Blockwood is executive vice president of the Partnership for Public Service, adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
With the 2024 primaries and caucuses underway, political campaigns and pressure are intensifying, demonstrating how divided – and entrenched – our country is. Some believe voters and even public servants must see the world through this same divisive lens.
Government is becoming far too politicized, and until recently I didn’t appreciate the great honor and privilege I had to work in relatively nonpartisan environments throughout my career. It’s quite perplexing given I served for more than a decade in the federal government, which usually screams politics with a capital “P.”
My civil service included work at four different agencies under the leadership of varying Senate-confirmed appointees across several presidential administrations. These organizations were at the forefront of many now controversial issues like immigration and intelligence.
Reflecting on the past, I now recognize that I served during a time when far fewer questions were raised about the government being inappropriately politicized, about politicians exercising more care for personal agendas than the people who elected them. And fewer people questioned whether they should trust that public servants were fulfilling their constitutionally sworn obligations.
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Bygone days indeed. Our country is disturbingly polarized, and the future of our republic is at stake if we don’t change course … and soon.
According to Gallup, long-term American political ideology hasn’t changed much over the years, with those describing their political views as moderate typically holding the pole position (36 percent in 2023). Americans identifying themselves as independents have remained on a perpetual seesaw for many years, but the group has been on a steady climb since 2020 (43 percent in 2023, which ties the 2014 record high).
But where are the movable, moderate, common-sense centrist leaders whose voices haven’t been drowned out and who remain confident in their views, their values and the resiliency of our country? Who can be trusted to not be driven solely by fear of an opposing side? Who doesn’t see issues exclusively from the political spectrum’s farthest edges and is capable of compromise?
It’s time to think beyond left, right and center. Time to move beyond traditional political ideology that creates an identity trap dividing us instead of unifying us and encouraging compromise. It’s time to think about outcomes and what best represents – and best serves – all people. It’s time to change our approach, and return to American pragmatism, seeking outcome-oriented solutions to achieve America’s promise.
Though it hasn’t happened since George Washington more than 200 years ago, perhaps necessity will compel us to elect a truly independent candidate as our president in 2024.
We are our own worst enemy. I am certain adversaries are gleefully watching from afar, patiently awaiting the damage we will happily do to ourselves, damage they couldn’t dream to achieve, damage that inflicts deep and wide impact. Our nation’s politics should be considered our greatest environmental threat — one that gives new meaning to the term “global warming” as the political climate has superheated to a boiling point that is spilling over and destroying everything it touches.
No longer can a person express independent thought without unfair judgment or finding they stand alone in their ideals. Everything — especially when it comes to American laws, policies and values — doesn’t have to emanate from, or be shaped by, extremist perspectives or group think. But that seems to be the prevailing approach to national issues these days, and nonpartisan, bipartisan and centrist positions are…
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