Respecting my Conservative Neighbors

Now and then in these columns I have alluded to the intentional community where Wendy and I live, with about three hundred others. The residents are retired workers in religious institutions and other charitable bodies. We are nationally known for being predominately progressive in our political and economic perspectives.

As such we are against the death penalty and in favor of some form of gun control. We honor diversity, celebrate gay rights and have a score of gay and lesbian couples and singles in our midst. We are profoundly concerned about climate change and other ecological issues and have recently altered our investment policy, which now centers on “Peace, economic justice and environmental sustainability.” We have traditionally found a way to welcome a limited number of otherwise qualified persons who do not have the economic resources necessary to live in our community.

Given these points of view, it is easy to assume that most of us here are basically in support of the Democratic Party and its candidates--although there is no political litmus test. Many among us backed Bernie, and are currently in a quandary as to how to vote this November. Several will vote Green, but most of the Bernie faction will support the Democratic ticket—which means Hillary.

At the same time, in this community there are a few conservatives, who tend to be silent, and when they do voice an opinion run the risk of being overwhelmed by the more verbal progressives. I have suggested that we liberals become more aware of who is at our table or in our group before we engage in what can be a political diatribe. I have made it a point to listen to this greatly outnumbered minority, and know that their perspective is just as worth promoting as is mine. Every week in response to what I have written, I hear from a number of thoughtful Republicans. I try to listen respectfully—an effort at which I occasionally fail. But I need to hear from them.

I have discovered that these conservatives have an even more difficult problem than do the progressives who supported Bernie and are having a hard time affirming Hillary. They tell us that they have what may be an insoluble political problem. While the Republican Party has chosen Trump, being people with solid ethical and political commitments, they cannot support him. He has neither the religious sensitivities nor the human qualities these good folks honor. His racism, contempt for women, vulgarity and arrogance are not what solid conservatives want for a national leader. Some of them may have voted for him in the primary, but any respect for who he is and what he stands for has long-since evaporated.

I have no advice, even when I’m asked. They just cannot vote for Hillary and I am hesitant to suggest that they consider doing so. And there is no third party, which captures their imagination, perhaps for many not even the Libertarians. Many of them have decided to sit out this election. What other real choice do they have?

What is true of the sincere conservatives in this community is true of other like-minded voters across the nation. I doubt that Trump will withdraw from the race, but many solid conservatives can no longer support him. What is to be done? Neither I nor anyone I have heard about has an acceptable answer. I am told the problem is like having a mouthful of hot potatoes. You cannot politely spit them out on the dinner table, but neither can you swallow them. While we can urge the Bernie cohorts to vote for Hillary, the Republican Party and their more thoughtful members seem to be stuck with no answer and no suitable alternatives to a problem they have bought and now must pay for.