I awoke Wednesday as a GOP state committeeman and member of the Republican Liberty Caucus National Board. By mid-morning, I had unenrolled from the Republican Party and released the shackles of institutional loyalty to become a free-thinking independent voter.
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, I did not leave my party, my party left me. I still believe in limited government and personal freedom, but do not believe that principle is served by parties.
George Washington warned of the “baneful effects of the spirit of party” for they allowed “a small but artful and enterprising minority” to exert its will over the will of the people.
Political parties should stand for principles, not power.
The monopoly grip of the mega-institution Democrats and Republicans, which stifle grass-roots-up voices in order to keep control, is the problem. Good government suffers. I urge my progressive friends who express dissatisfaction with the Democrats to consider throwing off the yoke of party because they are as stifled within that institution as libertarian voices are within the GOP.
I toiled for Republicans since Youth for Goldwater as a collegian. My core beliefs are those of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, who articulated a vision but welcomed open debate among all factions.
I owe a mea culpa to good friends who resigned from the Republican Party in August 2013, including then-GOP National Committeeman Mark Willis. At the time, I argued that working from within could change the party and they should stay. I was wrong. The party will not listen and labels anyone who stands on principle over party a “troublemaker.” It has lost its principled vision.
The cabals control.
The Republican National Committee will impose its nominee regardless of popular will via rules so draconian that if they were in place in 1980, Ronald Reagan could not have won nomination; and, if Democrats had them in 1960, John Kennedy would not have been nominated.
The Republican State Committee ran such a tightly timed and scripted convention in 2014 that open debate on the party platform was stifled and those who followed party rules were denied the floor to tackle subjects like the same-sex marriage plank.
In January, the Penobscot County Republican Committee handed down its predetermined slate of officers, stopping any grass-roots-up nominations.
Those who speak out on issues and honest, transparent governing are labeled “troublemakers.” They are censured in the name of party unity because, to the party bosses, having one of their own in office is more important than any principles on which they stand. The Cocktail Party membership squirms at open discussion of issues that interfere with social hour.
The concept of “bipartisanship” is distorted. In successful business, good deals are made when each side starts on core principles and expects tradeoffs. Capitulation to party leadership blocs is not bipartisanship when the people’s welfare is jeopardized in the name of taking action.
Ralph Nader told the Commonwealth Club of California in July 2014 that the two major parties are not open to the grass-roots. He called them arrogant for labeling independents “spoilers,” as if citizens should be vassals only to the two corporate parties. For voters to have a say, he said, they should withhold party loyalty and hold politicians’ feet to the fire in civil debate issue by issue.
News media are partially to blame because they do not report the details of issues as much as they report the horse race and the voting numbers. How are voters to decide when they do not know specifics about where politicians stand?
I am personally partially to blame, having spent years as a spin doctor and consultant, teaching candidates how to campaign without scaring voters with issues and even writing a book on it.
I still believe in traditional liberty principles. I still intend to speak out on issues. Now, I am an independent voice loyal to my beliefs for the good of my country and state and not to a soulless institution.
I have thrown off the yoke of partisan serfdom. I urge other independent thinkers from right to left to join me and exercise our civic influence in general elections by forcing politicians in tight races to pay attention or not get our votes. The common welfare of citizens should trump political parties.
Vic Berardelli of Newburgh is the author of “The Politics Guy Campaign Tips — How to Win a Local Election.” He is a former political consultant, GOP state committeeman and Republican Liberty Caucus Northeast Regional Director.