In 2000, I voted for a Democrat for the first time, and since then I have primarily voted for Democratic candidates, even when I had to hold my nose to do so. Neither Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden was my candidates of choice, but I voted for both because I was a loyal party member. Two years ago, I accepted a position on the executive committee of the local Democratic Party. Two weeks ago, I resigned my position, with nary a question from local party officials. No one asked me “why” or made any attempt to preserve the support of someone who has been one of the most vocal Democrats around. From signs in my yard — even for candidates I didn’t care for — to letters to the editor of the local newspaper, I was a loyal Democrat. I endured attacks in the newspaper from incensed, butthurt Republicans, and cleaned for more than a few bottles, cans, and bags of human shit (imagine a Republican taking the time to shit in a baggie just so he can show me his objection to something I said or wrote) from my front yard. I have repeatedly had my political yard signs stolen, and in all of this, not one party official has said to me, “Hey, Bruce, how ya doing?” Hey, but they did send me a card when I had major surgery on my spine fifteen months ago.
When the local party had a short discussion about Lifewise Academy, I bit my tongue as I heard well-intentioned Democrats wrongly “explain” the Lifewise program and why it should be opposed. They could have asked the expert in the room on Evangelicalism and Lifewise Academy to explain the program, but he went unasked. Outside of one man and his wife — whom are wonderful people I have known for years — not one party member engaged in meaningful discussion with me. I concluded that as a socialist and pacifist, I was too far to the left for the liking of most local Democrats. When I made known I was an atheist, that further alienated me from religious Democrats. I tried to Facebook friend several senior party leaders, without success. I offered to run for local office, and what I got was a polite “Thank you. We will get back with you.” As you might imagine, I am still waiting. It’s hard not to feel not wanted, so both my partner and I decided we would invest our time and money in political endeavors that better reflect our political, religious, moral, and ethical values.
We are done voting for the lesser of two evils. We are done supporting candidates who ignore rural Americans while pretending that they are the only people looking out for us. We are done with thinking that third parties will NEVER work in our country. We are done with being told that a vote for a third party candidate is a throwaway vote, serving no purpose besides enabling the “enemy.” We are done holding our tongues while self-righteous Democrats shame and castigate us for daring to even consider voting for someone other than a Democrat. “What, do you want to be responsible for reelecting Donald Trump to a fourth term?” To those who want to try this approach with me, let me un-politely tell you to “fuck off.” Polite Polly won’t tell you to do the same, but trust me when I say that my angry, enraged wife — who is more enraged than I have ever seen her in forty-seven years of marriage — approves of this message.
And let me be clear, our anger is primarily reserved for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and senior elected party officials. Our anger first started percolating when the DNC behind the scenes rigged the primary election for Hillary Clinton, not wanting the better candidate, Bernie Sanders, to be their standard bearer. And yes, I know it can be debated whether Sanders could have won, but the DNC had no business stacking the deck for Clinton — who, in my opinion, was an awful candidate.
In 2024, the DNC and senior elected officials should have stepped in and stopped Joe Biden from running a second term. Instead, they loyally chose party seniority over the American people, saddling Democrats with a candidate who likely couldn’t win. And when they finally figured this out, it was too late. The Kamala Harris debacle paved the way for Donald Trump’s reelection. Making matters worse were the Republican friendly political ads repeatedly run by Sherrod Brown and Marcy Kaptur on local TV. I wanted to scream every time one of their ads popped up on the screen. I thought these two were pillars of liberalism? Brown lost, and Kaptur won by a thousand or so votes. Both plan to run for office again, but Kaptur’s district has been gerrymandered — making it more Republican friendly (adding two counties that voted 80 percent for Trump) — and Brown no longer has the star power he once had. Will I vote for either of them again? Sure, but I do so out of anti-MAGA sentiment and not because I think Brown or Kaptur will actually represent me in congress.
Earlier this year, DNC operatives forced David Hogg — a Democratic firebrand and party reformer — out of his position with them, making it clear that coloring outside the lines would not be tolerated. It became clear to us that the DNC was bought and paid for by pro-business, pro-capitalism, centrist Democrats.
This brings me to the final nail in the proverbial coffin: the Democratic capitulation to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. The U.S. government has been shut down for forty-one days. Until yesterday, Democrats stood firm on their demands of funding Obamacare subsidies and restoring Medicaid funding to the states. And then, just like that, the shutdown was over (or will be over soon). Eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans to end the shutdown. I should note that two of these feckless, cowardly Democrats are retiring and six others are not up for election. And does anyone seriously think that these eight cowards would have voted with Republicans without the express permission of Senator Chuck Schumer? Schumer, a centrist corporate Democrat, has time and time again feigned support for the needs of the American people while, behind the scenes, burned their houses to the ground.
What did Democrats get for surrender? The promise of a vote on the subsidies in December. That’s it, boys and girls. Remember, Democrats KNOW that the subsidy funding bill must get sixty votes in the Senate, a majority vote in a Republican held House, and then have Trump sign it. Does anyone who is not high think that this is going to happen? Hell, I’m high as I write this, and I know that this ain’t going to happen — ever. Democratic leaders have lost their will; the willingness to roll up their sleeves and FIGHT for the American people. And by not doing so, they have sided with vile people who have no problem with taking food away from hungry people and taking healthcare away from sick Americans. Democrats sided with a party that literally forced the closure of Head Start programs, national parks, airports, and vast swaths of the federal government, all the while Gestapo agents roam the streets of our major cities looking for “undesirables.” The Democratic Party has lost its way, and I no longer believe it can be saved. So, it is for that reason that I am no longer a Democrat, and neither is my partner.
We plan to register as Independents. While this will limit our ability to vote for candidates in primary elections, it is one way we can show our disapproval of party politics and the two-party system. It is likely we will continue to vote for Democratic candidates, but we will no longer be bound by party loyalty. We will likely vote third party (unless Democrats rise to the occasion and run true progressive candidates) in primaries, and do what’s best for our country in general elections. We will no longer put Democratic signs in our front yard unless we actually support the candidates. Same goes for political donations.
I’m not sure where this path leads, but here’s to hoping for a better tomorrow. Our republic is worth saving, though I no longer believe the people running the show want to save it. A warmongering fascist sits in the White House and his court of clowns want to turn our country into an Evangelical theocracy. The courts seem unwilling to rein in the Clown-in-Chief, so the battle is left to congress — who shows no appetite or desire to turn back Trump’s, the Supreme Court’s, and even congress’s support for undemocratic, unconstitutional behaviors, policies, and practices. We are left to wonder if we have crossed a Rubicon of sorts, and it too late for us as a nation. I hope not, and I intend to fight until I can no longer do so.
Let me conclude with Jon Stewart’s take on the health of the Democratic Party.
Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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