Confessions of a Moderate Millennial
I know that in an age of sacrificial SJWs and Alt-Right martyrs it’s hard to believe that people can still be political moderates. We’ve reached a point where it has apparently become impossible to want smaller government and want a progressive tax scale (a flat tax is inherently progressive). This seems odd, especially coming off of a national election cycle that saw a libertarian candidate do better than anyone could have expected.
I’m a registered independent. I always have been. I’ve never felt at home either the Republican or the Democratic Party. Voting down-ballot based on party affiliation always seemed lazy to me. Why and when did we decide we have to define ourselves as progressive or conservative. It doesn’t have to be this way. At least, that’s how I feel.
But when I bring this up to my left and right friends, I’m almost immediately labeled as someone who is on the different end of the ideological spectrum. This kind of groupthink is so harmful when it comes to having productive dialogue that could lead to compromises and maybe even a functioning government. I’m often accused of being a liberal on hot button social issues like abortion and gay marriage; but as someone who believes in the principle of limited government, I couldn’t possibly support Big Government infringing on the personal decisions of other people.
There is currently a huge debate going on in this country about gun rights. I have struggled with finding where I am on this issue for years and have finally come to the conclusion that there really should be minimal restrictions to gun ownership. This may seem like the ideas of someone on the far right; except I feel the same way about decriminalizing all narcotics and ending the expensive and ineffective War on Drugs. It’s possible to be more than just a liberal or a conservative. We moderates are still here, hiding in plain sight.
My name is AJ Link and I am student at The George Washington University Law School.