in 2025, I'm dedicated to launching The Big Middle (www.thebigmiddle.us), a next-gen social media platform that actively fosters consensus on solutions to our common problems
I am excited to get involved with Maverick. I chair a group, A New Vision, which meets in my home monthly. Members leave with one action they can take to help save our representative democracy. Action for January: Send a Letter to the Editor (written at the meeting) to a paper of their choice on a topic (brainstormed at the meeting) of their choice.
I did not want to look back on this difficult time in the history of our representatives democracy and say I let it happen without putting up a fight using the skills I and others have to offer.
I signed up, and interested in how this will take shape. I'm a bit skeptical, having signed up for so many things in the last few years. But at the same time always hopeful!
I totally get that skepticism! I have signed up for a bunch of things, too, that didn’t give clear ways to dig in. Hopefully we’re learning and growing as a movement! But very excited that you’re interested!
We just got incorporated a month ago. I decided to start it because of the election outcome and the lack of engagement with the disability community by either party. The name of the organization is Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. Here is the link to the website: https://www.disabilitycommunityfordemocracy.org/. If you have any questions about the organization please reach out.
I'm a college student, so I didn't really get interested in politics until 2020 when the pandemic was going on and I would watch Governor Whitmer's press conferences for guidance on what Michiganders like myself could do to slow the spread of the virus. By the November elections, I had gotten interested in the national politics, and I voted for Joe Biden, not so much because he's a Democrat, but rather, because he was not Trump. I am an independent, and I will vote for whoever is the better candidate.
I do not agree with either party 100% of the time, but I think both parties have good ideas. At least, they're supposed to. I am now a political nerd, and I have looked into the history of our politics, and people who have led both parties, and I look at today's politics, and both parties have lost their way. It feels like the far-left and the far-right have taken over, and that's not healthy for our democracy.
People like Bill Clinton, John Kasich, John Boehner, Mitt Romney, and Joe Lieberman, all people I respect deeply, even if I don't agree with their politics 100% of the time, they were all good people who served in public office because they cared about people, not just themselves, well, these people would have a lot of trouble getting elected today. (Mitt Rmney is leaving the Senate). I wish we could go back to having people like them, people who could work across the aisle and find ways to get things done, despite the media trying to make them look bad, depending on the channel you were watching.
I hope we can get back to those days, where we can have politicians who truly do care. These days, you wouldn't have people like Ted Kennedy and John Boehner working together on education reform, because people like that are not being elected today. I believe it's because anger is winning over common sense, and that's dangerous. We should be able to agree to disagree without being disagreeable. As an independent, I am proud to join you in working towards a better future for our country. Centrist candidates, candidates with common sense, are essential!
I have been writing a Substack Column, "Concerned Citizen," since January 2024. I post about once per week. My column is dedicated to our beloved country and to saving our democratic republic. But I need to DO more than that. As well as writing a column, I need to be active in this critical endeavor. I'm making plans to start a "Pizza and Politics" group - in-person meetings open to all of us who want to work to save our democratic republic. Thank you, Reed, for this excellent project you are undertaking. I look forward to being a part of it.
I'm combing out the feeds, and all the grifters and self servers, of the 18 or so pods I joined as a moderate Never Trumper conservative since 2016. Not that they're all failures, but many seem very stale and so confused by the Trumpist ascendancy tactics. Many of them are doing the protofascist jig, seeming ignorant of the very basic antifa principles offered by Hannah Arendt, Timothy Snyder and other clear minded, intelligent writers. I'll look at Maverick as possibly an early replacement for the tired centrist intelligentia that failed us twice dealing with our idiot cousins on the left and right in our culture and polity.
I’m a member of NARFE (National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees). Not a union, we’re a nationwide nonprofit that watches for federal and state legislation that will affect active and retired federal employees, and actions by elected officials that will affect us. As a Federal Legislative Chair in my chapter I keep our members informed on legislation and encourage them to let their elected officials know what they think. We’re nonpartisan and in my opinion very much centered as a group.
I'm not American, but my country is facing federal elections this year, and some of our right wingers are trying to emulate Trumpian politics, enabled by Murdoch media and more general conservative attitudes.
I'm still trying to work out how to influence my (rather conservative) bit of electorate.
I am Canadian but would love to join this group to learn. Sadly, in Canada, our next Prime Minister is almost as wacko as Trump and will take our country backwards. He will eliminate all the good things that progressives have done in the community. I am a member of the Liberal Party which is comparable to the Democrats in the US.
Right now, it's just me writing a Substack. But I'm really excited for other folks to join over time! A lot of us came from the world of Republican politics and became disillusioned with the GOP over MAGA.
I’m on board with Adam Kinzinger’s “County First” and “Politically Homeless” movement (even bought the hat to prove it!).
I haven’t been GOP for over 30 years - long ago siding libertarian. But I am a cultural conservative.
Adam says he has big announcements for a real action map coming up early this year. I sure hope so, because as much as I do admire him, I’ve been wondering, “Aside from being another substack list, what are we DOING?” - aside from reading posts - what’s the plan?
How are you defining cultural conservative? I feel like all our definitions of everything have changed over time - I personally am allergic to extremes and thus refer to myself as a Centrist, but I manage to annoy both those to the left and right of me 😎
in 2025, I'm dedicated to launching The Big Middle (www.thebigmiddle.us), a next-gen social media platform that actively fosters consensus on solutions to our common problems
"Let's meet in The Big Middle"™
That sounds awesome! Thanks for what you're doing.
I signed up. I can't wait for your first meeting.
thank you, Nieta, you will be the first to know!
You have my attention and curiosity.
