Note that this is a political essay. Originally published in 2021 at DailyKos.com, where it “trended” and was picked up by Flipboard. Then taken down--long story. Better to read it here! Thanks, R
Why a Life-Long Democrat Just Became a Republican
My political philosophy is nuanced. I am left-of-center on some issues and right-of-center on others. (Okay, left-of-center on more.) My broader philosophy, however, is simple: in any society, and certainly in any democracy, the most important thing is for the center to hold.
In America today the center is under siege. Our discourse is shrill. Politics have become extreme, and sometimes violent. The center is shrinking, and along with it, our hopes for an enduring and peaceful republic.
For most of my life, I’ve been a registered Democrat. I haven’t always been passionate about the party, its leaders, or even its position on many issues. But I’ve wanted to vote in Democratic primaries and have a say in guiding the party’s direction. For that same reason, I’ve just become a Republican.
We know that too many politicians would rather exploit resentments and grievances than work on constructive solutions. Alas, politically speaking, this is not stupid. Such behavior generates eyeballs, dollars, and votes. News, social media, and fundraising outlets fan the flames. All the while, civil society pays the price.
The leading practitioners of this dark art are now Republicans. Their primary voters, often described as the most extreme within the party, are frequently cited as the reason for it. The fear of being “primaried,” or rejected by the feverish right, steers numerous Republican officeholders and candidates away from the healthier center. The resulting political landscape is one in which falsehood and provocation can count for as much as facts and truth.
This need not be our fate. Mainstream voters from every party, as well as those with no party affiliation, can register to vote in the coming round of Republican primaries. By supporting centrist candidates instead of radical ones, we can cast votes that will help unify, instead of further divide, our country. Of course, we remain free to support whomever we choose in general elections.
For this to work, it will take numbers—so consider this a clarion to spread the word. To organizers out there with greater time, resources, or platforms than I have, here’s a starter hashtag: #NewRepublicans.
With a sober right-of-center party across the aisle from a decent left-of-center party, we just might restore some functionality, and even comity, to our beloved democracy.
The next election cycle will be upon us before we know it. If you live in one of the many states in which you need to be registered in a particular party in order to vote in that party’s primary, contact your local Board of Elections and amend your registration accordingly. And fear not. When candidates realize that voters are more interested in keeping the country together than in tearing it apart, they will make it their business to earn our votes.
Issues of special-interest money, media bias, electoral imbalance, gerrymandering, etc., of course, remain. But at the end of the day, it is voters and votes that determine the outcome. Now is the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of their country. Let’s do it together, and in peace.
———
Postscript 2023: I acknowledge that I may have been overly optimistic. Time will continue to tell.