To the editor:

According to Gallup, in 2021 an average of 29 percent of Americans identified as Democrats, 27 percent as Republicans and 42 percent as independents.  Independents are the largest political group and continue to grow, surpassing the 40 percent mark for the first time in 2011, up from the low 30s measured since 1988. 

What these numbers support is that a wide swath of American voters want a brand of politics untethered from prescriptive ideology and traditional partisan dogma, whether or not that partisan ideology is left or right. “Independents” reject the strict ideology of the two major parties and multiple minor parties. These voters want a government that simply works. They’re looking to affiliate their politics not with dogma, but with problem solving, with democracy protection and fair elections, with accountability and transparency. 

So why don’t the political parties take advantage of the true majority?  Candidates that are elected with this approach will also be the ones that can free themselves from the chains of hyper-partisanship and will have the best toolbox to get things accomplished in their elected positions. 

The more candidates we elect with this mindset, the better our government will serve us.

Lisa Douglas

Oakville