

IF LIBERTY MEANS ANYTHING AT ALL, IT MEANS THE RIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR.

In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.
George Orwell

I would submit that the "revolutionary act" of telling the truth is an
ultimate act of patriotism-something that should transcend party lines.

[Jim1657]

09:57 PM on 06/29/2012

Patriotism? What about humanity? Somehow, one of the parties seems to have lost theirs. They'd rather people suffer and die than raise taxes. Their agenda of party before people, and profits before people is disgusting. Patriots? I don't think so?

[Alex Atmadja]

03:54 AM on 06/30/2012

There is no humanity in capitalism, it exists only in socialism which (thanks to propaganda) equates to communism. In capitalism, when a profitable business is making less money, they close stores (deadweights) that are not making money. Implementing that in society, of a citizen needs $2 million to cover their health bills (basically a deadweight to resources) when the average uses only $1000, it's better off letting that one citizen die.

[Loren Johnson]

04:38 PM on 06/29/2012

Read The Spirit Level if you want to know facts behind why our country is in the mess it is in. We neglect the commons more than any 1st World nation. The more we denigrate the government that is here to help us all the more we fall apart. That's not aimed at constructive criticism that's aimed the rabid anti-government types on the right who are dupes for the profiteers.

[Roelvdwegen]

04:07 PM on 06/29/2012

Its very simple.

We have 2 choices, both choices are in league with big money.

The difference between the 2 is that the one side will feed you and the other side will tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you haven't eaten them yet.

[twoto2]

03:56 PM on 06/29/2012

Little johnny can only grow up to be president if he can convice people, with out any thing, to get out of their double wides with signs that say "Don't tax the rich." That and he can raise a BILLION dollars.

[grf67]

03:51 PM on 06/29/2012

Patriotism is being killed by the countless politicians who revel in sending Americans into ground combat but who are far too cowardly to actually fight in the Army or Marine Corps themselves. There was a time in this country when congressman and senators were proud of their military service; now there are scarcely any of them brave enough to fight the nations battles. If the pols do not serve why should the citizens.

[JNarragansett]

03:41 PM on 06/29/2012

Everything is becoming too partisan and it is all the fault of the other party. If only they stop being so partisan and accept our ideology (obviously the patriotic one) will we come together as a country.

[PublicCitizen21044]

03:59 PM on 06/29/2012

Do you mean we will be lead astray as a Country? Silencing dissent is tyranny and we live in a free Nation not a dictatorship, theocracy, or aristocracy.

[Roelvdwegen]

04:08 PM on 06/29/2012

Nope, just a corporatocracy.

[JNarragansett]

04:30 PM on 06/29/2012

We will only have democracy once all dissenting opinion is obliterated. That's the key to ending partisanship, getting rid of the other party that is causing all the problems. (end sarcasm)

[Ed Baker]

03:31 PM on 06/29/2012

Partisanship is just a marketing campaign. Both parties are owned by the same people. Both parties view the American people as cattle to be milked and slaughtered. They are ALL corrupt, and if they aren't before they go to Washington, they are 15 minutes after they get there.

ALL politicians serve their donors and seek to extract as much from the people as they can for their donors.

[emma richmond]

03:30 PM on 06/29/2012

The Republicans is Destroying the Patriotism of this Country, they so use having their way and thinking the World Revolve around them.

Republican is nothing but a Failure to this Country, they don't have Values or Mortals, they are so use to throwing they Money around and buying what they want. Satan Stole what ever Values they had, he made them think things are so good, until they sell they soul to, then Satan move on to his next victims.

These Republicans think they money is everything, King David was very Rich, he didn't brag about his Wealth, King Solomon didn't brag his Wealth, they both Had Compassion for People not these Republicans, they want to wipe their feet on you.

[eyesxshut]

03:28 PM on 06/29/2012

Simple answer to the question in the headline is and big ol' YES.
Conservatives want to bring us back to before the Civil War when "freedom and liberty" meant they, and only they, had the freedom to control their people and property because it was their "God given right".
They are hostile to the very ideas of democracy and human rights, they relish in their created hierarchies. They fear of technology, literacy, knowledge and progress, and they rely on brutality and violence to maintain order while they celebrate inequality as divinely ordained by God.
The higher their status, the more authority they have, and the more "liberty" they will exercise. They will claim to have the right to take more "liberties" with the lives, rights and property of other people.
Anything that gives more freedom and rights to lower-status people will only jeopardize the freedom of the upper classes to use those people as they please.
If they continue to grow their base, we will all be returned to Plantation America. They will make slaves of us all.

