"Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party"
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James F. Cooper’s assertion that “Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party” exposes a deep skepticism toward the motivations and outcomes of partisan politics. He contends that the existence and dominance of political parties often undermine the very principles of representative government and effective legislation. Within Cooper’s view, the machinery of party becomes less about governance or public welfare, and more about outmaneuvering political rivals. Instead of fostering a system where lawmakers are motivated by conscience, justice, or public good, parties incentivize actions primarily geared toward political advantage.
The terms “vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation” signify the degeneration of legislative purpose. Laws created under the pressure of party competition are not crafted for their own merit or the benefit of society; instead, their primary function is to score points in ongoing partisan battles. “Vicious” legislation infers measures enacted with malice or spite against the opposing party, prioritizing political harm over constructive policy. “Corrupt” implies that party influences subvert honest governance, perhaps channeling favoritism, patronage, or even leading to direct malfeasance, as decisions are made on the basis of loyalty rather than legitimacy. Legislation becomes “unprofitable”, not in an economic sense, but in terms of public value, since the laws fail to serve the community, and may even inflict harm, all because their raison d’être is partisan victory.
Cooper suggests that the primary animating force for such detrimental lawmaking is the desire “of defeating party.” In this dynamic, the legislative process itself becomes weaponized; written law is used not as a means to organize society for the common good, but to hobble, discredit, or weaken a rival faction. The predictable result is a cycle where genuine public concerns are sidelined, thoughtful discourse is suppressed, and the mechanics of government turn toward self-interest and antagonism. The warning embedded in his words is clear: when party triumph eclipses principle, the state and its citizens suffer most.
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