I am excited to get involved with Maverick. I chair a group, A New Vision, which meets in my home monthly. Members leave with one action they can take to help save our representative democracy. Action for January: Send a Letter to the Editor (written at the meeting) to a paper of their choice on a topic (brainstormed at the meeting) of their choice.
An LTE template is provided.
That sounds like an awesome idea. What made you want to get that started?
I did not want to look back on this difficult time in the history of our representatives democracy and say I let it happen without putting up a fight using the skills I and others have to offer.
I signed up, and interested in how this will take shape. I'm a bit skeptical, having signed up for so many things in the last few years. But at the same time always hopeful!
I totally get that skepticism! I have signed up for a bunch of things, too, that didn’t give clear ways to dig in. Hopefully we’re learning and growing as a movement! But very excited that you’re interested!
I am glad that you are doing this. I started a non-profit for people with disabilities fighting for our liberal democracy.
That sounds really cool! I'd love to hear more about it. Is there a website I can check out?
We just got incorporated a month ago. I decided to start it because of the election outcome and the lack of engagement with the disability community by either party. The name of the organization is Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. Here is the link to the website: https://www.disabilitycommunityfordemocracy.org/. If you have any questions about the organization please reach out.
I like it and look forward to 'The Myth of the Third Party' and what the Forward Party is trying to do.
I'm a college student, so I didn't really get interested in politics until 2020 when the pandemic was going on and I would watch Governor Whitmer's press conferences for guidance on what Michiganders like myself could do to slow the spread of the virus. By the November elections, I had gotten interested in the national politics, and I voted for Joe Biden, not so much because he's a Democrat, but rather, because he was not Trump. I am an independent, and I will vote for whoever is the better candidate.
I do not agree with either party 100% of the time, but I think both parties have good ideas. At least, they're supposed to. I am now a political nerd, and I have looked into the history of our politics, and people who have led both parties, and I look at today's politics, and both parties have lost their way. It feels like the far-left and the far-right have taken over, and that's not healthy for our democracy.
People like Bill Clinton, John Kasich, John Boehner, Mitt Romney, and Joe Lieberman, all people I respect deeply, even if I don't agree with their politics 100% of the time, they were all good people who served in public office because they cared about people, not just themselves, well, these people would have a lot of trouble getting elected today. (Mitt Rmney is leaving the Senate). I wish we could go back to having people like them, people who could work across the aisle and find ways to get things done, despite the media trying to make them look bad, depending on the channel you were watching.
I hope we can get back to those days, where we can have politicians who truly do care. These days, you wouldn't have people like Ted Kennedy and John Boehner working together on education reform, because people like that are not being elected today. I believe it's because anger is winning over common sense, and that's dangerous. We should be able to agree to disagree without being disagreeable. As an independent, I am proud to join you in working towards a better future for our country. Centrist candidates, candidates with common sense, are essential!
You mention The Maverick Manifesto and Seize the Moment, but I don't know where to find them?
I have been writing a Substack Column, "Concerned Citizen," since January 2024. I post about once per week. My column is dedicated to our beloved country and to saving our democratic republic. But I need to DO more than that. As well as writing a column, I need to be active in this critical endeavor. I'm making plans to start a "Pizza and Politics" group - in-person meetings open to all of us who want to work to save our democratic republic. Thank you, Reed, for this excellent project you are undertaking. I look forward to being a part of it.
I'm combing out the feeds, and all the grifters and self servers, of the 18 or so pods I joined as a moderate Never Trumper conservative since 2016. Not that they're all failures, but many seem very stale and so confused by the Trumpist ascendancy tactics. Many of them are doing the protofascist jig, seeming ignorant of the very basic antifa principles offered by Hannah Arendt, Timothy Snyder and other clear minded, intelligent writers. I'll look at Maverick as possibly an early replacement for the tired centrist intelligentia that failed us twice dealing with our idiot cousins on the left and right in our culture and polity.
I’m a member of NARFE (National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees). Not a union, we’re a nationwide nonprofit that watches for federal and state legislation that will affect active and retired federal employees, and actions by elected officials that will affect us. As a Federal Legislative Chair in my chapter I keep our members informed on legislation and encourage them to let their elected officials know what they think. We’re nonpartisan and in my opinion very much centered as a group.
I'm not American, but my country is facing federal elections this year, and some of our right wingers are trying to emulate Trumpian politics, enabled by Murdoch media and more general conservative attitudes.
I'm still trying to work out how to influence my (rather conservative) bit of electorate.
We're still with you Reed! Appreciate your work throughout the campaign and continuing the cause as we all continue our work together in 2025!
Will you be at Principles First in February?
I am Canadian but would love to join this group to learn. Sadly, in Canada, our next Prime Minister is almost as wacko as Trump and will take our country backwards. He will eliminate all the good things that progressives have done in the community. I am a member of the Liberal Party which is comparable to the Democrats in the US.
Who are “you”?
Why do I feel this is the left disquised as the middle ?.... Who is behind the Maverick?
Right now, it's just me writing a Substack. But I'm really excited for other folks to join over time! A lot of us came from the world of Republican politics and became disillusioned with the GOP over MAGA.
I’m on board with Adam Kinzinger’s “County First” and “Politically Homeless” movement (even bought the hat to prove it!).
I haven’t been GOP for over 30 years - long ago siding libertarian. But I am a cultural conservative.
Adam says he has big announcements for a real action map coming up early this year. I sure hope so, because as much as I do admire him, I’ve been wondering, “Aside from being another substack list, what are we DOING?” - aside from reading posts - what’s the plan?
How are you defining cultural conservative? I feel like all our definitions of everything have changed over time - I personally am allergic to extremes and thus refer to myself as a Centrist, but I manage to annoy both those to the left and right of me 😎