The Gathering of the Clan

If all those people registering as Independent voters are, as we suspect, not happy with the ways of governing today, why can't they do something about it? Perhaps they can. After all, they represent a plurality of people registered to vote! Perhaps there is an Independent solution to realizing a different outcome. Let's look at the possibilities. First though, the concept of an Independent political option merits a bit of expansion before we proceed too much further. Given the common misconception that Independents are somewhere left of Conservatives and right of Liberals, some might read this as a middle-of-the-road approach. That's not necessarily the case. Nor in the usual connotation can it be considered centrist. An Independent option is not just about pleasing the center (whatever that means). It is not an average. It's not necessarily a compromise. An Independent option is more an attempt to promote greater tangible Balance, as we have defined it. For a brief spell, the author penned a weekly Internet based commentary titled The American Family Gazette promoting Independents as a third (Balancing) force in American national politics. I received on occasion comments that these views on the potential of Independents was a formula for stalemate; it was fence straddling and unworkable in American politics. One assumes such well-meant criticism was from clearly partisan people. Nonetheless, they made a point: To accomplish something-anything-you have to take a position. This seems especially true in politics. But such position does not necessarily have to be towards one extreme or the other to be workable. Likewise, it probably won't be in the "center", as that in a bipolar environment pleases very few; that's fence straddling. As such, an Independent solution does not represent a Centrist philosophy, Centrism being defined here as promoting moderate policies that tend towards the middle ground (compromise) between the different political extremes. An Independent solution isn't conceived so much as occupying a position or location on the present political spectrum as it is a potential "force". Think of it as a defined-threat, if you will, or as a catalyst between two extreme elements that under normal conditions will not combine or work together. As such, it might either (1) induce those normally favoring more ideological (partisan) solutions to issues to respond to their concerns, or (2) compete with them directly for the right to govern. In the first instance, its influence (threat) is catalytic. In the second instance its influence (threat) is competitive: a formalized electoral alternative to the two major Parties. When you have a one-dimensional spectrum of left-right politics, you have (only) one acceptable side to an argument, yours or theirs. Unless the weight of power is significantly in favor of one or the other, what do you have? Right: you have stalemate in most instances. This is especially true where ideological/philosophical issues are at stake-which is the usual case. Unless there is political compromise (Horse trading) or political intimidation (Arm twisting), nothing happens. Issues in need of resolution remain on the table unresolved, with each side accusing the other of the blame. What has this actually accomplished? Kudos, perhaps; defense of "ideals" and perhaps some succor for alpha-type personalities. But aside from such bragging rights, nothing gets done to solve the issue(s). That more often than not is what you get from severely partisan politics. An Independent option then is viewed as a means of overcoming this. So how do we go about accomplishing this, and what is our premise for doing so? At this point our premise for proposing such an option has been demonstrated with some degree of probability, to wit: (A) Independents now equal or exceed the number of voters who openly support either the Republican or the Democratic Parties. Both require capturing a significant portion of this Independent vote to win elections. None-the-less, their governing policies continue to reflect primarily if not exclusively the partisan nature of their ideology. (B) Such bipolar ideological approach to governing makes resolution of any number of issues of significance to all Americans difficult to achieve, exactly for the reason of partisanship. (C) Voter expression of political independence no doubt represents for some a dissatisfaction or disillusionment with either Party's performance in governing. Just what percent of Independents hold such feelings is not at all clear, as many continue to regularly vote for one Party or the other much of the time. A primary reason for such continued if reluctant loyalty to these Parties may be the absence today of any practical political alternatives. Given these circumstances, it would seem that what we have at present is a proverbial "Mexican Stand-off": A significant and willing, possibly even eager, potential for change confronted by a significant and recalcitrant existing power-structure unwilling to allow such challenge, practically if not legally. No one has been successful in challenging these Parties, certainly not in the past century. What makes me believe that currently an Independent movement might be different? It might be different if it demonstrated to the voting public that its political agenda was both broad as well as different.That it didn't represent just a different shade of the same political fabric. It might be different if it offered voters a clearly different deal; if it offered at least most Americans a different vision of governing. And it might be different due to the perceived state of affairs in government. We have on many occasions herein highlighted the degree of apparent political dissatisfaction evident in America today. It might be different if, as we hypothicate, enough Americans want a different outcome to make it different. Considering the likelihood that at least one, possibly more than one of these reasons why an Independent movement might succeed, based on our premises, it seems worthwhile to consider how we might go about accomplishing that. There appears to be at least two, possibly three, options to examine...