As George Washington retired from his presidential position in 1796, he left a grim reminder to the people of the newly independent United States of America: the independence of states, peace at home and abroad, safety, prosperity, and liberty are all dependent upon the unity between states. To promote the national strength, he urges the people to place their identity as Americans above those of their state, region, and interests. In fear of the impeding sectionalism, Washington included a fair warning to the people of the United States, the dangers of political parties to the government and the country as a whole. The idea of political parties, although warned thoroughly by our very first president, continuously solidified itself into the core of American government until it has become two standing pillars of modern politics: the Democratic Mules and its counterpart, the Republican Elephants. In 21st century politics, these two reigning parties, both having changed and altered their focus over time, have maintained a core value system, ideas beliefs, and key constituencies, which are made apparent throughout political campaigns; no better evidence than the 2012 political party platforms articulates the political position which each party represents.…