What It Means To Be An Independent In Today’s Politically Divisive America

We are the unloved, the overlooked. We don’t play party politics and therefore are not useful to those that use political division to control the masses. We think on our feet, and judge politicians by their actions instead of their party affiliation. We’re usually well-studied. Many of us are very political, and we vote! We have little representation because lobbyists can’t buy us. We’re loyal to the nation, rather than to a man or woman in a leadership role.

I’ve personally, over these last few years, supported both Liberals on the far left, Conservatives on the far right, and some in the middle based on single issues. It's difficult sometimes, I have to hold my nose because I can’t stand the extremes.

I believe both the Democrat and the Republican parties pit citizens against each other to manifest their agendas. Neither party may have intended these results. They may have both begun with good intentions. If there were more Independents in this nation, we would have less division and more choices. You have one hand, which is the Democrat party and you have the other hand, which is the Republican party. If you have a solid independent option that will offer more choices to the voter. This, in my opinion, will also confound lobbyists, who seduce both parties.

It is often said if an Independent always ran in a race, he/she would steal votes from one of the major parties. While that may be true, money and lobbyist groups play a big part as well. Lobbyists do not pursue Independent candidates, because most of their money is invested in the two established parties. In fact, so much money has been coming from large donors in recent years that election integrity has been declining in the US which now ranks 26th out of 66 countries.

Then, there's the electoral college. The fault doesn’t lie with the electoral college; however, it lies with the mass media herding the voters into ONLY two separate parties. I do not believe the electoral college should be eliminated. But it currently is not possible for a viable 3rd candidate because only two parties presently receive the largest campaign donations. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz attempted to run for the 2020 presidential election as an Independent. Many in the Democratic party, at the time, were worried he would steal votes from the Democratic nominee and add more votes to former President Trump, who at the time was running with the Republican party. His campaign was short-lived and this is an example of some of the very real obstacles third-party candidates face.

There are a lot more Independents now. During and after covid, many woke to the political manipulations at play. But, there are many issues facing Independent candidates if they are to succeed in getting more candidates in power. There was a recent surge in Florida Independent voters helping to reelect DeSantis. Many who have been unsatisfied with the current GOP, and many who have been unsatisfied with the current two parties. As a Native Floridian, I witnessed this firsthand. This is one example, but many are taking a more centrist approach to politics as of late. Which essentially is what it means to be an Independent.

The political life of an Independent is a very uncomfortable place to be in. You’re rarely liked in any political group. But, at the end of the day, it’s worth it. I don't share enough values with either the red or blue party to call myself home there, though I lean Conservative, I share enough values of both to be right in the middle-sometimes riding the razor's edge.