The Real Enemy Isn't Left or Right

It is the global billionaire class, who thrive when we are too distracted by partisan infighting to hold them accountable

In 1780, John Adams wrote to Jonathan Jackson, warning of the dangers of a two-party system:

"There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution."

His son, John Quincy Adams, echoed this sentiment decades later, recognizing that partisan divisions, though often temporary, could become entrenched, blinding citizens to their shared interests.

Today, we see Adams’s fears realized in the tribalism that dominates political discourse. Political allegiance in the U.S. often resembles sports fandom, people are either Ducks fans or Beavers fans, and nothing will convince them to switch sides. Loyalty to the "team" becomes more important than reasoned debate, even when the policies of one's own party work against personal or national interests. This blind allegiance prevents people from recognizing the larger forces exploiting them.

Canada provides a striking contrast. While its political parties often engage in fierce opposition, they have shown the ability to unite against a common threat. When Trump imposed tariffs that harmed Canadian industries, leaders across party lines put aside their differences to defend their national interests. They understood that the real enemy was not each other but a system designed to disadvantage their economy for the benefit of a foreign power.

Americans must recognize a similar truth: The real enemy is not the opposing political party but the rigged economic system presided over and sustained by both major parties that serves the ultra-wealthy at the expense of everyone else. The global oligarchy, corporate elites, and billionaires who refuse to pay their fair share use partisan division to distract the public while they hoard wealth and influence. As long as working people are too busy fighting each other over cultural issues, they will never unite to demand economic justice.

The Golden Age of Capitalism (1945-1973) serves as a reminder that the economy once worked for the majority, not just the elite. Policies that prioritized fair wages, strong unions, and public investment created unprecedented prosperity. The destruction of these policies in favor of deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, and corporate monopolization has led to the staggering inequality we see today.

It is time to step back from partisan loyalty and ask: Who truly benefits from our division? The answer is clear. It is not our neighbors, our coworkers, or our fellow citizens. It is the global billionaire class, who thrive when we are too distracted by partisan infighting to hold them accountable.

Like Canada’s leaders responding to Trump’s tariffs, we must recognize the greater threat and unite against it. Partisan politics is a game designed to keep the people divided while the oligarchy wins. The only way forward is to reject the false choices presented to us and demand a system that works for all, not just the privileged few.

Originally published February 18, 2025 on Oregon’s Bay Area Facebook page