For years, I’ve operated on the 70% rule, in essence stating that on most major issues more than two-thirds of folks surveyed would agree on basic preferences—no matter what political or economic leanings.
Full disclosure: This is not based on any empirical or factually-justifiable research or findings. It’s just a feeling, in turn fueling my strong belief that electing a president who will unite versus divide is so critical.
Bottom line, in my opinion both major parties are a corrupt joke. My standing position is that the only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican.
To me, Trump’s whole agenda has been to divide and conquer. In principle at least, Biden wants to unite and heal. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he can succeed to some degree at least.
Here are three key issues to which I feel the 70% rule applies:
Immigration.
Everyone I’ve conversed with agrees that immigration policies need to change to prevent mass, unfettered foreign influx into the US. The rub is the way to do that. Clearly, Trump’s plan has been to punish and pillage. Biden, in theory at least, will work to bring us back to a more moderate stance that can address the problems constructively, instead of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
Healthcare.
Again, everyone I’ve talked with concurs that healthcare is a dysfunctional mess that needs massive remediation. The differences in how to do that tend to follow party lines, however. Conservatives/Republicans I know generally believe in the power of the private marketplace to do it. Liberals/Democrats (and increasingly, many folks in between) believe that some form of universal coverage plan is needed. I happen to be one of them. Gotta admit that, so far, I’ve found Medicare to be pleasantly surprising as far as coverage and lack of expected bureaucratic hoops. So, we mostly agree on the problem. I’d rather see Biden’s “public option” plan get at least a fair hearing versus the seeming move backwards into a “survival of the fittest” solution advocated by Trump’s minions.
Governance.
With exceptions on the left and right fringes, almost everyone I’ve canvassed agrees with governance that has checks and balances. Traditionally, to me that’s meant in part not having one party dominate all three branches of governments—but rather have a healthy split where compromise and collaboration are encouraged, and in fact practiced.
In 2010, I felt the Democrats had over-pressed their advantage—so I supported a Republican Congressional victory. Now, for the first time in my life, I want the Democrats to capture everything they can to start undoing the cataclysmic damage wrought by Trump and his Republican cronies and sycophants. To me, this will help restore some level of balance. Hopefully (but sadly, not expectfully), in two years we will have evolved back toward some level of collaborative, reach-across-the-aisle governance at the federal level. I liken it to the example of Democratic House Speaker Tip O’Neill and President Reagan sharing good conversation, and I believe positive negotiation, over after-hours drinks.
Under more safe, sane and sanguine conditions, I’d like to believe that We, the People could work “across the aisle” more effectively and constructively to address our shared beliefs about this country’s most pressing problems and needs. Fingers crossed that we will get there before this Great Experiment, the United States of America, crashes to earth like the Hindenburg disaster of 1937.
Gray Flannel Head 