Eisenhower was a moderate Republican. He created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and supported federal funding for low-income housing. Nixon started the Environmental Protection Agency. Reagan signed the Simpson-Mazzoli Act as a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Today, I wonder if they’d be elected in a time when their initiatives are being dismantled by their own party. Whether we think so or not, political parties change slowly in time. In the past the Republican party was what is seen today as Democratic and vice versa. If you voted for Reagan then, would you do so today? Why did you back then? It’s time to revisit how your party defines itself.
Many of us vote a straight ticket based on our definition of what we think our party stands for. We crave simplicity and it’s easier to just vote by party than by candidate. But no matter how much we want it, we cannot magically make the world a simpler place. Every candidate will have things we agree with and disagree with.
In a year celebrating 250 years of America we should honor our Revolutionary War ancestors who fought for our right to have a say in how this country is run. It’s not enough to walk in on a cold November morning, not look at the names, and vote a straight ticket. I don’t believe that’s what they meant when they fought and died.
When we‘re brave enough to have real conversations with people we realize two things – we agree on more than we think and the best candidate is the best, regardless of party. We need to go back to the days when we entrusted candidates to make decisions that made our lives better overall, even if that meant compromise. But that also means not taking the easy way out and voting a straight ticket, term after term for the same person.
This November why not vote the old-school way and give a new candidate, like Kathleen Pratt, a chance. She might surprise you. She might not. But at least you heard her out. You might find she is the best for our community at this moment. And yes, that might mean crossing the political aisle. But why not? Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan did it. If a president can do it, why can’t you?
Cristal Renzo, Gettysburg, PA