Taking the middle road

In a country where many feel defined by their political affiliations, what does it mean to be a moderate?

In 2020, 48 percent of people identified as politically moderate, 29 percent as conservative, and 20 percent as liberal. This prompted the question, what does ‘politically moderate’ or the ‘political middle ground’ really mean?

High school history teacher Dr. Susie An describes the middle ground as finding a way to see an issue, but not making an effort to change it. An feels the political middle ground can often ignore the way people feel on a personal and emotional level, only thinking in the most practical way.

“[The political middle ground is] not determining the moral valence of an issue and taking the more materialistic approach,” An said. “It’s acknowledging the issues as they are and disregarding the way people really feel about them.”

The current polarized nature of politics often leaves people feeling forced to identify as a Democrat or Republican, which David Dumontet ‘24 does not believe is the best path forward. Dumontet describes himself as socially liberal but is often regarded as conservative.

“I often feel like I have to curtail my [political] opinion, if I say something that doesn’t necessarily agree with the mindset of everyone else in the room, people are quick to shut it down and label it as too conservative or too radical,” Dumontet said. “I think that when you group people [based on political belief] it is very easy to disagree with them based on their existence as members of the Republican party or Democratic party as opposed to how the system should be which is having a meaningful discussion.”

Dumontet often receives backlash for his political viewpoints and has even seen people be hesitant to befriend him based on rumors. He recognizes the brutality involved in modern politics and feels that he has been a victim of it.

“There’s a lot of dehumanization of people on both sides based on how they voted,” Dumontet said. “I’ve even had classmates tell me they wouldn’t be friends with me simply because I am more conservative. Most

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE POLITICALLY MODERATE?

people that do that are people that have said they would only vote blue or red, it’s not really people who believe in the middle ground.”

Likewise, Mercy Richter ‘24 believes that the two-party system breeds competition and chaos. While she does resonate most with leftism, she does not see the need to box people into political parties.

“I think the two-party system binds people to a narrative that is either seen as very negative or very positive," Richter said. “I don’t even know how comfortable I am with saying I am far left, but I think I am because that’s what I kind of resonate with. I just kind of grab what I like and go with it.”

Similarly, Peter Bario ‘23 does not agree with the two-party sys- tem and while he doesn’t define himself as either Republican or Democrat, his views most closely align with leftism and therefore, does not consider himself in the middle. Bario believes everyone is a little misunderstood politically because politics are so intricate and ever-changing.

“Bipartisanship is probably the worst thing to happen to America," Bario said. “It’s just two sides of something yelling at each other. They’re not even talking, they’re just screaming at each other because they’re wearing different colored shirts. It’s pretty stupid. I wouldn’t mind if everyone was in the middle and you didn’t have to register with one political party.”

Alumni Quincy Diallo ‘21 does not believe in or agree with the political middle ground. He be- lieves the middle ground to be a mere cover-up for the capitalistic nature of America.

“The so-called middle ground is a veil behind which beneficiaries of the status quo of Western dominance can hide the fact that they don’t care about Black people, native people, poor people or people in the global south," Diallo said. “Compared to almost every other country, the United States is a far-right capitalist oligarchy. A political sliding scale runs from fascism to communism not capitalism to capitalism.”

Comparatively, An does believe in the middle ground and can see the downside of it; most notably, that people are not meant to all have the same opinions. An believes diversity is necessary for a functioning society and the middle ground could eventually kill diversity.

“I think what we think about when we say ‘centrist’ or ‘the middle ground’ is just collaboration," An said. “It’s mainly evidence-based policies and it could look like compromise where conservatives are honing their resolutions more toward the left and leftists are honing their resolutions more toward the right. However, if we were just dead center, I think we would get a lot done and more laws would get passed but I’m not sure how great that is if everyone possessed the same beliefs and ideologies; that almost looks a little like tyranny."

Who are independents?

4 in 10

“We're all victims of lying, and over time we realize when it's okay and when it's not okay."

ERIC HARUTYUNYAN

“It's okay to lie as long as the consequences of that lie aren't going to endanger anyone.”

ASIA HARRIS

" I don’t think it’s acceptable to lie if your primary goal is to hurt someone. But sometimes there are moments in life where you need to and it’s okay.”

ALEX GREENBERG

“We're all victims of lying, and over time we realize when it's okay and when it's not okay."

ERIC HARUTYUNYAN

Independents who do not lean toward the Democratic or Republican party were significantly less active in voting; only a third of these independents voted in the midterm

Americans label themselves as politically independent.

Republican leaning independents support gay marriage; many independents have significantly different attitudes on some issues than the party that they lean toward.

Americans feel favorably toward both political parties; independents do not necessarily support both parties.

81% of American political independents consider themselves to have a party preference.

17% of the American public are Democratic leaning independents. of the American public are Republican leaning independents.

13%