Local opinion: America’s moderates must speak up

and analysis of the writer:

Are we polarized or paralyzed? When does a society become too extreme? We hear the words conservative and progressive, right and left. Today, in our divided country, the word “moderate” is seldom heard and often misunderstood.

In a democracy, all views should be heard. What matters most is when a group forces their views on the rest of us, without our consent. In other words, when they abuse our system of government to insist that their way is the only way. They say, “Our way or the highway!” Reasonable Americans find themselves trapped between zealots on both sides. The truth is hard to find. Distorted and inaccurate information is rampant on the airwaves, the social platforms and the media. Who can we trust?

We know the country is highly polarized. Democrat and Republican true believers are firmly locked in. It’s the 15% to 20% of voters who didn’t like their choices last time that matter most. This all-too-silent minority will determine winners and losers and have political power well beyond their numbers. These voters will determine the future direction of our country, and their voices must be heard. For too long, moderates have been mute, their voices drowned out by party activists on the right and on the left. As a result, we’ve become increasingly polarized. Congress is paralyzed and problems remained unresolved.

What matters most? During the 2024 election, voters made crystal clear what they wanted: lower prices, a stronger economy, border security, a strong military and a trustworthy leader in the White House. Many voted for Donald Trump because they dreaded a repeat of the previous four years with illegal migration, rampant crime, electric car and DEI mandates, student debt forgiveness, campus riots and more. Americans were struggling under inflation, rising costs, rising crime, and illegal immigrants flooding our neighborhoods. They asked for change.

We are getting some of that; we certainly have a more secure border. But on the key issue of the economy, most Americans are not happy; prices are still too high and Trump’s promise to break inflation has been replaced by his fixation on using tariffs to punish the world. Three-quarters of Americans expect tariffs to raise, not lower prices. Economists almost unanimously predict tariffs will increase inflation. And we are confused about the purpose of the tariffs: Is the goal to get trading partners to lower tariffs on goods we import or to replace our income tax with high tariffs on imported goods?

We are getting some surprises that were not mentioned during the campaign: Renaming the Gulf of Mexico, acquiring Greenland by whatever means necessary; taking back the Panama Canal, annexing Canada as our 51st state and turning Gaza into a beach resort with a Trump Tower hotel. Now he’s trying to run Harvard. Where did all that come from? Will any of these far-fetched ideas lower costs or reduce inflation? Trump also promised to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on day one. Instead, he has humiliated President Zelensky and praised Putin. The bloodshed continues unabated.

After 100 days in office, the question will be asked: Are we better off now than before? We can expect the answer to be highly partisan. Trump, of course, will declare victory. Only those in the middle will honestly and objectively evaluate the situation. The 15% to 20% who call themselves “moderates” must speak up forcefully.

The 2026 elections promise to be a report card on the second Trump term, and the campaign has begun. Congressional seats in a handful of “swing” states are up for grabs. Of the 33 scheduled Senate elections in 2026, 13 seats are held by Democrats and 20 by Republicans. As of March 2025, four senators announced they will not seek re-election. Voters will elect representatives from all 435 congressional districts across 50 states. As of April 2025, five representatives, one Democrat and four Republicans, have announced their retirement to run for higher offices.

Incumbents must listen closely to the electorate. Elections in swing states are almost always highly contested. While party loyalists are firmly “locked in” behind their candidate, the moderates must decide who goes to Washington.