This blog is about exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and thinking critically. You don't have to agree with everything. In fact, It is encourage you disagree, challenge an argument, or even call an idea completely ludicrous. That's okay. The important thing is that you think about it.
Sometimes, hearing an opposing viewpoint helps us better understand our own beliefs. Playing devil's advocate or considering an uncomfortable perspective isn't necessarily about changing your mind. It's about understanding why you believe what you believe.
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(Illustrative Only)
If you push your position
less, listen more,
and find compromise
this pendulum won't
swing as much
and it would be of
great service to our
people. or not? |
So, the next time you hear something you strongly disagree with, take a moment. Check your feelings. Ask yourself: Why does this bother me? Where did this belief come from? Is it based on my experiences, my background, my friends, or something I've simply accepted over time? (You are beginning to become aware of your lens that blocks you from seeing what is in front of you. ie. the Enlightenment principles the country was founded on.)
That kind of reflection is where independent thinking begins.
The Pendulum Swings
Let's look at politics. One side loses an election, perhaps a midterm (you can use any example you want), and the other side steps in to claim victory. The pendulum swings. Conservatives replace liberals, or liberals replace conservatives. And then the cycle starts all over again. (Polar politics when there is another way as well to ponder.)
But what if neither side has all the answers?
Both sides have ideas worth considering, and both have ideas worth questioning. If we could take the best of each approach, recognize the shortcomings, and build something better, wouldn't that be a more productive way forward?
That's where independent thinking comes in.
An independent isn't someone who simply disagrees with both parties. An independent is someone who thinks beyond party lines. They evaluate ideas on their merits rather than automatically supporting a position because their party tells them to.
That doesn't mean they're always right. It doesn't mean they're always wrong. It means they're willing to think for themselves.
An independent might believe UFOs are worth investigating, while another might be deeply rooted in scientific skepticism and evidence-based reasoning. Both can be independent thinkers. Independence isn't about agreeing on every issue. It's about having the freedom to form your own opinions (Research has shown freedom of speech has declined. Same with religious freedom and that is a root purpose and promise.)
Ultimately, it's about giving everyday Americans a stronger voice in a political system that can sometimes feel dominated by two parties, political insiders, and established interests. It should be run by the people and for the people (One of the definitions of democracy) so that people can achieve their natural abilities and state (the foundation of broad capitalism).
What If a Third Voice Changed the Equation?
Let's explore the idea of a third political force.
For the sake of discussion, imagine an independent movement that attracts roughly 15% of voters. That number is simply a hypothetical starting point, not a scientifically established threshold.
Even a relatively small voting bloc could change the political landscape. Suddenly, neither major party could assume it had enough support to win without listening to a broader range of perspectives.
That could change the dynamics of our political system.
But the real question isn't simply how much power a third party could gain. It's what that influence could accomplish. It is about improving the system not gain. That is what an honorable public servant does.
Stop Treating Politics Like a Game
When one party wins, the temptation is to celebrate, claim victory, and tell the other side, "I told you so." When the other party wins, the roles reverse.
This constant back-and-forth creates instability. Politics becomes a game of winning, losing, and getting even.
But governing shouldn't be about scoring points against your neighbors or opponents.
The goal should be to manage our country as effectively as possible while protecting human freedom, expanding opportunity, safeguarding our environment, and preserving our future. Let us reflect on the opportunty to reorient true north in our natural development and values.
We should be working to protect the principles that hold our society together: constitutional freedoms, religious liberty, civil rights, and the opportunity for people to participate and thrive.
These principles should matter regardless of which party is in power. Some have misused their potions (i.e. the Allegory of the Clan).
And when leaders use their positions or public institutions for personal gain (or their friends, ideologies, social networks or similarities) at the expense of those principles, we should be willing to call it out. Accountability shouldn't depend on political affiliation.
When the pendulum swings, don't be so quick to jump on the bandwagon or celebrate someone else's loss. Instead, ask yourself what happens next. How do we make things better? How do we get both sides talking, listening, and borrowing good ideas from one another?
(Keep dreaming, believing and talking and it will happen just like our founding fathers and mothers wanted us to. They built the checks and balances for that reason. They knew human nature. Just to sort of make a broad reach for mental exercise. A Discussion on American Values: Universal Application of Philosophical Symbolic Artifacts)
We don't have to agree on everything to work toward a common future.
Think Beyond the Party Line
As independent thinkers, we should be asking better questions:
- How can we encourage both sides to think more critically?
- How can we take good ideas from different political philosophies?
- How can we hold leaders accountable without turning everything into a partisan battle?
- How can we create a system that gives more people a meaningful voice?
The Allegory of the Clan, which we've explored as another thought experiment, offers an additional perspective. It reminds us that not everyone necessarily operates with the same intentions. Some individuals may attempt to manipulate institutions or systems to advance goals that conflict with the law, the Constitution, or the public good.
That's why the character and intentions of our leaders matter. (Elect the best and brightest and not the most connected or vetted). We should elect people who respect the institutions they serve and work to protect the freedoms and opportunities that allow everyone to participate in society, regardless of political affiliation. Let us support those, no matter their party, that are standing for something greater than themselves for the common good.
Our responsibility doesn't end when we cast a vote. We must remain engaged, question authority, challenge assumptions, and hold our representatives accountable. We made oaths for a reason and those who uphold them no matter who wins, the consequences, the costs, the burdents to bear, so on and so forth are the guardians of our demoracy. Their names silent but their footprint permenant.
Two Simple Ideas That Could Strengthen Democracy
There are two things worth considering:
1. Stop voting strictly along party lines.
Look at the person, their ideas, their record, and their principles. Don't automatically give someone your vote just because they have an R or a D next to their name. Demoracy and freedom are too seriously for quick answers.
2. Embrace cooperation across the aisle.
It's time to stop treating political opponents as enemies. Disagreement is healthy. Competition can be productive as long as you have shared goals. Effective governing requires cooperation.
We all have to live with the decisions being made, regardless of who wins an election. The consequences don't fall neatly along party lines. (Most of all we owe the best chances to the next generation so they can improve and enhance the torch of our legacy. The baton will pass. The future belongs to the next generationno matter their race, religion, or political perspective.)
So, the next time you vote, consider taking a moment before automatically selecting your party's candidate. Ask yourself whether that person is actually the best choice. If they are then that is great. If they are not then don't hire them and move on.
Elect who's right. Do what's right. Listen to your neighbors, even when you disagree with them. There's often something worth hearing in another person's perspective.
We live in a complicated and sometimes frightening world. That's all the more reason to protect the principles that bring us together rather than allowing political divisions to tear us apart.
Independent thinking isn't about choosing a side. It's about choosing to think.
And perhaps that's exactly what our democracy needs more of.
Sincerely,
The hypothetical Feather Party (which doesn't exist because its for learning purposes.)
This piece was sort of interesting,
Study uses physics to explain democratic elections
*The hypothetical Feather Party and the Allegory of the Clan are thought experiments so feel free to disagree or change and take with a grain of salt.
