David French, a NeverTrumper, discovers the pleasures of being a political independent:
On the surface, this feels like a hard road to walk in a highly polarized time. And it can be. There’s an immense comfort in a sense of political belonging, especially if you live in a deep-blue or deep-red region. It can be personally difficult to chart a different path.
But there are deep rewards. First, it liberates you from uncomfortable and destructive associations and arguments. While the Bible promises Christians that they’ll face challenges and sometimes-fierce opposition in their lives, it is vastly better to face opposition for the things you actually believe and the values you actually hold rather than being forced to align with an ideological and political “package” you do not want to purchase.
Second, it opens up opportunities for unlikely friendships and unexpected relationships. It changes your posture towards the world to one that welcomes allies case-by-case. It cultivates a posture of openness and fellowship.
Simply by being an independent, one can influence friends, even strangers, who’ve retreated into Party membership and partisanship. But you must be prepared with sophisticated arguments, willingness to concede points, an open mind for new knowledge, and a thoughtful demeanor. But then, being an independent means building your own opinions and your own definitions of acceptance.
For the partisan who has been having doubts on either side of the line, being an independent is a viable course that lets you keep your intellectual integrity intact. It means that you and I don’t have to vote for someone whose competency is in doubt, just because they’ve been picked by the Party; it means I can consider the universe of choices and pick the one that I think will be best for their desired position for the term.
It’s good to see an influential former straight-line Republican voter evolve a more sophisticated approach to being a citizen – and implicitly reject team politics.
