IF YOU FIND yourself tiring of the political climate in America today, you’re not alone. If it isn’t one outrageous behavior, it’s another. Email and text queues bulge with partisan solicitations for money. Accusations, condemnations, urgent warnings of imminent calamity — it’s all part of the inescapable storm of today’s political atmosphere. A schoolyard of fourth grade bullies is far more civilized.

Does it have to be this way? Must we voters be forced onto a team that’s either Red or Blue? Is that what we do? Select a favorite team, pledge our unwavering loyalty, and then loudly yell and curse after each play like drunken football fans? It often seems so.

Dubbed “the two-party system,” our politics does not consist of only two parties. In fact, the two parties most Americans think have the largest adherents actually don’t. Maybe it’s time to consider disassociation with the big boys, Republican and Democrat. Some reasons:

• Republicans often seem insatiable in their judgmental anger. Their rhetoric drips with revenge. Their tropes on gun control, immigration, and tariff policies that amount to taxation without representation are tired and trying. Their leader commands a cult and wants more authority. They hate “woke” but now advocate their own woke-like mandate in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
• Democrats are feckless, at sea, unable to find effective leaders or to articulate an inspirational message. High-minded Democrats liked the idea of mandating attitudes and behaviors toward various minority groups. They throw money at almost any problem.

Of course, this is my opinion only. Or is it?

The largest group of political adherents is rarely discussed. It’s name is “Independents” (or unaffiliated), and more people identify with it than with all the others. Here are the current numbers of the two major parties:

Democrats = 44.1 million

Republicans = 37.4 million 1

But unaffiliated voters are estimated to have been at least equal to Republicans and ahead of Democrats in the election last November.2 But not all are counted. For a variety of reasons, the number of people who self-identify as unaffiliated cannot be precisely determined. Exit polls and other methods are used to determine the approximate number.3

While most U.S. adults consider themselves to be a partisan – either a Republican (31%) or a Democrat (28%) – 41% of Americans say they are Independents or “something else.” 4 5

In my state, described as “purple,” Unaffiliated voters are by far the largest group. Here are the numbers for Colorado:

Unaffiliated —2,029,156

Democrats —1,035,480

Even in my county, which is often thought to be a kind of gated community of liberals, Unaffiliated are the largest group:

Unaffiliated —116,460

Democrats —91,301

In Massachusetts, 65 percent are registered as Unaffiliated. In Colorado, almost half are. In Oregon, it’s 42 percent. In North Carolina, it’s 38 percent.

A few days ago, my county’s election division emailed me to suggest that I check my registration status because there is an election coming up. A couple of clicks, and there I am, properly registered and good to vote. Simple. And my affiliation? As it has been for many years, it is “Unaffiliated.” I’d rather say I’m a registered Independent, but that’s not offered here in Colorado. But I think this is the “party” of the future.

Apart from Bernie Sanders, there isn’t a national leader of “Independent” polity. But what if one or two were to arise? Imagine a man or a woman with forceful speaking ability, for example. One with charisma, intelligence — a clever political strategist. One who can lead by example and speak truthfully? Sign me up, right?

Knowing what this group of voters actually stands for isn’t and won’t be possible until some cohesion of ideas emerges. These voters are about equally divided on abortion, for example.

But there is one clear commonality: Unaffiliated voters are tired of cultural wars and far more interested in economic and global issues. The current president’s popularity falls when he cruelly attacks anybody whom he thinks doesn’t show him fealty. But his obsession with silencing critics is not viewed favorably by most Independents; the cancel culture with late-night comedians is not what most in the Independent group want. His tactic of distraction fails to eliminate the questions about his involvement with the Epstein files and the administration’s soft treatment of convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Independents are well aware and not supportive.

With inflation looming as an economic problem and unemployment rising, the tactics of distraction lose effectiveness. If Democrats or Republicans want to win in future elections, they must focus on the economic concerns of Independents rather than culture war distractions. 8

But the “old dogs” of the two-party system may not be capable of learning new tricks. They likely will continue with culture wars, and the hunger for a more level-headed, serious voice will grow. Democrats and Republicans find themselves in echo chambers, and Independents find themselves in a vacuum. As it grows, so does the opportunity for a charismatic voice for the future.