Rep. Justin Amash leaves the Republican Party

Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan is quitting the Republican Party. He said our political system “is trapped in a partisan death spiral,” so he'll stay in Congress as an independent. In a Washington Post op-ed, Amash quoted George Washington’s warning that party politics “opens the door to foreign influence and corruption” and could allow a leader to elevate himself “on the ruins of public liberty.” Amash said in May that he believes the Mueller Report shows actions and “behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment" of President Donald Trump.

Class discussion: Do you agree with Amash that for U.S. politicians “loyalty to party is more important than serving the American people or protecting our governing institutions”? Why or why not? Are raising campaign money and winning the next election the top goals of our elected officials? How would you change the political system? Should only individual voters be allowed to contribute a limited amount only to candidates running to represent them? Should primary voters simply choose the two top vote-getters – regardless of political party – to face each other in a general election?