The two-party system in American politics is dying a slow death.  We saw this in the 2008 elections with the increased pandering of both Republican and Democratic candidates to the independent/unaffiliated voting bloc.  It wasn’t like there was much of a choice, though, in the last election.  The Republicans had John McCain, hardly a conservative candidate, whose centrist record made him difficult to appeal to the party base but appealing to independent voters until the nomination of Sarah Palin as running-mate.  And the Democrats had Barack Obama, a product of Chicago’s spoils politics and the far left’s liberal community organizing, trying to pass himself off as a center-left politician above the party politics of the previous administration(s).  Given that the victor was Obama, it is easy to say that the Democrats were easily able to appeal to independent voters.  But it seems to me that these independent voters are not seeing anything different from the Bush and Clinton years.  Buyer’s remorse, anyone?

The growth of the independent voting bloc is evidence of a shift in the way many Americans think about politics.  The Democratic and Republican tickets don’t offer difference in platforms or candidates.  There is no originality anymore.  Republicans are assuming that the people are advocating for growth in government, so the committee should re-tailor the national platform to be more in line with the Democrats.  How does that help the conservative cause?  Just because you call yourself a Republican now does not mean that you are different than a Democrat if you tailor platforms to be similar.  Eventually, there will be a major third party to combat Democrats and Republicans, and look to 2016 to see a definite third contender between the Left and the “Right.”

America is changing.  We are a center-right nation that is fiscally conservative and socially liberal.  Most Americans want health-care for everyone, but not at the expense of failed European models.  We want regulation in our markets only so companies can fairly compete.  No one wants to see an increase in taxes, but we want everyone to pay their fair share.  And we want to be able to trust our government and our leaders in Washington.  Soon, there will be a cleansing in Washington, and the hypocrites in office will find themselves losing their seats to people who promise to change the status quo and actually live by their word.  Soon, we will see America become great again.