Conservative, not Republican

I was once a registered Republican. In fact, for most of my life, I took pride in that little R by my name, representing my party affiliation. In 2008, I officially changed my party affiliation to "Unaffiliated" for two reasons: First, I felt that the Republican Party was not adequately representing my political values, and second (and a direct result of the first reason), I wanted to be able to vote in either party's primary election. It's worth noting that I'm only talking about the presidential elections in this article because, like so many Americans, I don't really participate in elections at the local level. That's a huge problem in American politics, and one I admit to contributing to. But that's the subject for another article at another time. For now, right or wrong, I will just focus on my experiences with the presidential elections over the past several decades.

My political views, though they've changed over the years as I've changed and matured, can best be classified as "conservative." The things that mattered most to me were, and still are, respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, leading with integrity, fiscal responsibility, patriotism, and the freedom of the people. When I was younger, that meant I voted Republican. I saw the Republican Party as the party that honored and valued our constitutional principles and maintained the freedom of the people, while I saw the Democratic Party as the party that was willing to compromise any of their values to ride the wave of popular opinion. That bias was relatively strong in me, and I'm not sure where it came from exactly. I was very wrong about the Republican Party, but I'm not yet convinced that I was wrong in my assessment of the Democratic Party.

For most of my adult life, I only focused on what I was seeing in the Republican Party, which I assumed was representing my own conservative political values. And what I was seeing was a gradual move away from conservative values and into extreme right-wing politics. I used to think those were the same thing, since the term "right-wing" is often used interchangeably with "conservative" by most people and by the media. Both views are positioned to the right of the political spectrum, but the difference is in degree, with conservatives lying slightly to the right of center, and "right-wingers" moving farther and farther to the right with every passing year. These terms should not be used interchangeably. Both conservatives and right-wingers support free markets, but conservatives are far more likely to support social safety nets, sensible government regulations, and worker protections. Right-wingers, on the other hand, will advocate for de-regulation and support corporate profitability over worker support. Conservatives want to protect traditional values and social order, but right-wingers take an extremist view and vilify immigrants and "foreign" ideologies. Conservatives defend family and community ties, while right-wingers emphasize ethnic, religious, or national identity over other ties. Conservatives align their political views with their values and beliefs, while right-wingers have no values and only care about opposing "the radical left."

Today, the Republican Party has completely abandoned conservative values in favor of right-wing extremism. I've noticed this trend for nearly 20 years now, but it was during Donald Trump's first term in office that the Republican Party accelerated its move to the right, dropping any pretense of adherence to conservative policies. When Trump was selected as the party's nominee early in 2016, the vast majority of Republicans distanced themselves from him and his policies, claiming that Trump did not represent them, their values, or their constituents. But over the next four years, the entire party capitulated and transformed itself into the Trump loyalist party, abandoning any political ideology in favor of blind fealty. The shift did not happen by a replacement of conservative party members with Trump loyalists. While a few have been ousted for disagreeing with the party rhetoric, most of the players are the same. It's just their politics that have changed. I was (and still am) shocked to see so many lifelong politicians so quickly and completely abandon their so-called political ideals to embrace blind loyalty to a man who openly defiles everything they once believed in. Their lack of integrity is beyond my comprehension, and represents a complete and total betrayal of their constituents and their country. I, for one, will never vote for a Republican for any position in government ever again.

But that leaves me in a bit of a bind. I refuse to support any Republicans, but that leaves only one real choice. I need to vote for Democrats, even though they do not represent my conservative values. Aside from the left-wing extremists, most Democrats are politically closer to my conservative values than the right-wing extremists in the Republican Party, so I can vote for them with a clean conscious, even while wishing there was a better alternative. Sure, there are other political parties, but they do not have enough support to challenge the dominant political parties. The most significant election in our country is always the presidential election, and the minor parties are generally excluded from election coverage completely. There are many reasons for that, but the most significant is the high bar set by the mainstream media for political coverage. Candidates have to have fairly strong support in the national polls and raise a massive amount of money through campaign contributions before they are even allowed to be represented, even in coverage of the primary races. For a candidate who is running for one of the mainstream parties, their party affiliation automatically wins them public support, and helps them raise money. But minor party candidates don't see these benefits. While there are some sound reasons for setting these bars, the problem with it is obvious: How can a minor-party candidate do well in the polls or raise a lot of money if they aren't represented by the media?

