Whether raised in Wyoming or moving here later in life, many of us live here because we value freedom, independence, and common sense.
But lately, it feels like something’s off in our politics — more shouting, less listening. More finger-pointing, less problem-solving. It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing.
But it’s not new.
Over 230 years ago, James Madison saw it coming. As one of the key authors of our Constitution, Madison worried about what he called factions—groups so locked into their own beliefs and ambitions that they tried to silence anyone who thought differently.
“A faction,” Madison wrote in Federalist No. 10, is “a number of citizens... united by some common impulse of passion... adverse to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.”
The Modern Face of Faction
Here in Wyoming, we’ve seen it up close. Some have a tendency to immediately revile an individual who has a different view, based on their experience, faith, or principles.
Rather than listen and understand the basis from which the individual has developed that view, they snap to the conclusion that by having a differing view, the individual is an enemy.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Whether based on an unyielding position within a faction — or in pursuit of their own personal political ambitions — some go further.
They try to destroy the credibility of those who disagree by slapping on a toxic label or twisting their words into something never intended.
This kind of behavior isn’t leadership. It’s factional warfare.
Madison’s Warnings Still Apply
Madison didn’t think factions could be eliminated. He believed they were the natural result of liberty.
But he also saw the danger of any one group—left or right—dominating the process and silencing dissent.
That’s why our system was built to slow things down, to encourage deliberation, and to make room for honest disagreement.
Madison’s solution wasn’t to suppress voices. It was to create balance—between local and federal, between branches of government, between different viewpoints.
He believed the process is what protects us. Without it, liberty becomes a slogan, not a reality.
What Does That Mean for Wyoming?
In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in political behavior that prioritizes loyalty over thoughtfulness. Dissent is treated as betrayal. Policy positions are judged not on merit, but on whether they came from the “correct” faction.
And sometimes, bills are written more to make a point than to make a difference.
That might win attention, but it doesn’t solve problems.
If we really want to fight for freedom, we can’t afford to waste time fighting each other. Strength doesn’t come from purity tests — it comes from principled, steady leadership that gets things done.
Because if we keep eating our own, the only people left in the room will be those too afraid — or too extreme — to offer real solutions. And that’s not how Wyoming works.
In a state like ours — where neighbors still wave to each other, where we pride ourselves on common sense — we can and should do better.
The Way Forward
We can be principled without being hostile. We can stand firm without tearing others down. And we can remember that disagreement doesn’t make someone the enemy.
Sometimes, it just means they’re part of the republic—a republic designed to withstand exactly this kind of pressure.
Madison didn’t expect us all to agree. He expected us to listen, deliberate, and respect the institutions that keep power in check. That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.
Let’s not burn down the house just because we don’t like who’s sitting across the table.
Rob Geringer represents House District 42 in Cheyenne
