COLUMN: I’m tired. I want something different

Growing up in a town with many popular fast-food restaurants, I thought Arby’s stood out the most when I was a teen in the 1980s. Arby’s wasn’t a traditional hamburger. It wasn’t tacos either. And their curly fries are in a class of their own. I preferred potato cakes (a thick, triangle shaped potato that was fried). That also made Arby’s stand out for me. I won’t deny how occasional meetings in Osceola have included stops at their Arby’s. Horseradish is a condiment from God!

The last year, I have tried a new chain of restaurant that takes over as being different, far more different than Arby’s. Hawaiian Brothers is based on seasoned chicken or pork over rice. I’ve been leery how fast-food chains handle pork. Hawaiian Brothers does their shredded pork rather well and a Hawaiian-like barbecue sauce is a great addition. There are no fries but you can get a dish of pineapple. Yes, ordering fresh fruit defies the fast-food stereotype. My college-daughter in Nebraska lives near a Hawaiian Brothers that is on Omaha’s far west side. There are locations in Davenport and St. Joseph, Missouri. One is planned for Waukee.

Hawaiian Brothers is different. I like it. I wish American politics would be like that.

In either summer or fall 2027, I’m confident we will hear the Democrat party blame Trump, and probably certain other Republicans, for whatever problems are in front of us as campaigns begin. At the same time, the Republicans will volley back having Republican control prevented other things from happening, and probably worse, having any Democrat influence. Heck, we will probably hear it all during the mid-terms in 2026.

What I don’t know what will happen in 2027 is what Republican will take the lead as Trump can’t run again in 2028 as he had his two-term limit according to the Constitution. Trump is in rare company as only Grover Cleveland is a two-term, but not consecutive term, president. Cleveland was elected in 1884 and 1892.

Late last Thursday, while still recovering from a late election night, I ran into a Robin Williams movie I had heard of, but not seen. In “Man of the Year” Williams plays a television talk-show host who is influenced to run for president as an independent candidate. His character in the 2006 film had a moment for me that I dream of being somehow converted into my first tattoo, let alone reality.

“I’m fed up with party politics. I’m tired or the Republican Party. I’m tired of Democrat Party. There is no real difference. Here’s the operative word, party. They lost track what they are responsible for, the people; not party loyalists and definitely not lobbyists.”

I think it’s fair to say American politics in 2006 is far different (it was more tolerable) than what we have today. We still have some of the same problems FDR referred to in his second inauguration speech in 1937 and Biden in his 2021 State of the Union address. I’m not naive to think we will eliminate every political or social problem. Both parties have had plenty of opportunity in those 84 years. I haven’t seen significant improvement.

The turn of the century was the beginning for me to pay attention to and consider what else was out there. If you paid attention to your ballot last week, there are other parties but they only get the attention when it’s something substantial. This campaign season was a great example. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had an “independent” like campaign but quit it and showed his support for Trump. Kennedy Jr. was too much of a risk for me. In Iowa, the Libertarian party’s Congressional candidates were left off the ballot after a snafu was noted about their candidacy process that didn’t fit the state rules. Bummer.

Those other parties get bullied by the dominance of the Democrats and Republicans.

According to The Washington Post, “independent voters, those who don’t claim a party, moved toward Trump by 10 points. Harris still won independents, but by just 3 points. In 2020, independent voters favored Biden by 13 points, by far the largest win among that group for any Democrat since 1976.

This development is particularly significant given more Americans are identifying as independent. Independents made up 34 % of voters this year, the largest share in exit polls dating back to 1972. They also made up a larger share than voters who identified as Democratic this year (31 %), for the first time since 1972. And finally, for the first time since exit polling began, more voters identified as Republican, 35 %.”

(The stats are from interviews of 22,914 randomly selected voters as they exited voting places across the country on Nov. 5.)

Over the years, I’ve known good Republicans and Democrats. My definition of good includes when someone is genuine about criticism of their own party. It contains the loyalty attitude.

I keep hoping one election season a number of those unaffiliated voters will form a new party or parties that will gain interest and legitimacy. I hope something different is coming for American politics that is refreshing, healthy and surprising. Kind of like ordering a side of pineapple.