A New Political Party:  The American Centrist and Consumer Party

Background

For at least several decades, at least one of our two political parties has been the captive of self-righteous ideologues who believe their positions are mandated by morality, etc. notwithstanding the outright opposition or at least disinterest of most US citizens.  One example is the control by the religious right of the Republican Party during the 1970’s and 80’s.  Another is control by progressives of the Democratic Party during at least the last two decades.   The Republican religious right and Democratic progressives rarely if ever reflected the views of their party’s majority.  Their power comes from their money (far right), disproportionate presence in and influence over the media, academia and the arts (progressives), and bloc-voting practices (both).  Although lacking majority support within their political parties, the extremists enjoyed sufficient power to require that candidates for nominations or appointments pander to them.  The extremists became the face of their parties.

As MAGA lacks a consistent political ideology or underlying moral compass of any kind, MAGA’s control of today’s Republican Party differs from the religious far right and progressives.  Yet the result is the same: a party in power notwithstanding the lack of support from a significant number of members, and another party that is a virtual non-entity due to majority disdain for much of its agenda.

During these periods, many citizens have expressed the desire to have a more centrist third-party that can seriously compete for public office at all levels of government.  While it is highly doubtful that any serious such third-party can emerge, at least in my lifetime, I have wondered about the positions it might embrace.  What I have come up with is set forth below.    

Platform of The American Centrist and Consumer Party

• Unlike MAGA and progressives, we deplore discrimination against and for any person based on race, gender, national origin, or sexual preference. 
• Unlike MAGA, we deplore discrimination against people of color, women and the LGBT community.  Stated differently, we deplore white supremacy.        
• Unlike progressives, when it comes to our opposition to discrimination, we are literalists, meaning we reject so-called “identity politics.”  Race and gender will not be considered in deciding nominations, appointments or the award of government contracts or benefits.

• Unlike MAGA, we believe support of our Constitution, integrity, expertise, experience, and competence are the main qualifications for public office.
• Unlike progressives, we believe race, gender, etc. are neither qualifications nor disqualifications for public office.

• Unlike MAGA, we welcome immigrants from all nations, including Latin America, subject to our nation’s ability to support them.
• Unlike progressives, we do not support an “open border” or unlimited immigration without regard to the availability of and cost of public resources such as housing and health care.

• Unlike MAGA, we do not ridicule and condemn people who are different than ourselves; we respect an individual’s right to be who they want to be.
• Unlike progressives, we do not confer preferences and special privileges on “minorities”; while we are determined that peope with differences be provided equal opportunities and protection from harassment, we do not support channeling government benefits to citizens based on their “identity” or preferences.

• Unlike MAGA, we believe the scientific evidence that climate change is real, and support careful consideration of measures designed to curb it.
• Unlike progressives, we believe that the adverse impact of limits on the exploration for and extraction of fossil fuels (i.e., less supply and higher prices) are serious considerations that must be balanced against the need to reduce or slow climate change.
• We reject any deeply unpopular measure that progressives seek or would seek to force on the public. Thus, we do not support the replacement of automobile roadways and parking spaces with bike lanes, which will go underutilized and have no material impact on climate change, but would nevertheless be welcomed by progressives who believe that owning a car is “elitist.”

• Unlike MAGA, we support free-trade, and reject the oxymoronic idea that workers will be better off by raising prices in the U.S. through the imposition of tariffs. 
• Unlike progressives, we are concerned about the expansion of social programs that will increase the prices and taxes paid by workers.

• Unlike MAGA, we are deeply concerned about the growing disparity in wealth between “the top 0.01% and everyone else.  As such, we believe tax law and policy must be overhauled to ensure that corporations and the uber-wealthy pay their fair share.
• Unlike progressives, we are not socialists aiming for a classless society; we are sensitive to the potential that tax and other economic policies, etc. may seriously diminish investment incentives, and understand that reform of taxation and other policy must not ignore this consideration.

• Unlike MAGA, we do no support foreign autocracies or isolationism.  We understand, contrary to the isolationists, that the freedoms and economic well-being of Americans can be compromised by autocracies abroad.
• Unlike progressives, we do not support violent insurrection or terrorism by religious or other zealots who launch attacks against other nations and then use their neighbors as human shields to generate opposition to military action by their victims. 

• Unlike MAGA, we do not believe in de-regulation that will accelerate the trend whereby businesses, without economic or political consequences to themselves, cut customer service, reduce quality, shift risk to consumers and raise prices to increase short-term profits; we support consumer protection regulation that will re-balance the interests of wealthy business executives and shareholders with those of retail consumers.
• Unlike progressives, we do not believe that “big is necessarily bad,” or that antitrust law should be used to stifle competition and growth of big companies who treat customers well (e.g., Amazon).

• Unlike MAGA and progressives, we do not believe the justice system should be used against our political opponents whose “offenses” would not have been prosecuted but for their political affiliations or views.

A few caveats.  I understand no political agenda or platform can win everyone’s support.  I also understand that few if any agendas or platforms can win anyone’s support in its entirety.  So one or more of the above bullets will meet some opposition from the people at whom this pitch is aimed.  However, I believe that taken as a whole, the above would be supported by most voters.  Finally, I understand that “the devil is in the details.”  But the above credo is already way more detailed than the MAGA platform at least, so there is no need to elaborate.