Americans are politically exhausted

by Steve Corbin
Prof. Emeritus of Marketing, UNI
If you are a straight-ticket voter and only vote for all Democrats or all Republicans on the ballot, please refrain from reading this column and go directly to the comic page. Today’s thoughts are intended for the split-ballot voters.
Are you frustrated with today’s political tribalism? Are you tired of political name bashing and mud-slinging? Are you tired of the braggadocio and grandstanding attitude of some politician’s self-anointed superiority?
Do you find yourself part of the 98 percent of Americans who purposely do not watch Fox News, MSNCB or CNN, because it’s obvious all three networks are skewing news to a specific one percent political niche wing and their stories are definitely not fair or balanced?
If this is you, welcome to what the non-partisan and non-profit More in Common organization has identified as the Exhausted Majority that comprises 67 percent of Americans. Voters are not divided just into D’s and R’s. In reality, our political leanings are housed in seven distinct segments.
In one of America’s largest-ever investigation of the electorate, where 8,000 Americans were interviewed, two out of three Americans have had it, despaired over political divisions and disengaged from politics. With a very respectable one percent margin of error, the demographically balanced research found that only eight percent of Americans can be called die-hard Democrats (Progressive Activists) and 25 percent are hard-core Republicans (Devoted Conservatives and Traditional Conservatives). This combined 33 percent of the population are in a cult of their own thinking, vehemently opposed to the other party’s values, and as lemmings would vote for the devil if that were their candidate.
The country is split on a range of major issues (e.g., immigration, white privilege, international trade, climate change, national security, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, feminism, DACA, guns, health rights, LGBTQ rights, etc.). The Exhausted Majority are fed up with the polarization infested American government and society. They are flexible in their views and willing to endorse different policies, rather than kowtowing to a single political party. They believe bipartisanship is necessary and expect the same from their elected delegates.
To that end, a 253-page book, The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Election, authored by Ryan Clancy and Margaret White from the non-partisan and not-for-profit organization No Labels, is a must read for the Exhausted Majority. The book, which is a spin off from the More in Common research findings, present 101 non-partisan solutions to a multitude of issues, plus it offers 70 questions to be asked of presidential candidates.
For the Exhausted Majority to bring back civility and accountability to the political arena, first of all, they must—not think about it, but must—vote in every election. In the 2016 election, only 55.7 percent of voting age Americans voted; U.S. ranks No. 26 out of 32 developed nations in citizen voting share. The Exhausted Majority can decide the 2020 election if they’ll vote.
Secondly, they must let their elected officials know their opinions on issues and hold them accountable for their bill sponsorship and voting actions. A simple two-minute call, text or e-mail, per week, to our two Senators and four Representatives—a mere 12 minutes—needs to be a part of every Exhausted Majority’s weekly to-do list.
Since 33 percent of Americans are tribal and won’t stray from their cult, only the Exhausted Majority can change politics. Join me to change the Exhausted Majority to the Exhilarated Majority.
To find out which of the seven political segments portray you, go to www.hiddentribes.us and take an eight-minute shortened version of the survey; no personally identifiable information is collected and user data is not sold to any third party.
Steve is a non-paid freelance opinion editor and guest columnist contributor to 134 newspapers in six states who receives no remuneration, funding or endorsement from any for-profit business, not-for-profit organization, Political Action Committee or political party. Contact information: Steven.B.Corbin@gmail.com.

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