Submitted by Aaron Arkin.
Every election cycle, pollsters break out the electorate into three groups: Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. I would love to be counted as an Independent, especially in a world where each Party’s narrative and policies contained something with broad appeal: ideas that would aim for a public good. Then, I could look at where candidates stand on issues, and decide which candidate best represents my views of what is important and what should be done. I would also focus on the candidate’s character as an element for consideration. Party affiliation would not be the deciding factor to get my vote.
Historically, Independent Voters made their choices in just that manner. And they were an important part of the electorate because, unlike the Party Base which faithfully votes the Party’s Ticket, Independent Voters had to be wooed. That meant politicians who wanted to improve their chances of success had to appeal to voters beyond their Base. And that meant politicians had to identify with a greater portion of the electorate, broaden their appeal, and reign in extreme views. The more independent Voters, the better: all good for Democracy.
But in today’s world of identity politics, single issue campaigns and voters, culture wars and mindless tribalism, perhaps calling yourself an Independent Voter means either you’re not paying attention or you are so turned-off by politics that you refuse to be associated with either Party. When self-described Independents do vote these days, I wonder if their choices come down to either a last minute ‘what-the-heck’ decision, their views on the candidates personality, the influence of a recently-seen political ad, or a reliance on an opinion from someone they think knows more about the issues at stake than they do.
I receive a lot of mail asking support for Democratic causes and candidates. And I do try to support them because I agree with many, though not all, of their arguments and proposals. But, I’m not a “party” Democrat. In fact, I come down solidly on the conservative side on some issues. But these days I mostly support Democrats because, to me, Republicans have lost moral authority and are no longer an authentic (small d) democratic Party. They have blocked and politicized judicial appointments, obstructed important and needed legislation, worked to disenfranchise voters they think will not support them, and have been complicit in eviscerating important institutions and social safety nets. They have no vision or coherent narrative that I can see: show me a Republican National Health Care Proposal that has the comprehensive coverage and affordability most Americans need. Presently, the Republican Base is in thrall to one person who has no consistent ideology, cares only for himself, is incapable of empathy, and who is corrupt, incompetent and ignorant (anyone for a bleach injection?). And because, almost inexplicably, he has broad appeal to the Republican Base, most Republican office holders’ show slavish devotion to him in an effort to get re-elected.
Because Trump’s Republican Base has been so pivotal in distorting our politics, I’ve set out below my take on the Republican Base, the things most of them believe, and why they are wrong:
- Climate change isn’t happening, or if it is, it’s not because of human activity. This despite irrefutable scientific evidence and the extreme weather events that have been predicted and are now taking place, and which directly correlate with the increase in CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels;
- The pandemic is a hoax or at the very least has been exaggerated by Democrats in order to pursue a liberal agenda. This despite (as of this writing) there have been over 550,000 deaths due to Covid-19, and our health-care system has been stressed to the breaking point. And we’re still in the middle of it;
- Wearing a mask to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is an assault on individual rights and personal freedom. This despite the fact that requiring mask-wearing was intended to be, should be, and demonstrably is, a public health safety measure;
- Trump lost the last election through fraud. This even though he was several million votes behind and every State’s Secretary of State validated the elections as fair and without evidence of fraud that could overturn the result; and despite numerous Courts’ rejection of 60 or so legal challenges by Trump minions, including by Federal Courts presided over by judges that Trump placed on the bench;
- The Second Amendment mandates no limitation on gun ownership such as universal background checks or a ban on assault weapons. This even though these common-sense measures preserve Second Amendment rights but will save lives in a country that has the highest incidence of death by firearms of any advanced industrial nation;
- National News organizations are biased against Republicans and their President. This even though the top-tier news organizations are noted for their assiduous fact-checking, for making corrections when they find error, and have been recognized by international awards for their comprehensive research and reporting standards;
- There is a Deep State with its own agenda that secretly controls the workings of government and is morally corrupt. This despite a lack of any evidence, and mindless of the fact that the vast majority of civil service employees are capable, do excellent work unbiased by politics, and are where they are because of a commitment to a tradition of public service;
- The State’s institutions should be dismantled or eviscerated. This even though those institutions provide the services we all depend on to preserve our health, safety, the environment, our financial institutions, and our economic well-being;
- Government financial support and favorable policies should be directed more towards large corporations and wealthy individuals; and taxes that support this largess should remain regressive. This despite an economic inequality that hasn’t been seen in this country since the 1920s;
- Alliances with other countries weaken the US. This even though history has shown time and again that alliances with countries holding similar values actually strengthen each country’s position, both economically and security-wise, and that the resulting liberal world-order alliances led by the US since WW II improved economic conditions for average citizens both in the US and around the world;
- Immigrants have flooded the country with felons and sexual predators. This even though statistics show the recent immigrant population is responsible for a smaller percentage of crimes than the general population, that they contribute more to the economy than the economic support they receive from the government, and that they enrich our country culturally.
