Keeping an open mind

I’ve always believed that politics is like buying a car on the lot. You only get two choices, and neither one really suits you well. But you have to choose the one that suits you and your interests best. For me, I think that’s the Democrats in many cases. But I’ve owned Chryslers, Fords and Chevrolets so I’m hardly a partisan.

The left-wing of Democratic Party likes to rebrand itself as progressives, because being a liberal seems to imply that your just a big welfare spender. But they are in many ways progressive too – in the sense that Democrats are often open to new ideas and different cultures. Democrats have long been the party of International Government, the United Nations and Free but Fair Trade. They’re not afraid of different cultures, they’re openly embracing it. Democrats advocate for change, recognizing that some changes may be bad for certain groups like coal miners, but good for all people as we move to less polluting forms of energy. Democrats, when they push for clean energy, are also working to train people for the sustainable jobs of the future. Democrats generally advocate for strong worker protections, strong environmental protections, and good schools.

Now unlike some partisans, I’m not going to embrace what my party does good or bad. If I see my party doing something bad, I think it’s important to speak up. If the Republicans have a better solution to a problem – Democrats shouldn’t reject it just because they didn’t originate the idea. Indeed, much of the creative energy these days seems to be coming from the Republican Party – not because they have all good idea but because they’ve been out of power for eight years and most Democratic ideas have been around for sometime and many have already been tested.

I don’t think it’s wrong to support an idea just because President Donald Trump supports it. If it seems like he has a good idea, then we should all get behind it – Democrat or Republican. And if Donald Trump introduces a new idea or a new solution, we shouldn’t reject it automatically, just because he’s the de facto head of Republican Party. Supporting a good President Trump policy doesn’t mean your a Republican, but instead means yours supporting an idea that you think will move our country forward.

I also think people should do more to understand the other side of issues. It’s often hard to understand conservative positions on issues, being in Albany, NY where the liberal media dominates so much of our lives. Articulate conservative perspectives are generally unwelcome on local media, and even when they are invited to speak, their views are often dismissed by hosts and other guests.

In conclusion, while I support the Democratic Party, I don’t believe one should blindly follow any party you belong to. Question their orthodoxy, and it’s fine to cross party lines and vote for candidates that are closer to your views on issues. There is nothing wrong with taking liberal positions on some issues and conservative positions on others. Keeping an open mind is essential.