Republicans are the Daddy party, and Democrats are the Mommy party.

If you read enough about politics, you’ve heard this before.    The Daddy party represents “power” and the Mommy party represents “warmth.”  

Daddy provides for our safety, protecting us against the evil outside our door.  He teaches us to be independent and strong, and to fight when things don’t go your way.

Mommy worries about our comfort.  She tries to get everyone to get along and solve their problems without fighting.   She makes sure everyone wears their sweaters, does their homework, and doesn’t go hungry.

These are, of course, gross simplifications but somewhat revealing.    Democrats believe we are all part of a family and we need to take care of each other;  Republicans believe that you advance by being independent and self-reliant.

Neither of these viewpoints is wrong.  It’s just how you personally see yourself, society, and government.  And if the parties adhere to these roles, we can have reasonable debate.

The problem lately is Daddy.  Daddy is no longer the reliable, strong independent leader — he now lies and deceives to get his way.  Instead of reasonably debating where we should go, he beats up the family until he gets his way (“Do what I say or I’ll shut down the government!”). And then when he doesn’t get his way, he has a temper tantrum.  (“Fine! Then I will block every bill in Congress even if it benefits us all.”) He’s willing to hurt the family for his own selfish goals.

Having a Mommy party and a Daddy party is not a bad thing.  But as columnist Josh Barrow points out, we now have a Mommy party and an “Abusive-Ex-husband-With-a-Substance-Abuse-Problem party.”