If I were to use the term bloodletting, it would immediately bring to mind the pseudo-medical practice of removing blood from a patient as a form of cure. Documented as early as Ancient Egypt, the practice has seen popularity and scorn throughout the ages. In the eighteenth century, the belief in humors and the letting out of bad humors or keeping the body in “balance” popularized the practice to the extent that it was used on American Presidents, often with disastrous results.
American Historical Bloodletting
George Washington believed in the practice and, as he suffered from a throat infection at Mount Vernon, requested that physicians remove more of his blood, which hastened his death. When William Henry Harrison contracted a fatal case of pneumonia, his doctors prescribed several different treatments, among them bloodletting.
Dr. Benjamin Rush, an influential physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, strongly advocated for the practice. The records of just how many people died of exsanguination are unknown, but given the popularity of the treatment during the early days of our republic, it is likely many.
Military Bloodletting
Bloodletting has a military connotation different from what I might have imagined. President Harry Truman’s thoughts on the German invasion of Russia might best illustrate this.
“If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances.”
This statement might be considered a close cousin of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” and has been used throughout history to weaken two enemies to achieve victory. A similar situation arose with the Iran-Iraq War, when many nations sat back and watched these two nations battle each other, believing the result would be two weakened adversaries.
This has become a popular way to describe foreign conflicts where nations want to avoid direct participation in war but supply arms to weaken the warring parties. Many would apply this practice to the Biden Administration’s strategy with today’s Russian-Ukraine War. Some believe this is a proxy war between the United States or NATO and Russia.
A similar term in the military is “Bait and Bleed.” More of a political strategy with military connotations, the strategy is to bait two rival nations into a war of attrition where they bleed to death in the conflict. The baiter sits on the sidelines, encouraging one or both sides while maintaining its political neutrality and military strength.
Political Bloodletting
If we ever have a valid third political party in the United States, it may arise from the ashes of political bloodletting between the Democrats and the Republicans. We could be there with independent voters who outnumber either party today. (27% Democratic, 27% Republican, 43% Independent) They have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines, watching the two parties bludgeon each other. They can then support the perceived winner, thereby currying favors and benefitting from the carnage. They need not speak a word; only watch as the Democrats and Republicans tear each other apart from limb to limb.
The Democrats seem to understand not butchering each other, but they have left morals and honesty in the distant past. Political grandstanding has always been with us and will continue. But to have people like Nancy Pelosi, President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and President Bill Clinton lecture voters on morality is a bit much. It is demeaning to have a now wealthy President Barack Obama lecture black men with:
“Part of it makes me think — and I'm speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president...”
Democrats have abandoned beating up other candidates; they just beat up their supporters when they break ranks and think for themselves. If you are against the woke agenda and think being for women’s sports, against drag queens in schools, think pronouns should be gender specific, and believe capitalism is good for the nation, you are under attack from the Democratic Party even if you are a Democrat.
Republicans have taken a different line of attack. The candidates publicly beat each other up and then give the Democrats all the ammunition needed for the general election. This strategy is probably directly tied to President Trump as he worked to break into the conversation in the 2016 campaign. As a Republican, I hope this practice is replaced with something more positive and effective after the 2024 election.
Learning From Reagan
Unfortunately, the days of President Ronald Reagan, who fought for our nation based on principles and character, have been temporarily set aside. Regan often referred to the 11th Commandment coined by Gaylord Parkinson:
“Henceforth, if any Republican has a grievance against another, that grievance is not to be bared publicly.”
That admonishment seems like a distant memory today. When the current cycle of elections ends, I hope that the abuse and bloodletting will cease and that we will return to a more civil time when we fought over ideals and aspirations. For this to happen, our media must return to neutral ground and report on facts, not opinions.
“Reagan loved all of America. He didn't love fifty percent plus one. He wasn't looking to crush and personally humiliate those who disagreed with him. He didn't believe America was at odds with the rest of the world; he expected us to lead it.”
Our political parties must recognize that their tactics work against them and the nation. Voters long for people with new and good ideas, not people with sharp tongues and pitchforks. We seem polarized in the extreme, but the compromise between those extremes will help us find the middle again. As we saw with Reagan, exemplary leadership always emerges when needed in America.
Who Might Lead
Our nation is blessed with outstanding leaders and leadership. But these people often sit in the shadows until the situation seems unredeemable.
“The United States can always be relied upon to do the right thing - having first exhausted all possible alternatives.”
One of our nation’s great strengths is the melting-pot nature of our population. People worldwide come here for opportunity, and those who embrace our culture often contribute disproportionately. These new citizens understand the value of our political and economic systems and take advantage of the opportunities.
Business leaders like Elon Musk are at the extreme of those who understand and excel. His vision of America is worth listening to, and while he cannot run for President, he can play a role in shaping the nation’s direction. Others like Warren Buffett can influence our direction, especially by fostering financial education.
We also need religious leadership to step forward with people like Franklin Graham. Over 90% of Americans believe a President should be morally and ethically grounded. Yet voters also think it is not essential to be religious to be moral and ethical. This strange dichotomy might explain the confusion over our national spiritual values. Since religion broadly defines what is moral and ethical, this might point the way to and need for a new Great Awakening. As noted in other articles, the nation’s way forward may come from non-traditional denominations. These churches seem to hold the key to religious reawakening.
A Little Revolution in Our Time
In a letter to William Stephens Smith (John Adams’ son-in-law) on November 13, 1787, Thomas Jefferson noted:
“And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?”
Jefferson’s warning is worth pondering as we deal with the concerns over illegal immigration, government privacy overreach, record debt, educational curricula, and other issues. I hope that President Trump will win reelection and that our “mini-revolution” will be over. It has been largely peaceful, and unlike our first revolution in 1776, it has come with a minimum of bloodletting.
It is time to return to President Reagan’s principles and remember that we are all Americans who disagree on our path to greatness, not mortal enemies. It is time to tell a generation of politicians that their time is up, and we are returning to our founding principles.
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