A victory in Texas for moderation

Democratic senatorial candidate James Talarico’s victory in the Texas primary over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett caused me to reflect on the current state of our nation’s political affairs. Mr. Talarico’s platform of moderation: a fair, sensible immigration and border policy (“Our border should be like a front porch — it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door”), affordable health care for all Americans and fair, equal investment in all public schools resonated with many Texans. Most importantly, James Talarico ran a positive, uplifting campaign minus the acidic rhetoric that voters are persistently subjected to.

Can Mr. Talarico’s victory spur the impetus for a seismic shift in the current political climate of our country? Voters should be guided by objectivity, pragmatism and empathy, not dogmatic party ideology. With most Americans embracing centrist views, it’s time for the moderates to seize the political narrative from the verbose, acerbic extremists on both sides of the political spectrum.

I believe unequivocally that Americans are kind, generous, and empathetic. I believe that they want the United States led by political leaders who embrace personal integrity, decorum, and common decency. The current vitriolic, rancorous political climate must be eradicated.

At the end of the Constitution Convention, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was asked, “What type of government do we have?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” May all Americans feel empowered to set a new course and write a new chapter in our nation’s enduring story.

Lawrence E. Bonk

Roselle