No vote for candidates tied to pledges

As an Independent voter, my vote is supposedly essential to any politician’s hope of election to local or national office. I want to put all politicians on notice that I will boycott any candidate who vows never to compromise even if I agree with him, or her, on some specific issues. In my opinion, pledging to be stubborn disqualifies a candidate for public office. I want elected officials who put my welfare ahead of political dogma rather than the other way around.

My vote will never go to anyone who is proud to be a True Believer. American politics is not supposed to be a substitute religion. American politics is not supposed to be about reeling off a creed. The 20th century showed us over and over again what damage True Believers are capable of doing both within their own nations and to neighboring nations.

I don’t believe that any mere human is omniscient-and I suspect that anyone who would claim to be omniscient is particularly clueless. Any candidate who would claim to have the one true answer to all this poor nation’s woes is particularly unfit for public office.

In 2012, my vote will go to the candidates who are flexible, pragmatic, creative, and in touch with the life of ordinary Americans like me.

Stephanie Brent

Deerfield