We need different political parties because we need different incubators of ideas and approaches to societal problems. And we need true competition of ideas, where our own cherished certainties are challenged and the challenge can’t be ignored, because the power dynamics are fluid and no one party has a monopoly on political power. If a faction dominates a party, it can create an atmosphere of intimation where differences are not tolerated (hence, progressives smear moderates as “corporate Democrats”, using the ultimate meme for evil). If a faction is highly ideological (“we have a lock on the good and the true and we will fight for our vision!”), they will seek to destroy whatever gets in the way of victory. When things go wrong, they blame & punish – because, surely, it can’t be their own ideas and actions that are the problem. That’s why I want strong parties that tolerate a range of opinion within their ranks and a viable opposition party to the Democrats (whether it's called “Republican” or not).
In this spirit, here are some quotes from organizations whose missions are quite compatible with my own:
The No Labels approach is based on a clear principle: the first step in getting our country out of the ditch and back in gear is for our legislators to set aside their party loyalties, get together and agree to a specific set of national goals BEFORE getting into the weeds of policy-making.
What the Middle Ground Is
- Those who are open to learning from others that have different policy proposals, and have the humility to believe that they probably haven't gotten it all figured out yet
- Those who recognize that they do not need to agree with the entire slate of one party or political group; that they will evaluate different ideas by their merits, regardless of who said them
- Those who recognize that trying to caricaturize and score political points against those that disagree with them isn't going to help the country move forward--or even accomplish their own political agenda
Such people can be moderates, conservatives, liberals, progressives, libertarians, greens, etc. No matter what policy pack you think is right for the country, you're the middle ground if you fit into the above.
Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent you’re welcome at Big Tent Nation. The only thing we need to agree on is that American prosperity is at risk and worth fighting for. Different perspectives on how to move forward are inevitable – and a powerful resource if paired with mutual respect. The fact is, getting better at working together despite our differences is essential to this nation’s long term growth and stability.