Have you ever found yourself running hypothetical dialogues through in your head where you are having a conversation with someone and attempting to explain your political views. The wheels often start turning and in the relative peace and quiet of your own brain (although this in itself can be a challenge) you are saying to the other person how you feel on this issue or that. “I’m conservative” or “I’m mostly liberal”, or “I’m a registered independent but….”, whatever your flavor might be, it might start out with that but you might try to temper or balance it with some caveats. Then the other person says something back possibly even in a confrontational way but you are ready for it, in your head at least. The point is that it can go pretty smooth when you have a moment to think clearly about your positions and why you might support a particular politician. You polish your inner dialogue. But when the rubber meets the road, when you are actually face to face with passions swirling, even anxieties and maybe the presence of an audience, it can be hard and things can go sideways and get unpleasant in a hurry.
The folks on the far extremes of the political spectrum or even those that decide to just make it real simple for themselves and pick team blue or team red and they’re done have an easier job than you do if you are moderate Dem or moderate Republican or maybe a registered independent. It can be a challenge trying to hold and defend that middle ground. It is a more nuanced idealogical space requiring more thought and consideration in delivery, because you are worried about pissing everyone off. Your views may not be hardcore one way or the other on most issues or more commonly you hold a variety of positions, some of which may fall typically into one party’s basket and some may fall into the other.
Despite the forces pulling us hard left or hard right, it is more important than ever that moderates and independents are able to define themselves; in the very least for their own peace of mind, let alone for the purposes of a polished delivery at some cocktail party, and more importantly possibly, to save our Nation. As a group that recognizes that despite what you read on social media or watch on cable news, most of us would prefer to just get along, work hard, enjoy our lives, and raise our families; and not demonize, dehumanize, and attack each other. As a group, most moderates recognize we are on a dangerous path that is not sustainable. We have forgotten how to agree to disagree.
If you are a moderate, spend a little time thinking about how to highlight your middle ground bonifides. You can start by figuring out whether you are center left or center right. Most of us moderates lean a little more one way or the other, very few if any of us are right down the middle. Besides, it’s unrealistic to think there exists a true definable middle point on the political spectrum. A helpful exercise anyone can do is layout your opinions on a hand full of specific issues that you really care about. Do this sometime when you have just a little down time, go ahead and write it down. It probably won’t take more than 15 minutes but if you want to spend more time on it that’s fine too. Call it your personal position paper, or whatever. Write it down on actual paper or in the notes section on your smart phone. Think honestly and deeply about your beliefs and start by identifying a few issues that may rest more in the opposite direction of what you slightly lean. Then finish off with a few other issues that typically go in the other direction a bit.
Here is an example of a moderate, center left perspective that could be held by some people:
- I have faith in God, try to live my life by the Golden Rule, and along the lines of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- I support the 2nd Amendment, I am a gun owner, and enjoy deer hunting. But I also support background checks and think there should be some restrictions on the ownership of military style assault weapons.
- I support all law enforcement. America’s cities and towns need a strong and ethical police presence to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe. And I strongly disagree with the use of “defund the police” language.
But I also…….
- Believe in a woman’s right to choose and control her own reproductive future. But I think that abortion should probably not be allowed in the third trimester, except for medical emergencies. Ultimately though these decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, and be legally protected.
- Believe in defending our democracy and our system of free and fair elections. If no widespread instances of voter fraud have occurred and elections are legally certified, then politicians should be obligated to accept the outcomes and move on. Fake claims of stolen elections are dangerous and destructive.
- Believe that man-made climate change is a reality and we should take urgent but reasonable steps to decrease our overall carbon emissions, for the sake of the future of our families.
There may be many other issues that you are passionate about one way or the other. But again for this exercise keep it simple, just highlight a few. Write it down on a card, laminate it (just kidding), keep it in your pocket. If someone puts you on the spot about a particular hot button issue, handle it as you see fit, get into it if you want. However, you could also say, hey listen, “I’m an independent (or a moderate, or an Independent moderate)…..but I’ve got different views that don’t put me in one camp or the other.” Then give your two minute elevator speech that paints you out of the corner of Democrat or Republican.
So how would you describe the person holding the views listed above? You certainly wouldn’t call them a liberal or a conservative. You wouldn’t call them a Trumper and you wouldn’t call them a Socialist either. Call them what you want, they probably don’t care, because they know they don’t fall into any neat definable category or belong to any political tribe other than “Independent American”. There are a lot of us out there and we need better representation than our current entrenched, dysfunctional system offers us. Our views vary, depending upon the issue being discussed. We are wary of the extremes on both sides of the aisles and believe that on most of the big issues effecting our lives most of us are in agreement.
What are your core positions? What values and beliefs do you hold? Take some time to think about it. I bet for most people who perform this exercise they will figure out that they do not fit into the extreme molds of either party and that they could describe themselves as middle of the road. If you do and feel that our current system is broken and the national conversation is toxic, then take one more step: Register as an independent and drain both swamps. If both parties lose a major percentage of their registered voters then the parties and the states will be forced to open up the political primary process. That’s when we will get more reasonable and practical candidates that have to appeal to moderate voters, and we will all be much better off.