In American politics, a notable shift is underway.

John Fetterman, the senator from PA said “I’m not a progressive. I’m a Democrat”. He also agreed with the Republicans on many common sense policies such as low taxes, proxy wars in Israel, and border security.

Just like him, more and more moderate Democrat voters find themselves reevaluating their political affiliations and trying to move to the center from the extreme left leanings of the Democrat part. The media bias is being unmasked too.

Many Democrats also plan to vote Republican just so they can get back to sanity and to the real issues of lower taxes, civil liberties, family values, and smaller government overall.

What is happening?

The center was traditionally a mainstay of both Democrat and Republican majorities. The majority was not extreme to either left or right but it was moderate. This allowed the country to stay united and function in a narrow spectrum of core policy differences. They were able to make policies which benefitted a majority of the country.

However, the center now seems to be mostly held together by the Republicans. A large percentage of Democrats have seemingly lost their voice to the faux-liberal (liberal sounding), extreme left leaning policies. These are triggering fears of communism, socialism, and favoritism. The rising intolerance & activism within the ranks of the Democrat Party is frightening.

Liberal voters — whether Democrat or Republican — believe in equality and opportunity for all. While they supported the social justice and equity messages for the past decade, they are now coming to grips with the unforeseen radicalization and intolerance that has resulted. It is a big problem.

These anarchist policies defy common sense but the Democrat party has chosen to encourage this behavior openly.

So, liberal Democrat party voters are exploring options that get them away from these hardline identity politics. For now, voting Republican for one or two election cycles is looking like a better choice.

Common Sense Issues in the Spotlight

Many liberal Americans now observe the Democrat Party struggling to align with issues that touch the core of common sense.

Some of these are:

a. Avoiding Identity Politics:

There’s a growing concern about the party’s struggle to avoid identity politics. This has led to the rise of discrimination against various groups in the guise of equity.

This “equality when convenient” challenges the party’s basic commitment to unity and inclusivity. For example, support for women is available only when women support their trans or abortion agenda, or Asians are an oppressed class unless they speak up against DEI at Harvard, and black Americans cannot be black if they support Republicans, and so on.

Even as the Supreme Court signaled an end to affirmative action, the inability of the Democrat party to encourage equality over discrimination has been startling to many.

There was no doubt a lot of political apparatus to undo. After all, a number of non-profits have been created to cater to this very discrimination. But the Democrat party seems to be bogged down by partisan actors and lobbyists for race and identity based politics.

As the country wants to return to the lofty goals of the civil rights movement and towards MLK’s “I have a dream” aspirations, the Democrat party seems to be blocking the way.

b. Antisemitism Concerns:

Traditionally viewed as a fringe sentiment, there is now widespread and public support within the Democrat party for groups with ties to anti-Semitic activities.

This was most recently seen in frequently violent expressions of support for Hamas terrorists instead of calling for peace and return of the hostages taken — which included many nationalities including American.

True liberals within both political parties were dismayed by this phenomenon. It raises questions about the Democrat party’s stance on antisemitism and questions it’s commitment to equality.

c. Border Security:

The current government’s complete inability to even try to address border security and expand immigration processing capacity at the border has taken most loyalists by surprise.

Despite repeated requests from border states like Texas, and recently even from states such as New York, the current Democrat administration has been eerily quiet.

There has been no real reason given for this inaction. Additionally, this has also caused a humanitarian crisis at the border while also raising serious concerns about national security in light of growing radicalization in the world.

d. Child Medical Abuse:

The controversy surrounding gender-based medical care for minors raises serious concerns about child abuse.

Young teenagers — often underprivileged — are undergoing significant medical procedures without adequate investigation and consideration for their mental health.

Profits over care has become a norm in the guise of medical care. Non-profits have sprung up to advocate for and promote medical intervention without first spending time to understand the underlying issues.

Young adults who were subjected to hormonal therapy, breasts removal, and other medical interventions, are speaking out as a warning but are being ignored and shamed. Parents calling for restraint — many of them Democrats — are being painted as unfit, intolerant, or transphobic.

