I live near American society's political equator
Over the years I have switched my political affiliation from Republican to Independent. I don't think I have changed my political philosophy much from the moderately conservative Dupage County, Illinois Republican I've always been. Rather, my party left home without me. The Republican party has been hijacked by the more extreme right while contemporaneously the Democratic party has shifted dramatically to the extreme left, and I want no part of either one of them. Incidentally, I believe that the noticeable decline in civility in America, both inside and outside of government, is in important part the result of the polarization of political parties in this country.
Today the two major political parties are becoming polar opposites. They have moved close to the north and south poles politically while I continue to live near American society's political equator. On important issues such as defense spending and limits on government control of everything, the parties are so far apart as to be unable to agree with one another on virtually any significant cause. Ballot measures less often are on singular issues than they used to be when I was growing up. Instead, the key issues now tend to be in bills packaged to include a smorgasbord of benefits so that everyone can point to at least one of its features as THE reason for giving it support.
As a political Independent , I hope that as the two major parties get closer and closer to their apparent destinations, the north and south political poles, increasing numbers of moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats will become disillusioned and drop their affiliations with the major parties in favor of registering as Independents*. Increased numbers of Independents will in turn lead to increased fund-raising. Some day, though not likely in my lifetime, I expect the Independent party to be strong enough to command space on ballots and support candidates for office at all levels of government.
In the interim, Independents will find themselves being forced to vote (reluctantly) on measures reflective of the views of one of the two major parties. As thinking voters, Independents will split their votes on issues, sometimes voting in favor of Republican issues, other times Democratic party-oriented issues. On candidates, however, I would expect Independents generally to support their party's own nominees, though remaining open to supporting outstanding candidates of either major party.
In sum, I think America is heading toward political Armageddon because of what is happening to its two major political parties. My fervent hope is the Independent party can grow quickly enough to become a true force for civility and responsible government, with enough magnetism to pull the major parties back toward the middle, away from the extremes.
(*Not Independents like Bernie Sanders, whose label is as "an Independent who caucuses with the Democratic party," which in his case is a euphemism for Socialist. Rather, Independents who believe in global warming, personal responsibility for one's behavior, less government spending on social programs and more on defense, fewer regulations and smaller government, among other things.)
Today the two major political parties are becoming polar opposites. They have moved close to the north and south poles politically while I continue to live near American society's political equator. On important issues such as defense spending and limits on government control of everything, the parties are so far apart as to be unable to agree with one another on virtually any significant cause. Ballot measures less often are on singular issues than they used to be when I was growing up. Instead, the key issues now tend to be in bills packaged to include a smorgasbord of benefits so that everyone can point to at least one of its features as THE reason for giving it support.
As a political Independent , I hope that as the two major parties get closer and closer to their apparent destinations, the north and south political poles, increasing numbers of moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats will become disillusioned and drop their affiliations with the major parties in favor of registering as Independents*. Increased numbers of Independents will in turn lead to increased fund-raising. Some day, though not likely in my lifetime, I expect the Independent party to be strong enough to command space on ballots and support candidates for office at all levels of government.
In the interim, Independents will find themselves being forced to vote (reluctantly) on measures reflective of the views of one of the two major parties. As thinking voters, Independents will split their votes on issues, sometimes voting in favor of Republican issues, other times Democratic party-oriented issues. On candidates, however, I would expect Independents generally to support their party's own nominees, though remaining open to supporting outstanding candidates of either major party.
In sum, I think America is heading toward political Armageddon because of what is happening to its two major political parties. My fervent hope is the Independent party can grow quickly enough to become a true force for civility and responsible government, with enough magnetism to pull the major parties back toward the middle, away from the extremes.
(*Not Independents like Bernie Sanders, whose label is as "an Independent who caucuses with the Democratic party," which in his case is a euphemism for Socialist. Rather, Independents who believe in global warming, personal responsibility for one's behavior, less government spending on social programs and more on defense, fewer regulations and smaller government, among other things.)
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