Republican party ‘not the party for me’

Most of us have our minds made up on political issues and are not very receptive to different viewpoints. At the same time, being silent can equate to being complicit and in history there are too many bad examples that illustrate this point. So, although the first point is true, it’s due to the second point that I wrote this letter.

I am not affiliated with a political party and have voted for who I think is the best candidate regardless of party. This approach has suited me despite the fact it means I can’t participate in some political processes. I like to think that, being unaffiliated and given the two largest political parties often balance each other out, my votes are more often the ones that decide races.

I tire of the high level of divisiveness in the politics of this country dominated by the two largest political parties and in part because of this both these large parties are unappealing to me. That said, the course of one of these parties in recent years, particularly regarding its apparent choice of its presidential candidate, has soured me on that party. I don’t think I am unique in this way.

Specifically it is hard for me to understand how any thoughtful person with an open mind and perspective on the nature and course of humanity could support the apparent presidential candidate of the Republican party. I find this candidate to be of unusually poor character and limited qualification. Iit is hard for me to overstate how dismayed I am that most members of this party seem to be able to support this candidate.

With this candidate I think the Republican party risks repeating some of the worst of history and, even as I stay unaffiliated, is not the party for me. My votes and activism will follow from this perspective and I urge others to do the same.

David Grah Bishop