My choice is what I choose to do
And if I'm causing no harm, it shouldn't bother you
Your choice is who you choose to be
And if you're causing no harm, then you're alright with me
- Ben Harper, "Burn One Down"
I've been successfully - and happily - abstaining from posting over here, but this thread intrigues me, so I'll weigh-in. I grew up Republican (the old-school, 1980's version), and leaned that way for most of my life. Never voted for Obama, and even donated to the Trump 2016 campaign in its early days, as I truly felt that we had to get away from the pattern of nominating/electing people just because of their last name (I despised Hillary, and wasn't a George W fan at all). All that started to change quickly once I realized that Donald wasn't putting on a show to cut through the noise of a crowded 2016 primary. He was actually telling us exactly who he was, and who he would be. And the GOP completely transformed themselves to bend to his will. So, given that we live in a ridiculous two-party system, I've had to reluctantly align myself more with Democrats - a group I have called "inept" numerous times on this forum - over the past few years. But I truly consider myself an independent, and claim neither party as my own.
And as a current political independent, what I despise most is the hyper-partisanship of the entire political atmosphere. We should celebrate politicians who cross the aisle to pass meaningful legislation for the nation. Instead they are vilified by the loudest voices inside their own party for daring to "give the other side a win". What in the actual f*ck is that, and how did we get here?!? How will anything get done if bills are painfully negotiated, but then torpedoed by a group of elected officials for their own political advantage? And here's a little newsflash for you fanboys out there: No one on either side is trying to "destroy America". They all care about this country we share, but just have very different ideas about their preferred visions of the future. And that's ok. That is America.
On the Left, I'm not a fan of large-scale social programs, like Medicare for All, that realistically can't be paid-for. We need to be much more fiscally conservative as a nation, and reign-in spending. I'm also not someone who is ok with people who were born biologically male competing in sports against biological females. Nature is nature, and the physiology of our bodies are scientifically different. But here's the thing: aside from the athletic competitions, I DON'T GIVE TWO SHITS HOW SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO LIVE THEIR PRIVATE LIFE. And I think the majority of Americans agree with me.
Which brings me to one of my main criticisms of the Right: they need to quit thinking that they have found the "correct" way to live, and stop trying to impose those ways and beliefs on others. No one cares about the culture wars the way they do within their own little echo chambers. Most people just want to use their preciously-short time on this planet to do whatever makes them happy. They want to love who they want to love, live how they want to live, and simply be who they want to be. If that includes being romantic with someone of the same sex, attending a drag show, sparking up a doobie at the end of a long day, or even choosing to terminate a pregnancy for a variety of legitimate reasons, that is their choice. This country was founded on the core principle that Americans have an inherent right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", and that's all that most of us want.
The primary problem for the GOP is that they have become a cult of personality around one narcissistic a$$hole, and are willing to contort beliefs and positions to accommodate his whims. They decried the notion of nominating a supreme court justice before an election...until it was politically convenient for them. They torpedoed border legislature in order to be able to keep bitching about it without a solution. They are willing to believe and spread outright lies about imaginary election fraud. They will re-work local laws and procedures around vote-counting, so that someone can claim fraud - without ANY proof - and affect the outcome. Hell, the Republicans didn't even have a platform for 2020, instead bowing to whatever DJT would decide to do.
America desperately needs a serious third party option. And I'm not talking about RFK Jr, or Kanye, or even Gary Johnson (whom I voted-for in 2016). We need a viable option for those of us in the middle, so that we aren't presented with these terrible candidates who represent the extremes of each side.
Until then, I'll suck it up and support the side that is more aligned with the live-and-let-live philosophy to which I adhere. Vote Harris!