Let’s face it. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both struck the jackpot with their opponent. On one side, America has scandal-ridden, seemingly apathetic plutocrat who is power-hungry and opportunistic. On the other side, America has a xenophobic bigot who champions nativism as his central policy. In 2016, it might be time to accept that politics as we know it is broken.
The Republican Party as we know it is dead. A xenophobic bigot has replaced the party of Lincoln, crusher of slavery. And while many in the Democratic Party rejoice at the fall of the perceived “enemy,” I instead lament it. The death of a major party, even one of the opposing ideology, does not make for a healthy democracy. Democrats work better when they can also represent the rights and views of Republicans. A healthy discourse promotes a democracy in which legislation is passed despite partisan rancor.
Looking at 2016, I am not filled with optimism. Yes, I am ecstatic at the prospect of having our first woman President, one who can hopefully tear down gender walls. But the moderate leftist candidate has such a negative reputation that any legislative accomplishments that follow in her wake will not be lauded. The Republican candidate has alienated such a large chunk of America that he cannot hope to push through a solid legislative agenda.
I live in Nebraska, land of the socially and fiscally conservative. However, the next generation of voters here is socially progressive and economically cautious. We fear the type of recession that caused our parents agony. We fear a country that does not support our LGBT friends. Our conservative voters are torn between voting for a narcissistic jingoist and a Democrat. Our liberal voters are torn between voting for a lukewarm fibber and a Republican.
I know which way I will vote. I will vote for progress rather than rancor, action instead of talk, rationality rather than delusion. But I still long to vote for someone I truly believe in. Our candidates should be the ones able to inspire a sense of patriotism and love in us. We deserve the candidates that are able to foster a sense of cooperation.
The death of the Republican Party does not accomplish this. Every Democrat should be shocked at the fall of those across the aisle. When one party dies, the other one loses its counterpart, its substance. The moderate candidate will be the one that can bring America together. When both parties can notch reasonable wins in their belt, America succeeds.
I sincerely hope that historians will view 2016 as a blip on the radar. Decades from now, when America has matured and fixed its damaged electoral system, will we come to regard centrism as the way to govern? Will people abandon the search for instant solutions when incremental reform is much more feasible? American politics teaches us to dream big. It tells us that we can solve our healthcare problems, our growing wealth gap, and our social injustices. But it seems to imply that we can do this all with the snap of a political finger. Parties attempt to portray themselves as the sole arbiter of justice and progress. But as much as liberals hate to admit it, we need the Republican Party to make America real.
