Dear Editor,

I’m noticing a trend as I follow local, regional, state and country wide election preparations, like a rubber band stretched to its limit and about to snap back.

I see it in Talarico’s dark money-fueled campaign numbers over Crockett’s. I hear it in Newsome’s call for Dems to drop trans rights issues. It strikes me when I see Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Neguse’s names connected to financial contributions from pro-Israel PACs. 

The Democratic Party has a “centrist” problem, as it’s evident that “leftist” and “progressive” ideals have become blacklisted in the face of a continued MAGA stranglehold on the country, a problem fueled by the trappings of temperance — the “high road” answer to Trump’s cynical America. 

Dems are yearning for forced deportation done “the right way,” drone attacks on Middle Eastern people done “the right way,” shutting down the government over budget disputes done “the right way,” and police beatings on civil rights protestors done “the right way.” 

The Trump Administration’s blatant disregard of all the curtains so delicately hung to hide the wizard has made the Democrats clamor for that tried and true weapon of feckless inaction: civility. The return to the norm under the guise of graciousness, the deception of decorum, that knit blanket they put over our collective heads to make the boogeymen go away. 

But they don’t go away. In fact, politeness only perpetuates the problem. Temperance impedes progression; it only seems attractive now because the light of reality has been too harsh without the veil, and some of us just don’t have the strength, or care, to fight that reality anymore. 

That’s why women like Crockett, Ocasio-Cortez, and Omar are always going to be “put in their place” by traditional Democrats. The “screeching” about issues Americans should care about is like nails to the chalkboard to our interior ego-driven missions — the urge to protect our interests under the pressure of an army of anxiously ticking clocks. 

Who wants to shatter glass ceilings? Think of the noise! 

We don’t want disrupters or malcontents interrupting our white noise therapy, our deeply personal journeys for centering and inner peace. We want the delusion of old fashioned Democracy, where “middle of the aisle” unicorn politicians will somehow champion real American values while simultaneously acting as humanitarian to the entire world.

I sense that the rubber band will snap back, and that every election, regardless of how big or how small, will carry with it a great weight, as the choice for Democrats will seem dire, to be one of “traditionalist” versus “progressive,” ol’ reliable versus scary socialism.

Both parties will be snapping closer to center to seem less drastic to exhausted and incensed voters, but the ideals behind the mask of centrism will only serve to perpetuate a system that is in need of political pruning and innovative redirecting.

The boat needs to be captained by those willing to rock it when it needs to be, regardless if it might rattle the radicals on the opposite side, or the “wave” riders on their own side. 

Christopher Kelley

Nederland