Moderates Being Squeezed Out of Political Significance
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Moderates are being largely squeezed out of political relevance by a combination of extreme gerrymandering and the resultant polarization, plus the self-segregation of American society by education and income.
According to many surveys, moderates have consistently represented from one-third to 40 percent of American voters. We are a diverse lot, including middle-of-the-roaders, leaners to one of the parties, independents, some highly engaged, some unengaged, and idiosyncratic. The one thing we share is: We aren’t one of them, meaning strong partisans of either party.
“Structured Polarization” Could Address Big Problems
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Congress is frozen. It can’t even pass a budget, the fundamental task of governments. Long-term thinking is: How do we get to next week? World leaders wonder what has happened to the U.S.
All the while, looming, big problems fester. Social Security and Medicare each face insolvency in a few years, and the national debt is soaring to unhealthy levels, with no reversal in sight, which saps funding for defense and people services.
Why doesn’t our national government look ahead? After all, local governments are awash in comprehensive long-term plans. Unfortunately, there is an inverse relationship between the level at which elected officials serve and their willingness to do long-term thinking. The higher the potential political costs to state and national politicians, the less the attention to often nettlesome long-term problems.
Creating a Significant Future for Moderate Republicans
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Trump Republicans have pushed moderates off the stage and out of the Party. Branded as RINOs (an acronym so often-invoked readers don’t need it spelled out), moderates like us feel unwelcome at Party meetings. Here is a plan to make moderate Republicans significant again in American politics.
Generally speaking, we think of the old “Main Street GOP” moderates of the Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan stripe. That is, Main Street business people have a desire to deal with most everyone, don’t wear their social values on their sleeves, and believe in limited government, free enterprise, order, harmony and prosperity. Not a sexy platform, yet solid.
Moderates obviously have social values, yet tend to pursue them via their churches and nonprofit groups. One of us is staunchly pro-Life, the other pro-Choice, yet we have worked together harmoniously in GOP politics for more than half a century.
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About Jim Nowlan
Jim Nowlan is a politician, professor, essayist, and author. He’s been a member of the Illinois House, written 600+ newspaper articles. Read more.
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