I first became politically active at age 16, long before I was able to vote. I worked for the John J. Rhodes re-election campaign in Arizona stuffing envelopes and making phone calls. I loved the way that working for a candidate made me feel like I was making a contribution, making a difference.
When I finally turned 18, I registered to vote and began a long history of supporting Republican causes and candidates. After my marriage in 1980, I re-registered in Utah as a Republican voter. Since my husband, Mike, is also a Republican, we lived in a happy Republican household.
About 20 years ago, cracks starting appearing in our GOP armor. Slowly at first, but now more often than not, Mike and I would head to the polls only to cancel out each other's vote. On a few issues, we agree wholeheartedly, but on many, many issues, we are at odds.
The Utah Republican Party is a particularly peculiar type of animal. Ultra, ultra conservative at best, completely unrealistic at worst. For the last couple of years, I have felt completely disenfranchised by the party that I've supported for nearly 40 years. Today, that ends. I filed paperwork with the county recorder's office removing my name from the GOP rolls. Today, I am independent...in more ways than one.
I am beginning to believe that the two-party system is broken, possibly irretrievably so. The plan designed to provide a voice for all Americans has become a vitriol-filled fight for party power at the expense of a great many Americans whose ideals fall somewhere between the 'official' party platforms of the two major parties. The 'Tea Party' had the right idea, that the system needs reform, but their response leaves a great deal to be desired as they also have become mired in the political muck. I have long held the idea that the best way to create change in an organization is from within. I have been trying to do that for many years from within the Republican party, but they are headed in a direction that I cannot, will not go.
The truth is, I have no answers, no solutions to this problem. I only know that I could not any longer be both a Republican and true to myself. In 'Hamlet', Polonius says 'This above all: to thine own self be true'. Today, I am being true to myself. Goodbye GOP.
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