[PublicCitizen21044]

03:37 PM on 06/29/2012

Profound post. Very impressive and thought provoking post. A must share for me. Thank you for sharing. Fanned and Faved for being a true thinker.

[twoto2]

03:46 PM on 06/29/2012

Very well said. Am look forward to more. F&F

[mtbiker2012]

03:28 PM on 06/29/2012

I avoid Memorial Day stuff, 4th July parades, etc....as they are full of teabagger, war-monger, right wing, NRA wackjobs....I would rather hang with my dog at the ponds.... hah!.

[Ed Baker]

03:35 PM on 06/29/2012

Both parties are corrupt and owned by the same people.

Is GITMO closed? Nope.

What president gave himself and the military the power to pull any American off the street and put them in prison for life without a trial, charges, legal representation, or even family notification?

Name one Bush era policy this president has ended?

[twoto2]

03:47 PM on 06/29/2012

Can't.

[Welshy]

04:05 PM on 06/29/2012

I'll bite.

"Is GITMO closed? Nope."
- Because Congress blocked it.

"What president gave himself and the military the power to pull any American off the street and put them in prison for life without a trial, charges, legal representation, or even family notification?"

The NDAA? You mean the bill that the Republicans forced through Congress by tying in military funding, meaning that if it was vetoed military personnel would cease to receive pay? Yeah, Congress again.

"Name one Bush era policy this president has ended?"
Pulled us out of Iraq. Put in place a withdrawal from Afghanistan. Ended ATF policy in the Southwest, the "Fast and Furious" operations started by Bush. Ended a ban on stem cell research. Repealed DADT.

[oftenon]

03:22 PM on 06/29/2012

The right's adrenaline-testosterone addiction makes crisis the default communication wavelength. Each disaster, failure, overreach and reproach only fuels the addiction.

[Ed Baker]

03:36 PM on 06/29/2012

Both parties are completely corrupt and owned by the same people. "Partisanship" is merely a marketing campaign from Madison avenue.

[twoto2]

03:51 PM on 06/29/2012

Yes, in basic wants and economical needs the so called two party system is the same. It is all about money.

[PublicCitizen21044]

03:40 PM on 06/29/2012

Faved for the thought provoking post.

[jfrobertson]

03:16 PM on 06/29/2012

Republicans think their superheated rhetoric MAKES them more patriotic, as if fearmongering and hate are american principles to revel in.

[Seven Teenatheart]

03:19 PM on 06/29/2012

“One of the great attractions of patriotism it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.”
Aldous Huxley

[PublicCitizen21044]

03:31 PM on 06/29/2012

Patriotism is now a political groupthink issue. Group thinking is a freewill usurping exercise in goodwill bashing for it leads to sheep making where the followers will go off the cliff if their leaders does. We need to restore civility and the values that form the National spirit of integrity, unity, respect, love, virtue, idealism, and most of all hope. Our Nation is soul sick and is not on life support yet, but if we do not collectively find a core set of beliefs we can all rally around then we are vulnerable to outside attacks from others in the form of psychological, chemical, spiritual, possible physical warfare. Faved for the picture of Uncle Fester and the 'fearmongering' reference.

[drippingsarcasm]

03:11 PM on 06/29/2012

Partisanship is not killing patriotism. Its Legalized Torture, Presidential Murder lists, Endless Wars, Legalized Bribery, Suspension of Habeas Corpus, Domestic Warrantless Spying, Legalized Insider Trading for Congress...all of which was done under Bipartisan Authority.

When I joined the service, I thought the United States were the good guys. Now our country seems to be corrupt to the core.

[Ed Baker]

03:33 PM on 06/29/2012

Yes, and it's both parties.

[reallm12]

02:57 PM on 06/29/2012

Patriotism is not taking all that money from a group of people that tax policies have helped them gain, while some are and have lost their homes,, jobs, lives... For electoral negative adds. That is not loving your country! Obstructionism is more appropriate because who is it really helping right now? NOBODY!!! or maybe it does help them who want to obstruct the attempts of this administration.....