Nonpartisanship: A Brief Personal Reflection

There exists in our contemporary sociopolitical structure a tyranny of the majority which stifles the very ideals of freedom and independence upon which our government and country were founded. This form of tyranny is unlike others in that it is not directly enforced by government leaders, but rather by the opinion of the citizenry. It is through the force of majority opinion that dissent against the norms of political organization us kept down. While technically free to dissent from and protest established norms of political behavior without government impediment, the dissident instead faces the foe of common opinion. When he goes against that he is threatened with social excommunication and censure. This is a force potentially as strong as any other form of tyranny in stifling the independence and freedom of expression.

This tyranny is perpetuated in and by the structure of our current party system. The idea of a two-party system has become so ingrained in our society amongst the majority that any attempts to branch outside of it are instantly dismissed. This dismissal is tied to the assumptions and complacency of the majority with the system as it stands now, and the tendency of individuals within the majority to act in accordance with others opinions rather than their own. The individual feels that without the backing of the majority, the cause of change and subversion is worthless. Attempts at change disrupt the flow of sociopolitical norms, even if these changes are good, and the majority feels threatened at this prospect; thus, the perpetuation of a dual-party system in the United States.

The recent phenomenon of “bipartisanship” is an example of how opinion is becoming more homogenized because of the majority. It is the current political fashion to be “centrist” so as to appeal to the largest possible majority. People in both parties are holding increasingly similar political ideals. While this is a good policy for getting votes, it is one that stifles the political debate in our nation, and merely perpetuates norms, good and bad, making it even more difficult to make and real progress in solving the problems faced by our country.

It is the aim of the Nonpartisan, though, to look beyond the majority and see that quality of ideals is not determined by the numbers of people who hold them. Advancement is made through dialogue and debate of different issues, not pandering. While it is impossible to remove the influence of the majority from democratic government, it is the Nonpartisans' aim to loosen the confines of that majority, and open it to more dynamic modes of thinking. In this way, the Nonpartisan hopes to enrich the ongoing debates in our society and provide it with a fuller range of options, not limited by the scope of party agendas.

--Kathleen Frana