I’m sure there are more examples. My point is that these beliefs reflect a willful rejection of reality, and sadly by a significant percentage of self-identified Republicans. Again, I’m not a Democrat (party affiliation) and I do find some Democratic Party proposals poorly researched and wasteful. But civic-engagement requires making choices in elections; and the least worst choice is always the better choice.
So, come on Republicans, call out and disavow demagoguery, populism, and the politics of division. Regain your conservative mantle and moral authority. Work to broaden your appeal and your political Base. Do a better job vetting your candidates. Offer sound and well-researched proposals. Reach out to other Parties. Compromise when and where you can, and put country before personality and self-promotion.
Make me an Independent Voter, again.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
Exactly! I always say I vote for the best candidate or program. However, as you point out the Republican stands just seem to be jackass stubborn and counter productive. Even so my wife and I voted for several Republicans because we believe that have been doing a good job.
Thanks for the well thought out comments.
Don
Thank you, Mr. Arkin. My feedback is surely not researched, but I feel confident in saying that you speak for many of us. In particular, you speak for what I suspect are many, like me, disaffected Republicans who can no longer embrace the nonsense that the party has adopted as its values and aspirations since the rise of Trumpism. In your letter, you have detailed many of the focal points of Trumpista values. Your listing reflects the party’s warped realities which so many party faithful have adopted as gospel. Notwithstanding a massive Republican effort, based on a belief that fewer voters is better, the public seems less inclined to be fooled by such antics–each election seems to reflect a dwindling percentage in their camp. Personally, I’ve chosen to separate myself from the Republican Party. I’m not inclined to become a Democrat. Unfortunately, the state of Washington does not currently allow the formalization, through registration, of “Independent” as an affiliation. Were it possible, I would do so.
Thanks so much for publishing your letter!
Mr. Arkin,
It is a delight to read your letter. It reeks of reason, an aroma too often missing from our political kitchen these days, where it seems the window to the barnyard has been thrown open and nailed down.
You are, however, apt to be more Independent-minded than I am. A plague on both your houses for both Republican and Democrats is a popular fallback position among self-styled Independents. That plays directly into the false Republican narrative that you summarized so well. While Democrats have no corner on good ideas, right now they do have some good ones that are up against an ideological vacuum and personality cult on the right. Your call for Republicans to reach out, put country first before self-promotion, to offer something other than negative diatribe and voter suppression is long overdue. I fear it will be even longer before Republicans heed it. And I mean the Party, not some non-apologetic Republican Base. For the Base and the Party are one these days. One day… is still in the future.
Historically, as you suggest, all Americans started off as Independents, non-party affiliates. Washington openly disparaged political parties. That didn’t last long. Too much money, too little power to share. Not even a Civil War could alter that. Indeed because of that war large parts of the country were virtual one-party regions. The South, where I grew up, was solid Democrat. Then came Civil Rights in the mid-1960s. Now the South is solid Republican, with cracks deepening along racial lines.
Republican, Democrat— I will vote for your rational Independence every time and as many times as possible. I will also be there with a drink of water while you wait on line, in case you or anyone else needs it. Your letter sips like a cool drink just when we ALL could use it!
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your supportive comments on my article. My hope is that these efforts will help change minds out there.
Thank you for your comments. Helps me to see others can discern truth from crazy.
During the lock down watching television around the election I thought our citizens had lost common sense. I was raised to find information from more than one source. It has served me well. Not to vote based only on a commercial or what someone says..
Do research on how they voted or served the public in the past.. Our country may need more than 2 political parties. It potentially could break the stand off created by Republican leaders who are unwilling to work for the better of our country, to actually do public service. I too desire the ability to register as an independent.
Very well said. I would love to be a true Independent again.