So, for all intents and purposes, Americans are left with only two choices for president: One Democrat and one Republican.

What can we do?

While I am willing to vote for some Democrats these days because I have grown to despise the Republican Party, that's not true for all conservatives. For some, the correlation between "conservative" and "Republican" is so strong that they would never even consider voting for a Democrat, no matter how extreme the Republican Party gets. For others, their religious leaders have used their pulpits to spread the lie that Christianity teaches conservative or even right-wing values (it doesn't) and that conservative values are represented by the Republican Party (they aren't). For the rest, the tendency to use the terms "conservative," "Republican," and "right-wing" interchangeably makes them feel like voting for a Democrat would involve compromising their values, and, in some cases, their religion. That's how we end up with so many conservatives voting for a candidate that doesn't represent conservative values at all.

That doesn't leave conservatives with many practical choices. I can make a few suggestions for what you can do if you identify as a conservative, but not a right-wing extremist. Individually, none of these will make a significant impact. But, perhaps, if enough people take some of these steps, it might just pave the way for a viable new political party for a new breed of conservative candidates.

1. Change your voter registration immediately
   The very first thing you can and should do, as soon as possible, is change your voter registration. If you are a conservative, I don't think you will want to affiliate with the Democratic Party, and there probably aren't any existing alternative parties that are going to really represent your values, so I suggest you change your registration to "unaffiliated."

   This allows you to have a clear conscience and not feel like you've compromised your values. It also sends a message to Republicans that their position is not as secure as they think it is. When Donald Trump was elected, he claimed that he had a "mandate" from the people to dismantle the Constitution and destroy our democracy. That was never true, of course, but being elected to a second term has certainly emboldened him to become more extreme than ever. It's unlikely that anything can be done about Donald Trump, but his actions require support from Republicans in Congress, and if these Republicans see the number of registered Republicans in their home districts dwindling, they may be less supportive of Donald Trump in the future.

   As an added benefit, if you register as an independent, many states will allow you to vote in the primaries of either party (not both...you can only vote in one). This gives you a small voice in the choice for the Democratic candidate, so you can support a candidate who is either closer to your political values, or at least not openly antagonistic towards them.

2. Stop voting for Republicans
   If you are a conservative, you have to stop voting for Republicans. Completely. Never vote for a Republican again, in any election.

   This is unfortunate, but it's very true. Many Republican candidates, particularly on the local level, are still trying to pass themselves off as "one of the good Republicans." They want you to believe that they still hold conservative values, and have not adopted an extremist position. They probably aren't lying...they probably do believe that. Regardless of what they belive and in light of everything that has happened over the last decade, but most importantly over the last few months, it's no longer possible to be a conservative and a Republican. I'm sure many Nazis joined the party because they were patriots who wanted to see Germany flourish. But once it became apparent that the Nazi party was more interested in advancing its own political agenda than in supporting actual Germans, people had to make a choice between loyalty to their party, and doing the right thing. In the end, there were no good Nazis.

   The Republican Party in the United States has reached that point. The party's clearly-stated agenda is anti-constitutional, defies the rule of law and the separation of powers, and denies the fundamental rights of the people. It openly stands against everything this country was founded to be. For this reason, it is not possible to support the Republican Party and claim to be either a conservative or a patriot (Or a Christian, but that's completely beyond the scope of this article).

   The time has come for any registered Republicans to choose between loyalty to your party and loyalty to the principles upon which the nation was founded. You simply cannot be loyal to both.

3. Call your Republican representative and tell them
   Changing your party affiliation and refusing to vote for Republicans are both great, and send a powerful message. But if you live in a Republican-held state or district, you can really drive the point home by calling your Republican representative(s) and telling them why you are changing your voter affiliation.

   Make it clear to them that you don't see a path forward for the Republican Party as a whole, and that their capitulation to Donald Trump has disgusted you enough that you are leaving the party behind.

