I’m an early 80s hippie Democrat turned Republican, turned Libertarian, turned Disillusioned Christian Anarcho-Pacifist, turned Progressive, turned *Developmentalist. I’m not a Centrist. These days, I live in a cobbled-together driftwood fort I built on the beach of the Mystical Cosmic Navel—a place where positive values from multiple worldviews swirl and dance together in harmonic tension. A place where my opponents are parts of myself I haven’t gotten to know yet.
I’ve got friends across the political spectrum—friends I love (and actually like—MAGA and Woke, I’m talking about you), friends who, I believe, each hold a piece of the truth, goodness, and beauty, but not all of it. I’m still ‘in process,’ so please take what I am going to say with a grain of salt.
In my view, the highest value Donald Trump brings to the table is his spontaneity. He’s got a knack for deconstructing social norms, possibly clearing the way for something new. Who knows, maybe in ten years, if our country holds together, we’ll look back on Trump as a catalyst for the next evolutionary step in our culture and consciousness. Then again, we could end up in a fractured, neo-civil-war-like scenario under an authoritarian, Putin-esque leader.
Kamala wasn’t my first choice, but she has surprised me with her efforts to reclaim American patriotism for the political left. I don’t know that her vision of patriotism or skillset has the transcendent firepower to pull America out of its hyper-polarized culture-war stance, but maybe it is a step toward growth, which is why I’m giving her a chance with my vote.
For me, this election isn’t about policy. I wish it were, but we haven’t reached that luxurious level of maturity. It’s about preserving the classical liberal norms that allow for a peaceful transfer of power, norms that took a major blow on Jan. 6, 2020.
At this point, I think it’s structurally more important to participate in the democratic process of voting than trying to convince anyone about a specific candidate. Trust must be repaired for the system to work. If you haven’t yet, I urge you to get out there and cast your ballot!
*The term “developmentalist” refers to developmental philosophy that integrates values from the three competing worldviews: traditionalism, modernism, and progressive postmodernism. I’d be happy to chat in person with anyone interested or feeling politically homeless. You’re not alone. I happen to work for a non-profit that promotes this very philosophy. Here is a simplified version of it applied to politics: https://developmentalpolitics.org/our-developmental-approach-in-700-words/
DISCLAIMER: I invite you to reflect and share some of your political journey, but please agree to the following ground rules:
– Treat people with respect.
– No name-calling.