I do not call myself a “Never Trumper”, nor do I consider myself a “moderate” Republican. However, I believe that compromise and a commitment to shared norms and procedures (such as free and fair elections, civil liberties, the separation of powers, and especially the rule of law) are essential elements of effective, long-lasting constitutional governance [1].
Thus, I am dismayed when both national political parties repeatedly enable or rationalize constitutionally dubious actions that erode these key principles. I am saddened especially when it is my political party driving such abandonment of principle. Despite this, I have hope for the future of this country, and you should too.
At age 12, I became particularly interested in politics when my family’s political party nominated a very unconventional candidate to run for the U.S. Presidency. This figure was the last person on my parents’ list (and therefore my list) of preferred candidates, but we rooted for him just the same.
Defying all odds, this candidate won the 2016 election. During the next four years of his presidency, he supported some policies I favored but failed to keep some promises. I cheered what I considered to be his crowning achievement of appointing three originalist justices to the Supreme Court, and I still supported his reelection bid in 2020. He faced an uphill battle, though, and ultimately lost the election.
I truly mourned his loss, even though I grimaced at his repeated and baseless allegations that it was stolen from him. However, the moment that indelibly soured my opinion of Donald Trump occurred on January 6th, 2021, when a large crowd of his supporters forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol to misguidedly prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 election. I still remember where I was and who showed me the news story when that happened.
My knowledge of government and democratic principles in that moment had not yet matured, but I knew something was very wrong. These supporters were, in large part, egged on by (or at least not deterred by) his rhetoric on the election being stolen from him, rhetoric he still echoes to this day [2]. Because of this clear violation of crucial constitutional principles, I decided that year that when I came of age to vote, I would support any other legitimate contender on the Republican ticket before I voted for Donald Trump.
Since then, Donald Trump did in fact win the next Republican nomination and general election. Like his first term, he has pursued a range of policies I favor, and he has done some things that leave me scratching my head (to put it mildly). The difference I see between the two terms is in his unprecedented use of executive power this time to test how far he can go in implementing his agenda before the courts or Congress stop him.
While the courts are continuing to review challenged actions, a Republican-controlled Congress has not done much to check his power. I would be more comforted if I saw a greater allegiance to constitutional duties and principles from the political opposition, but not very many politicians on the left have done so in a manner that is clearly untethered from simple partisan motivations. (It would be unfair to say that none on either side have been sincere.)
I do not write to bemoan a lost cause, however. Far from it, I believe we all have a part to play in creating a hopeful, happy path forward for this country. At BYU, we are in a unique position to do so because we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, which can give us a deep, enduring hope for the future [3]. Even when the toxicity and irrationality of the current political climate make our country seem beyond saving, we can still press on. Elder Neal Maxwell once said, “Hope keeps us 'anxiously engaged' in good causes even when these appear to be losing causes” [4].
I believe that some of the most important work we can do to contribute to the health and strength of our constitutional republic takes place within our own realms of influence, which is why I have a few suggestions and observations for how you can pave a new path forward that does not succumb to toxic politics on both sides.
First, the reasons people vote the way they do are complex. Just because I do not particularly like our current president (even being a Republican myself) does not mean that other, more upright people than myself cannot or should not support him or specific policies. Thus, as President Oaks taught, we should refrain from judging people for voting for a particular candidate or party [5].
Second, rather than further entrenching ourselves into ideological positions when we face criticism or conflicting viewpoints, we ought to listen more and, as President Oaks says, “seek to moderate and unify” rather than pursuing “total dominance” for whatever the issue [6]. Moderating and unifying does not imply a compromise of principle.
Third, the way something is done is almost always more important than the result itself in politics. George Handley said at a recent lecture on BYU campus that in his role as a city councilman he came to the point of not caring about outcomes insofar as he followed the right process. This rang true to me. Rather than cheering relentlessly for your team no matter the cost, pursuing constitutionally sanctioned actions that move the needle in your desired direction is the best way to make a difference–even and especially if the other side is not willing to do the same.
Fourth, just because flaws existed in the pre-Trump system of liberalism, a system now reviled by both the right and left extremes, we should not completely throw out–as some groups on the right and left advocate–the philosophy associated with it of freedom and individual rights [7]. Our divinely inspired Founding Fathers, and generations of Americans since (including marginalized groups), paid a dear price to create this country into the bastion of freedom it is today. Any changes we pursue today should respect and take into account America’s founding documents and the fervent belief in the God that inspired them [8].
I adamantly believe this is a great nation. It has done so much good in the world, and it has much more to do. May we live with hope and protect the principles that inspired the foundation of this country.