   And just to be sure that the message is clear: Let them know that you will never vote for a republican again because their party has betrayed the people it represents.

4. Let the world know that you are leaving and why
   Post your decision to leave the Republican Party on social media. Write an op-ed in your local paper or on your blog (if you have one) about your choice. Talk to your friends and family about your decision, and let them know why you made it. Don't just say it once. Keep repeating it until it becomes part of your identity.

   Conservatives should make a point to join in the protests taking place around the country. Stand up and make your voice heard, and let the Republicans know that they don't have your support.

   It's also important to let the other protesters, the media, and the world see that the protesters and Trump's opposition are not just Democrats. When you join the protests, make it clear that you are not a Democrat. Carry a sign that identifies you as a "Conservative against the Republican Party," or something along those lines. Talk to people and let them know you are there because you are a conservative.

   Your reception may vary, depending on where you live. I come from a purple state, and I feel very comfortable joining a protest and telling people I'm a conservative, but not a Republican. But the reaction you get may be different, depending on your state and the people around you. Keep yourself safe...don't antagonize anyone who won't accept your views, and don't start a fight with anyone. But if you can do so safely, let them know you are not a Democrat. It might just open a few eyes on both sides of the political divide.

5. Be proud of your decision
   The two parties have largely defined themselves lately as the opposite of one another, rather than a party representing a political ideology. To be a Republican means to oppose Democrats, and to be a Democrat means to oppose Republicans. If you leave the Republican Party or have the audacity to vote for a Democrat, people may try to make you feel like you are abandoning your principles. Or they'll try to make it personal, and say you are abandoning your people, your religion, or your traditions.

   But the opposite is true: You are leaving the Republican Party because of your political values, your ideals, your traditions, and (for some) your religion. You are standing up for what you believe in, and that's something you should be proud of.

Appendix: Conservatives vs. Republicans

It wouldn't be fair to accuse the Republican Party of abandoning conservative values without taking some time to talk about what those values are. To my knowledge, there is no official definition of what it means to be a conservative, politically, so I just turned to ChatGPT to generate a set of basic values that are commonly understood to be "conservative." The list is not exhaustive by any means, nor is it inerrant. It's just a starting point for the conversation.

The list below offers some of the core conservative values, along with a brief description of what that value means. For each value statement, I am providing my opinions about how a conservative might respond to these values and how a Republican (which I am now using as synonymous with a right-wing extremist) might respond to illustrate the difference. These are my own opinions, and may not reflect the general view of those who consider themselves to be conservatives or Republicans.

Tradition and Stability:

Emphasis on preserving cultural, religious, and societal traditions, valuing stability and continuity over rapid change.

Conservatives:

• Defend the Constitution and the rule of law
• Protect religious freedoms (for all religions) and the freedom of speech (including speech you don't agree with)
• Celebrate the changes the country has made for the better to bring equality to all, which is the reason for our country's existence
• Implement changes carefully and thoughtfully and always focused on what's in the best interest of the nation and the people

Republicans:

• Ignore the Constitution and rule of law whenever they impede your agenda
• Protect religious freedoms and free speech for only one ideology and declare any dissent "illegal" and "immoral"
• Try to convince people that things were better "long ago" and that everything we've accomplished as a nation over the past century has made us worse instead of better
• Break down the system as quickly and completely as possible, before anyone has a chance to react

Limited Government:

Preference for smaller government with fewer regulations, believing that individual freedoms and market forces are more effective at driving progress than centralized authority.

Conservatives:

• Use government institutions to support and encourage entrepreneurship
• Minimize bureaucracy so people can live their lives with minimal government interference
• Support the use of government (sparingly) to protect public interest, common good, and ensure opportunities exist for all
• Support the government's role in providing social safety nets to all citizens
• Protect free markets from undue influence from monopolies, manipulation, and runaway greed

Republicans:

• Abuse government institutions to benefit the wealthiest and most powerful interests
• Eliminate all government agencies or institutions that provide services to the average American who cannot navigate government policies or regulations without assistance
• Expand the government's authority to criminalize dissidents and remove programs protecting whistleblowers
• Eliminate all government programs and agencies serving the public good and replace them with programs and agencies serving the wealthy and powerful
• Use the government's power to directly influence the marketplace to maximize the profits the wealthy and powerful

Free Markets and Capitalism:

Support for free-market economies, private enterprise, and minimal government intervention in economic affairs.

