When One Party Wants It All: Why Shutting Out Democrats Is Anti-Democracy

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When One Party Rules

Donald Trump has recently made statements telling Republicans not to work with Democrats ahead of the September 30 shutdown deadline, saying things like “Don’t even bother dealing with them.” He’s also said that even if Democrats were given “every dream,” they still wouldn’t vote for a deal.

This rhetoric goes beyond negotiation strategy. If you believe Democrats can never be trusted, never be worked with, and should be completely sidelined, then you are effectively endorsing one-party rule. That’s not democracy — that’s authoritarianism.

Not All Left or Right

Here’s the truth: not all Republicans are far right, and not all Democrats are far left. Millions of Americans still identify as moderates — about 34% according to Gallup. Some are center-right, some center-left, and many hold a mix of beliefs.

I consider myself left-leaning, but I’m not as far left as some. That’s okay. In a healthy democracy, we mix all of those views together and make something functional out of it. That’s how we get laws and policies that reflect everyone, not just one extreme.

Project 2025 and the Agenda

Trump has gone along with much of the Project 2025 agenda, which is designed by conservative groups to roll back what they see as “liberal” influence. The problem isn’t that conservatives want to pass their ideas — that’s fair game — but that many of these proposals would centralize power, purge career civil servants, and make it easier for a president to bypass normal checks and balances.

If you live in a democracy, you push your ideas through debate and legislation — not by force and not by trying to erase the other side.

Why This Is Dangerous

After Charlie Kirk’s killing, Trump said he “couldn’t care less” about mending the political divide and blamed “radicals on the left.” This is a telling statement. Leaders should try to reduce division, not deepen it.

When politicians say the other side is evil or criminal, it encourages their supporters to see opponents as enemies — not fellow citizens. That’s how democracies start to crumble: when one party is no longer seen as legitimate and compromise is off the table.

What We Can Do

Here’s the good news: most Americans still support core democratic principles. But we have to defend them. That means:

  • Calling out rhetoric that demonizes whole groups of people
  • Respecting opposition even when we disagree strongly
  • Insisting that compromise is part of governing
  • Supporting transparency and fair elections

If you think every Democrat is untrustworthy and must be silenced, then yes — you believe Trump should be a dictator. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’ve given up on democracy. And if we want a country that still works for everyone, we can’t afford to do that.

Vicki Andrada's avatar

By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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