A Republic To Save
Ben Everidge for Thomas
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Bridging the Gap from Old Politics to a New Civic Era …
American democracy is aging, not just in its institutions, but also in its political instincts.
In 2024, for the first time in our nation’s history, Millennials and Gen Z became the largest voting bloc in America. They outnumber Baby Boomers and Gen X combined. They are diverse, digitally native, civically aware, and, crucially, independent.
Over half of voters under 45 now identify as independent, not because they’re disengaged, but because they see through the broken scaffolding of partisan politics. And yet, their voices remain muffled by an old guard clinging to a two-party system that no longer serves the public good.
As a proud independent myself who came of age in a vastly different America, one where handshake politics could still bridge a policy divide, I write this not in frustration, but with urgency. I clearly hear the voices of the younger generation. They echo my long-held beliefs about the goodness of good government and what it can accomplish. I hear the voices of the younger generation because they are not lost.
But if we fail to respond, democracy itself might be.
The Great Disconnect
It’s not just age that divides. It’s ethos.
Where the political class still sees red versus blue, younger Americans see issue-based alliances, systematic injustices, and economic precarity. They care less about “which team” is winning and more about whether anyone is doing the work.
In recent national polling among 18-45-year-old independents, the top concerns weren’t party-driven narratives. They were:
The cost of living and housing crisis
Climate change and future resilience
Healthcare and mental health access
Gun safety in schools and communities
The crushing weight of student debt
Job instability in a tech-disrupted economy
These are not partisan issues. These are American issues. But Washington, and much of our state-level politics, still treats governance like a football game. A win for “them” is a loss for “us” even if we all live under the same roof.
This generation sees through that, and they’re tired of being ignored.
Thirty Percent May Be Lost, But the Majority is Listening
Let’s be honest: some Americans will never come back to democratic discourse. Radicalized by disinformation, seduced by grievance politics, or paralyzed by cynicism, roughly 30% of the electorate may be unreachable for now.
But the 70% in the middle still matters.
Many are independent, moderate, issue-driven, or exhausted. They’re ready to engage if someone meets them with humility, vision, and a credible plan. The challenge is not to chase the extremes but to build a platform of relevance, reform, and respect for the rest.
The bridge between the old politics and the new must be built on this understanding.
What It Takes to Build the Bridge
Here’s how we get there:
1. Reform the Process | Ranked Choice Voting and nonpartisan primaries give independents a real shot and allow more than two voices, often extreme, to be heard without “spoiling” outcomes.
2. Speak Their Language | Use digital-native storytelling, not stump speeches. Make civic education and policy innovation digestible, visual, and shareable.
3. Stop Pretending the System Isn’t Broken | Younger Americans respect candor. Admit that Washington, and many of our state capitals, aren’t working and lay out a credible path for reform.
4. Build Generational Coalitions, Not Echo Chambers | We don’t need a generational war. We need an intergenerational handshake. Let elders bring wisdom and let youth bring energy and vitality. Both have value.
5. Prioritize the Public Good | From rural broadband to climate adaptation to student debt relief, prove that policy can solve problems again. That’s how you earn trust.
From the Quill to the Capitol
At Thomas and our sister publication, The Independent Quill, we believe that independent thinkers and leaders will shape the next chapter of American governance. The two parties will not reform themselves. They will not bridge the generational divide themselves. However, we can build something outside of them that makes either one compete or become obsolete.
Younger generations are not abandoning democracy.
They are asking democracy to evolve.
If we listen – really listen – we can build a politics of the public good, rooted not in fear, but in common sense, courage, and compassion.
The republic still belongs to all of us. Let’s prove it!