Conservatives:

• Reduce barriers to entry to businesses to encourage entrepreneurship
• Allow free-market forces to operate, except in areas where market freedom is not possible (such as healthcare, and necessities like water and utilities)
• Protect workers from exploitation so that they have the economic freedom to participate in the free market

Republicans:

• Remove programs that once helped start-up businesses so that only established businesses can succeed
• Manipulate the market by propping up and bailing out large corporations and by promoting the ideology that the average citizen has an obligation to buy, buy, buy, in order to support the economy
• Allow workers to be exploited so that only the ultra-rich can participate in a members-only market instead of a free market

Personal Responsibility:

Belief in individual accountability and the idea that people should be responsible for their own success or failure, rather than relying on government assistance.

Conservatives:

• Value hard work and financial stewardship as keys to personal success
• Protect workers from exploitation to ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed
• Help fellow compatriots succeed, because our success is tied to the success of those around us

Republicans:

• Believe in meritocracy: The idea that your wealth defines your worth
• Gain wealth by maximizing profits at the expense of your workers, your customers, and the environment
• Follow a winner-take-all mentality, believing that "I win" means "you lose."

Law and Order:

Strong focus on maintaining law, order, and security, often supporting stricter criminal justice policies and robust national defense.

Conservatives:

• Belief in the Constitution as the supreme law of the land
• Demand equal accountability to the law for all people at all levels
• Believe in the role of our justice system to defend the innocent as well as punish the guilty
• Support the military's role to defend our country from attack

Republicans:

• Ignore the Constitution when it impedes their agenda
• Believe some people should be punished to the full extent of the law, while others are exempt from responsibility for their actions
• Allow the legal system to be corrupted by money so only the wealthy can defend themselves or punish others, while the average American has no access to the courts
• Use the military to threaten or bully our nation as well as other nations to serve our interests over their own

National Sovereignty and Patriotism:

Emphasis on protecting national interests, securing borders, and fostering a sense of pride and loyalty toward one’s country.

Conservatives:

• Protect our national interests while respecting the sovereignty of other nations
• Secure our borders without cutting off the immigration that has been the lifeblood of this country since its founding
• Take pride in the good things this nation has done, and find ways to correct and redress any wrongs that it does

Republicans:

• Declare everything America does as automatically "good," and anything other counties do as "bad," without any qualifications
• Cut off and criminalize all immigration. Deport immigrants who have already come to this country based on racial profiling.
• Define blind allegiance to one side's political rhetoric as "patriotism" and any other views as "treason."

Skepticism of Progressive Social Change:

Caution toward rapid social changes, often favoring traditional values regarding family, religion, and social structures.

Conservatives:

• Make changes slowly and thoughtfully, respecting the traditions and history of the country along the way
• Support widely- and deeply-held public opinions and traditions
• Support families, religious institutions, and social structures

Republicans:

• Make changes rapidly, firmly cementing them before anyone has a chance to raise opposition
• Rapidly overturn long-standing court rulings and social structures and push a public agenda that supports only one view
• Decimate families, religions, and social structures that do not fit a narrow-minded definition reflecting only one way of thinking

Fiscal Responsibility:

Advocacy for balanced budgets, reduced public debt, and careful management of public funds.

Conservatives:

• Pass government budgets that reduce debt and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of government funds
• Ensure critical programs, such as social security and Medicare/Medicaid, get priority funding
• Expect everyone to pay their fair share of taxes, and the government to spend those taxpayer dollars responsibly and wisely

Republicans:

• Unable to pass any budgets because they are so partisan and illogical that they can't get support from Democrats
• Claim to oppose debt, waste, fraud, and abuse, but take no actions to prevent any of these things
• Gut critical programs across the board to increase spending on the military, consolidate their power, and enrich their campaign donors
• Cut taxes for the wealthy, increase taxes for the poor, and spend recklessly and without meaningful plans