Factionalism in American Politics - Essay Example

Factionalism in American PoliticsMadison defines factions as people or groups of citizens who are united in sharing the same beliefs and interests. These interests and beliefs are usually contrary to the interests of the majority of others and in the pursuit of their interests, the rights and interests of other citizens are overlooked. The factions usually pose a problem for the government or seek to influence the government in a way that is contrary to the interests of the people. Madison in his paper advises that the best approach to dealing with factions is through restriction of their causes or controlling their effects.

Madison underscores the importance of breaking or controlling the factions and the ‘factious spirit’ that make public administration a complex affair. Factions exist in the American politics and continue to pose a problem especially in the development of public policies. The factions are mainly caused by the inequality that exists in the distribution of wealth and property. The American healthcare system is one of the examples on how factionalism affects the American politics. The debate surrounding the healthcare issues brings to the forefront factionalism in the present day American politics (Fishkin 35).

The passing of The Healthcare Reform Bill brought to the fore the various factions at the various stages of the passing of the bill. The healthcare bill while designed for the benefit of the majority of the Americans faced major hurdles during the legislative process. The factions that opposed the bills include those who were opposed to the Stupak-Pitts Amendment provision in the bill. The prochoice faction in the house argued that the Stupak-Pitts Amendment imposes restrictions on the right of women to access reproductive health services.

Women should be guaranteed these rights by law. The other faction in the healthcare debate is those that were in support of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment. This faction argues that abortion should be restricted, and proposes a further restriction on funding on abortion. In the process of enacting the legislation there was a faction that was against the passing of the healthcare reform bill as they had some concerns about impact that the bill will have on the illegal immigrants’ attempts to access healthcare services (‘Obama Hails Vote on Health Care as Answering ‘the Call of History’).

The factions that were at play in the development of the healthcare reform bills have brought about a situation in which the proponents as well as the opponents of healthcare reforms policies give different explanations to their positions on healthcare reform. The passing of the healthcare policy and the opposition that faced the passage of the healthcare policies has had the effect of enhancing the view that most Americans have that the politics in America is anti-statist. The factions that were in opposition to the passage of the healthcare reform bill are despite the fact that opinion polls consistently indicate that the public remains in support of a healthcare system that includes a comprehensive insurance plan for the citizens that helps ease the healthcare cost on the individual.

In understanding the different factions in healthcare in America, one understands that the healthcare policies in America are dependent on the politics of the day. The different factions or interest groups are seen to have an impact on the final outcome of the healthcare policies that are put in place. The interests of the public majority usually suffer as a result of the promotion of the interests of the different factions. Works citedFishkin, James. When the people speak. New York: Oxford University Press.

Pear, Robert. Herszenhorn, David. ‘Obama Hails Vote on Health Care as answering ‘the Call of History’ retrieved September 17, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/health/policy/22health.html?pagewanted=all