Wise voters exert independence in politics rather than party line
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.”
So said GeorgeWashington of political parties in his Farewell address of 1796.
According to aMay 2020 Gallup poll, 40% of Americans identified themselves as Independent, 31% as Democrat and 25% asRepublican. Yet in the 2016 election, 93% of voters cast a ballot for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, according to Pew Research Center. Does this mean that 40% aren’t really independent?
While I can’t speak for all Independents, there are many reasons why, after the 2012 presidential election, I switched my Maryland voter registration to unaffiliated.
I’m a critical thinker who views issues from both sides. Complex issues require complex solutions that can’t be boiled down to soundbites or memes. I also don’t like being told what to think. Political parties hopewe’ll unquestioningly towthe party line.
Rather than organizing thoughts and ideas, as defenders of the two-party system maintain, we instead focus on the “winner” or “loser” in an election. This doesn’t promote cross-party cooperation to address our nation’s greatest threats.
And then there are the contradictions inherent in the Republican and Democratic platforms. For example, Republicans tout “freedom” and “liberty” but then chastise those who kneel during the national anthem or want to marry the person they love. They go to the ends of the earth to protect the unborn, yet feel no moral obligation to support those struggling to survive. And of course, there’s the current handling of the Supreme Court nomination process.
Meanwhile, Democrats say they support job growth while simultaneously stifling free trade and supporting unions that control wages and prevent the efficient allocation of labor. They promote free speech while applauding universities who turn away controversial speakers.
The complex challenges facing the U.S. — suchas racismandpolice brutality against Black people — won’t be solved by a single legislative action. We must address the underlying issues related to longstanding systemic racism, economic opportunity, housing, health care and the environment. Neither party’s platform fully addresses each of these issues. Some political experts maintain that independent voters aren’t politically engaged and typically end up voting for one of the major party candidates. This misses the point.
I’m an independent because I don’t support the two-party system. However, I’m still highly engaged in both national and local politics. I still have strong views, supported by facts, and strong values. I suspect many other Unaffiliated voters do as well. So, when faced with the choice between two major party candidates, one of whom is superior to the other and deserving ofmy vote, I will support the superior candidate. InNovember, I will vote for Biden.
However, I will remain unaffiliated. I will lead by example and encourage citizens to drop theirparty affiliation. If everyvoter registeredas unaffiliated, Maryland would be forced to have an open primary that is free of the influence of whichever candidate the Democrat or Republican party machines want us to support. While 90,000 unaffiliated voters is encouraging, there were nearly 4 million registered voters in Maryland as of 2018; not nearly enough to strip power fromthe dominant parties.
Washington added, “The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” Be courageousandbe one of the “wise people” that Washington describes — step forward toward independence and drop your party affiliation.
Matt Caminiti is an expert in tax and health care policy and a former Analyst for Bloomberg, who now works in health care IT. He lives in Gambrills with hiswife and four children.