Independents and Mugwumps

How is that the appellation “Independent” has come to be applied to a person who has no convictions, no philosophy, no political acumen, no opinion, no knowledge, no information, no wisdom?  Can this person even name the candidates of the major parties?  Has this person read the platforms of the major parties?   Has this person watched any speeches or debates?  Has this person read any books or columnists about economics?  On election day, one month hence, will he toss a nickel as he walks into the voting booth?  My mother called such an independent a mugwump, which she described as sitting on a fence with its mug hanging over one side and its wump hanging over the other.

According to Thomas E Mann and Norman J Ornstein, in their book It’s Even Worse Than It Looks, “…[independents’]  presumed centrism or pragmatism in most cases reflects political disengagement and a lack of knowledge about the parties, candidates, or policy choices, rather than a considered position in the center.  They are classic referendum voters, when times are bad, their instinct is to throw the bums out, not to carefully attribute responsibility or parse alternatives.”

Upon reflecting on this question, I realized that I am a true independent.  For years I have read, listened, researched, questioned, paid attention to issues and policy, watched the president, the legislature, the Supreme Court, the debates, and reached conclusions independently as to the issues that I believe to be important.  Determining that these issues best comport with the platform of the Democratic Party, I register as Democrat, support Democratic candidates, and vote Democrat (mostly).  This does not mean that I do not recognize that there are Blue Dog Democrats, and DINOS (Democrats in name only), that I do not take issue with Democrats whom I believe betray Democratic principles, that I do not hold their feet to the fire, write or call them to express my opinion, and yes, at times, not vote for them.  And of course, there are others just as independent who choose to be Republican.  The important thing is, we independents do not choose a party, and then suspend our own judgment to adhere to everything they espouse.

Of course, those who register as Independents, or “No Party,” (as in West Virginia), may be smarter than we think.  They do not have to worry about being called to be pollworkers, to man political headquarters, do phone banks, display yard signs, bumper stickers, and buttons, campaign for any candidate, contribute to candidates, help with candidate events, or write letters to the editor.  The personification of apathy.