I’m sure no one other than a few offline messengers and one interventional cardiologist really cares that much about my answer. I am not much into labels, but they are a necessary evil in a world that wants to size someone up without deepening their understanding of who they are. A label is a proxy for their philosophy of life, stance, or associations. I get it.
But this is my answer before and after the debate: Politically, I am—and have always been—an Independent. Unapologetically. More so, as the traditional political parties do not fully represent my leanings, I don’t think they even represent their own foundational beliefs. And when they do resemble their party lines in rhetoric, the execution of those very standards is too often compromised or altogether hypocritical.
So, with this current state of affairs (no pun intended), this is my Declaration of INDEPENDENT:
I am more concerned with rising temperatures and sea levels than with the rise in my portfolio. I want the generations long after mine to enjoy the planet.
I care about the suffering of others beyond the made-up lines on a map. This is a planet we live on, not just a country we live in. If I were born in or migrated to another country, if my work required me to cross seas or borders, my care for human suffering and hope for a full life of others will remain nation-neutral.
This is a planet we live on, not just a country we live in.
I support a strong military. I support our amazing men and women in “defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” I cannot support the justification of war for colonization, acquisition of or securing strategic resources, or waging war of any kind. There is no good war.
I believe in something beyond this world. I feel there is a higher purpose. I can’t fathom that our being is a random accident. If some moronic and prejudiced governor legislates the Ten Commandments in classrooms, he should just as quickly post Qur’an verses of Soorat al-Anaam and Soorat al-Israa, or the written expression of stories and allegories of the polytheistic indigenous peoples, the precepts of Buddhism, and the ten disciplines of Hinduism, to name a few. As an American, I would celebrate and honor these beliefs as much as my own. They are not my enemy; they are my colleagues, teachers, mentors, and friends. We have more in common than in difference.
I believe in fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. This requires accountability and some bumper strips of reason, including guards against the self-interests of the legislators over the public good. Wasteful spending is an American epidemic. Wasteful spending in Congress is a Rite of Passage. I believe every spend—whether for infrastructure, the military, healthcare, or $6 Million (yes, that’s 6 with nine zeros after it) to boost Egyptian Tourism (yes, that’s for expanding tourism in Egypt – you know, the country in North Africa with the buildings inspired by casinos in Las Vegas?), should be scrutinized. EVERY congressperson should include video testimony as to why they support the spend.
I struggle with the Pro Life and Pro Choice issues. I understand both sides. But ultimately, I believe that women should have the right to choose what happens to their bodies. I believe in parameters and, limits and conditions. There doesn’t seem to be a best answer for this to me, but I don’t feel it’s right to legislate a woman’s choice.
Health care for all should be a civil right, not a privilege that comes with employment or wealth. I am a capitalist, but not with healthcare. Access to healthcare leads to a healthier population. That does NOT mean FREE. I am for access for all and making it affordable. Inequity leads to higher incidences of disease, expense, and mortality. Don’t even debate me on this one; you will lose. Wait, go ahead; it will surely be more enlightening and entertaining than the debate. We spend almost three times more GDP on healthcare than the next closest industrialized countries, and our outcomes aren’t in the top 20. “When John F. Kennedy was president, 6% of American kids had a chronic health condition. Today it is 60%. Rates of autoimmune disease, diabetes, ADD and ADHD, autism, obesity, asthma, food allergies, and other chronic health conditions have been skyrocketing.” ~Kennedy24.com. The system does not work. We have excellent providers, extraordinary technology, and truly fantastic science mixed with a black hole of greed and misalignment. Who suffers? The patients, families, our budget(s), and our country’s health. I feel that if you willfully choose to live unhealthily, you should have to contribute more to the health system. We should tax and spend on wellness and treating illness and disease.
I support our law enforcement. They are incredible servants who take their oath to serve and protect to heart. They put their lives on the line daily. Like any other profession or public service, they must have accountability. There are bad cops like there are bad executives, businesspeople, and presidents. Our criminal justice system has all the promises and flaws that go with governing our safety. That same system is still biased, full of inequity and prejudice, and lacks due process far too often. While the bad apples are weeded out, our law enforcement is critical to civil society. I would NEVER de-fund police; I would fund methods of accountability and creating an equitable and fair system of justice.
Immigration created this country. Citizen-hopefuls deserve the same chance at the “dream” as any of us did. Dropping out of the womb should not be what makes a citizen. There have been bad people crossing our borders before we even had borders. In my wild fantasy of a civilized union, every person must pass a litmus test and prove their worth and contribution potential. Of course, this isn’t possible, but birthright does not guarantee a person is any better (or worse) than the beautiful people of Mexico, Venezuela, China, Syria, Congo, India, the Philippines, and more. We, as a nation, have solved truly difficult problems. Our current solutions do not totally prevent those who pose a danger to us from getting in. Our current solutions make it too hard for the good people (the VAST VAST VAST majority of ALL immigrants) to become citizens and build a future of promise.
I believe in the democratic experiment. I think it has great promise, such as the right (and civic responsibility) to vote; a free press (as awful as some are that call themselves the “Press”); free and fair elections (including the last one in which there was and remains no inkling of interference), and a separation of powers (at least until today’s Stranger Things ruling by the purchased SCOTUS on the topic of immunity).
What does that make me? Confused? I think it makes me Independent. Thanks for asking.
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