Many liberals, more so the ones who are not in the top 1%, now feel that their family is at risk if this continues. And to confirm those fears, several states including California, NJ, and NY are impinging on parental rights to the great detriment of the child involved. There has been no voice from the Democrat party condemning this erosion of the family.

e. Women’s and Transgender Rights:

90% of America in 2023 supports equality of transgenders. But the leftist extreme voices in the Democrat party have made it a problem.

Specifically, the Democrat Party’s support for women’s rights is generating significant discontent.

The accommodation of biological males in bathrooms and women’s sports competitions raises questions about infringing on safe spaces for women. More and more women’s competitions are being won by biological males.

Women who are speaking up are being ostracized and called transphobic.

This despite there being every day stories of assaults by biological males claiming to be female.

Liberal democrats who want to balance these issues are finding themselves on the receiving end of aggression and slander if they speak up.

f. Free Political Expression:

The majority of the country now notes a serious overreach in the response to the January 6 protests.

While most people then received and accepted the “insurrection theory” as a political hyperbole, the continued use of that pretext is causing concern.

Individuals who were at the protest and were either led in or walked in to the building are being persecuted legally under charges that would not normally be brought against citizens. Even as cities like Portland, New York, Chicago, and SFO take the humane approach of pardoning transgressions where possible, average Americans from the January 6 protest are being pursued under the “insurrection” banner.

The idea of the department of justice being weaponized is not a conspiracy theory anymore. There is bipartisan support for punishing the actual criminals during the Jan 6th protests turned riot, but expanding penalties to participants of the protest in general is seen as a frightening development.

The suing of the then President Donald Trump on these charges is also causing dissatisfaction despite his on-record vocal support for law and order, even on January 6. Most people see it as his right to question election integrity and for those issues to be settled in courts, not in the form of retaliation.

All of this is leading to a broader discussion on the importance of protecting free expression without political discrimination. Liberal democrats are not seeing that in the divisive rhetoric of the Democrat party leaders.

Acceptance of Trump’s Policies

Despite reservations about former President Trump’s outspoken demeanor, more Americans are recognizing the merits of his economic and policy positions.

Mainstream media’s false narratives against Trump are also being uncovered everyday. None of the racial, trans, dictator, and despot labels assigned to Trump hold water when subjected to even a little bit of scrutiny.

Further, in light of global violence, acknowledgment of Trump’s peace negotiations with North Korea and the Middle East is becoming visible.

Before the downturn caused due to Covid and the Ukraine war, the economy under Trump was thriving, and Americans were seeing an abundance of opportunity. That was largely due to business friendly polcies and across the board tax cuts.

But in 2023, despite claims of a robust economy by the media, the average American can clearly see the daily layoffs, rising prices, and lack of a vibrant white collar job market.

Pending Hot Button Issues: A Moderate Trump Perspective

Two contentious issues favor the Democrat party.

On both of these, Trump appears to take a more moderate stance and hence appeals to most liberals:

1. Abortion: Trump’s openness to aligning policies with global norms, including exceptions for rape, incest, and health issues, indicates a middle-ground approach to the complex issue of abortion. 80% of Americans would support these policies. The 6-weeks heartbeat approach taken by Texas is not seen as a viable strategy.

2. Gun Control: Trump’s emphasis on reconciling databases for better background checks and addressing mental health concerns showcases a nuanced approach to the hot-button issue of gun control. These are also acceptable to a majority of Americans.

In Conclusion

As the American electorate gravitates towards fundamental values of family, tolerance, and freedom, the Democrat Party finds itself at a crossroads – to adopt common sense, or go bust.

The recent terrorist attack on Israel has intensified concerns about the activist wing’s influence, prompting a call for a return to the center.

Most liberal / moderate voters also seek a restoration of balance in the political discourse.

The path forward is uncertain, but one thing is clear: American voters are eager to embrace a more centrist approach that fosters unity over division.

And for that common sense balance, an America under Trump may do just fine.