I realize that most of you reading this probably don’t even know what you’re going to have for breakfast tomorrow morning let alone thinking about our nation’s 250th birthday which is in 3 years, but we all need to start, and not for the fun reasons like throwing a big party which I’m sure will happen, but for a really serious reason that I put to you as a question–

Do we want the next 250 years of our history to be as partisan-driven as the first 250 years were?

In his farewell address George Washington famously warned our young nation not to go down the road of partisan politics and we ignored that sage advice to our own detriment time and again throughout our history to the point where today everything is so seemingly polarized that a Democrat and a Republican cannot agree on what shade of blue the sky is.  

Many who like how our 2 party system operates (ie who benefit from it) will say that it is the forge that made sure good ideas and solutions were supported by enough people before they were finally enacted.  

Those who look at history more objectively can see that our two party system has resulted in making our country so highly reactive to problems that throughout our history it has delayed us from dealing with problems for decades longer than was necessary, resulting in wasted opportunities to enact cheaper, easier, and less bloody solutions.  

If you don’t agree, ask yourself, why did it take almost 90 years after we declared all men were created equal to end slavery?  Why did it take 140+ years to give women the right to vote?  Why did it take over 100 years to start passing child labor laws?  Why did it take another 100 years after the end of the Civil War to enact civil rights legislation?  Why were all of these seemingly easy decisions so controversial and difficult to pass for so long?

The answer: our first past the post plurality elections incentivize and prioritize fighting for power and control over working together to find solutions to problems.

Some would argue that the two party system is what helped make America the most powerful and influential nation in all of recorded history.  I would argue that everything we have achieved  has been in spite of the millstone of partisanship, not because of it, and that we could have flown higher, faster, and farther without it holding us back.  

Our nation has been at a crossroads for some time and will still be at the same crossroad in 3 years when its big birthday arrives.  Will we continue down the same well-worn partisan path that we have been on for 250 years, or will we finally begin to consider a different path, the path that George Washington would have had us take….a path that constantly reminds us we all have far more in common than we do that divides us?

Like many Americans, for years I have wished and hoped and dreamed and worked for a viable alternative to the Democrats and Republicans.  I came to the rather disappointing conclusion a few years ago that continuing to run 3rd party candidates and independent candidates, and those candidates losing, just continues to reinforce the narrative that they won’t ever win, that they are spoilers, and thereby makes the 2 party system stronger.  

When I came to that realization I decided to turn my focus towards helping nonpartisan reform campaigns for things like open primaries, ranked choice voting, etc with the hope that once those reforms were in place it would be easier and more realistic for 3rd party and independent candidates to run and win elections.  

What I learned from those efforts unfortunately is that most people, for however much they may complain about the two party system and the state of our national conversation, just don’t care enough to help make those things a reality.  

In short, we must not wait to run independent and third party candidates until those nonpartisan reforms are passed, and in fact running them may help make passage of those reforms easier by raising awareness and increasing support for them.   

For independent and third party candidates it is no longer about simply winning elections or giving people another option to vote for, it is about educating the public along the campaign trail, keeping the spark and hope of a less partisan and more solution oriented government alive in the hearts and minds of the people, to inspire others to dream about what is possible and to continue the fight themselves.  Candidates who do all of that are still doing a huge service to our country even if they don’t win the election.      

A few years ago I wrote an article and said that the 21st century would be an Independent Century by the time it was all over.  In my heart I still believe that.  More voters continue to vote with their feet every day by registering as Independent or No Party Affiliation.  The only reason independents and third party candidates haven’t won more is the electoral system is set up to make it as hard as possible for them to win–for now.  

The American people cannot say it any more clearly or loudly….they are well past ready to put country over party.  It’s up to us to show them how we get there, by giving them candidates they can vote for and election reforms they understand and support.

2026 will be 250 years since our nation boldly declared its independence from the only system of government it had ever known.  I was born shortly before our nation’s bicentennial in 1976 and will turn 50 a few days before the nation turns 250.  I will have lived for exactly 20% of our nation’s history under the scourge of hyperpartisanship.  

I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor the sacrifices made, hardships endured, and efforts given by our founding generation than if we could get at least 250 independents and third party candidates who are willing to put country over party to run for office in 2026.  I hope you will join me in supporting those candidates, and if necessary, consider being one of those candidates.