Freedom & Progress

Regular readers of this Blog are well aware of Freedom & Progress's disdain for polarized politics and slavery to dogma or pure ideology. This past election seemed to be the culmination of political polarization where neither Kerry nor Bush ever went against the so-called "base" of their respective parties and voiced an opinion that was genuinely their own.

Freedom & Progress generally believes that the majority of Americans are independent thinkers and reject false dichotomies in political discourse. The truth is that most individuals are conservative about some issues and liberal about other issues. There is nothing wrong with that. That is called, "thinking for oneself".

Michael Barone, in the latest U.S. News & World Report, argues that perhaps 2008 will signify a departure of the politics of polarization. In his piece, "An End to Polarization," Barone identifies the early emergence of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic frontrunner and either John McCain or Rudy Giuliani as the Republican frontrunner as evidence that the public is also growing tired a polarized election.

Barone accurately admits that it is way too early for a final call, as none of the three frontrunners are close to a nomination, However, it is telling that McCain's popularity stems from his seeming independence from the RNC, or that Hillary Clinton has not flinched in her support of the Iraq War. Indeed, perhaps the time has come for a realignment of the electorate.

Our friend, the Bull Moose, is also hoping for a centrist rising in 2008. While the term, "centrism" connotes "unprincipled" to many ideologues on both sides of the isle, Freedom & Progress contends that to the majority of free-thinkers in America, centrism may in fact represent independence and consistency.