“Get off the fence, and pick a side.”
As of recent, there has been a lot of talk of an often overlooked and forgotten party. A set of beliefs that vastly differs from that of Republicans or Democrats. Centrists are often mistaken for moderates, but what they are is open and considerate of traditional values and new ideas as needs of the nation change, making decisions based on evidence, not ideology.
The idea of the “political center” is generally an ideal. Candidates strive for it, but so many miss the mark and ostracize a whole segment of the voting caucus in the process. Especially in our incredibly polarizing political climate, the “political center” seems non-existent and ineffective.
If I am honest, I had no clue that a “Centrist Party” even existed. Society tries to pigeonhole us in numerous ways from the time we are young, and the notion of your political identity is treated the same way. When you go vote, you will see a list of unheard candidates from the Libertarian Party, Green Party, or the Constitution Party.
Most of the time, people pigeonhole themselves into a party with numerous factions of different ideological views within it. Often, these views do not line up with their own other than their stance on taxes, healthcare, or immigration. However, people tend to stick to their parties, vote along party lines, and time and time again, no progress is made on anything.
Where does “centrism” fit in? What would a strictly “centrist” government look like in the United States? What do “centrists” even believe? According to The Centrist Party website, “Centrists don’t have party lines. Centrists believe that solutions are more important than bias.” The idea of crossing party lines is not foreign in the United States, but not an easy thing like a flip of a switch. I would choose to believe that most Americans want laws passed that work when put into practice, but this is not the case.
As a country, we have grown increasingly divided as our “opposing” political party moves toward more extremist views. This division has instilled so much fear that many of us, myself included, overlook the qualms we have with the policies of our party. We vote for these bills, policies, and representatives simply because there is a (D) or an (R) next to their name, regardless if we agree with it.
This kind of voting and prideful political outlook has only fed into the bureaucracy that exists in Washington D.C. and the disaffectedness we see towards politics around our country.
Centrism is not a popular political stance to have. Within the research I have done, the hostility toward the “centrist” ideology is incredibly prominent. Eisenhower argued, “It often takes more courage to occupy the Center than any other position in the political arena, for you are then subject to attack from both flanks.” Although, I cannot help but think that it is due to the misconceptions that exist about the political center.
Centrism is not just an ideal. Centrism is a possibility. However, the American people will have to make that choice for themselves. Centrism is based on facts and what works for and will benefit everyone, not just a small portion of our population.
I encourage each one of you reading this to educate yourself on centrism. Whether you agree with it or not, educating yourself on beliefs different from yours allows you to have insight into the minds of others. To truly be the United States of America, understanding one another is our first step.
Cat Martinez is a writer based in Los Angeles. In her writing, she merges her passion for civics and writing to inspire others to get involved in their communities.
