Our Responsibility for the Future
For most of my life, I have been a political passerby. I registered as a Republican in my 20’s without much conviction. The biggest consequence of this decision was the kind of direct mail I received. Over the years, I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats. Character — the who would you rather have a beer with test — has always been the most important criteria for me.
My interest in politics grew during the 2016 presidential campaign. I watched in dismay how Trump, with so many clear liabilities and flaws, tore through a crowded primary field. I recoiled from the elitism and institutionalism projected by Clinton. In the end, I easily chose Clinton over Trump, but for me it was a calculation of selecting the lesser of two poor choices. I had no interest in having a beer with either.
At this moment of my modest political awakening, I got a call from a friend who expressed his similar dismay. But he, unlike me, had an idea of what to do about it. He wanted to start a new political party that would offer an alternative for the growing number of people, like us, who were feeling politically homeless. The idea made sense on a practical level — if the two current options got us here, why shouldn’t there be a new choice? His passion was convincing, but what about the dismal record of “third parties” and the general view that they were nothing more than “spoilers”? We both recognized it was a long shot, but if not now, when? Plus, if I could do something to help move the needle in a more positive direction, I was ready to get off the sidelines.
There were three of us to start. Party-building via e-mail. An electronic exchange of ideas for what a new alternative party should be all about. Developing principles rooted in dignity, liberty, and entrepreneurship. We made a lot of progress in a few short months. Over time, we met others who were onto a similar idea. We joined with them and attended their convention in Philadelphia in February of ‘17. The Philadelphia meeting built real momentum, sharpened our focus on who we were and who we wanted to become, and inspired a new name for the group — SAM (the Serve America Movement).
In the ensuing four years, despite some dead ends and do-overs, we formed SAM NY, achieved official party status in that state, and launched more chapters in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Texas. During this period, the relative tremors that first inspired SAM became full blown earthquakes. Maybe the idea of a new party rooted in, “truth, tolerance, and transparency” wasn’t such a long shot after all.
Not even the most cynical or prescient of us back then could have predicted the depth and breadth of the current American divide; one that is only made worse by the inflexibility and zero-sum game approach of America’s two major parties.
The fall of ’21 became the next pivot opportunity for SAM. Feeling the urgency of the increasing stress on our democracy, friendly affiliations with two other democracy-reform organizations quickly moved toward serious conversations about the benefits of coming together as one. Through these conversations it became clear that our ideological differences were a strength and that we could achieve more together than apart.
On July 27th of this year, we announced the news of the merger between SAM, the Renew America Movement, and the Forward Party. In part, the announcement read, “We are uniting from across the political spectrum to create the launchpad for a transformational American political party under one name: Forward. This will be a political home for the majority of Americans who want to move past the era of divisiveness and do-nothing politicians — so that our government starts working again.”
The announcement struck an immediate chord and generated intense interest and debate in the media and on social media. While the range of reactions to this news was vast, the common ground in all of it was passion. Passionate support and passionate dissent. The intense and immediate response to something new in the political arena seemed to be a raw reflection of just how partisan and tribal our politics have become. Those in support looking for a new and better way forward. Those in dissent looking to double down on their side and reject anything but.
On the day after the announcement, I submitted a post to LinkedIn that anticipated the ensuing public debate, “Market disruption is never a straight line, but the conditions are ripe for this idea — underperforming ‘competition’, ‘consumer’ demand (over 60% of Americans want something new), and ‘market’ opportunity (over 500k elected officials in this country with the majority of races uncontested). Disruption. Innovation. Competition. It’s not just for business anymore…”
The future of American politics is clearly in doubt. Exactly how and when the new Forward Party will start reforming our system for the better remains to be seen as well. But, I’ve never been more convinced that introducing real competition and choice into a system that has taken such great steps to prevent it is the most hopeful and worthwhile way to make meaningful change.
We need a complete mindset reboot that opens a new path to positive, constructive and hopeful civic engagement. We need a renewed openness from people from accross the ideological spectrum to come together, work together, build together and do what JFK once asked all Americans to do:
“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”