Democrats vs. Republicans

I am exploring running as a Democrat, but not because of my belief in the ability of the Democratic Party to rise to the challenge and meet the needs of working people, but because of the unfortunate reality of how our electoral politics is set up and until Ranked Choice voting is a reality, I feel forced to run as a democrat. I have been a life long democrat (with the exception of registering as unaffiliated for several years). I campaigned for Joe Courtney in 2006 with the UCONN Democrats, and Obama in 2008, and 2012. I lived and breathed Blue No Matter Who. But recently I began to realize, I have yet to see Democrats actually champion bold policies like the New Deal, or the Civil Rights Act, or anything that truly revolutionizes people’s ability to thrive in America. And I came to the unfortunate conclusion that neither Democrats nor Republicans are there to solve problems. Problems are great fundraising platforms. Why would Democrats ever codify Roe vs. Wade if they could just use it every year as a way to scare people into giving $5 to protest a woman’s right to choose? Obi-wan Kenobi once said “ It is my experience that <politicians> focus only on pleasing those who fund their campaigns.” Maybe that is why it feels as if the Democrats are more focused on pleasing corporations and AIPAC, than the people they pretend to represent. 

As a proud gay man, I have always had an unease about Republicans. Which was unfair because there are many Republicans that are wonderful people. But the current Republican Party is not the GOP of our grandparents. It is flat out National Authoritarian Fascism. And I hope one day Republican voters see how their elected representatives lied to them, robbed them of education, health, and happiness all under the guise of freedom. The Republican Party only believes in freedom as long as it is their version of freedom, and that is not freedom.