Independent authors cover the political spectrum and perspectives. Authors share their opinion on a wide range of topics on local, state, and national issues. Articles in this category express the opinions of our contributors, not IVN as a whole.
Opinion
Hello America! Hello my Brothers and Sisters! This campaign, this race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, has come to a critical point. A boiling point, some would say. And before we go any further, before voters in the next states cast their primary ballots and before the media casts
Opinion
Written by Joe Pickering of Mainers for Open Elections, originally published in the Bangor Daily News. “Go Vote,” the March 4 BDN editorial urges. “There is no better way to reinvigorate the democratic spirit in you.” How so? Why should a plurality of voters in Maine and America have to
Opinion
In a country that often feels divided between two camps, the Republicans and the Democrats, independent voters could really be the future of politics in America. While polarized, if not combative, politics are nothing new (e.g., the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 that tore the nation apart), there
Opinion
We can all agree that Washington is broken. Gridlock ensues as the divide between the Republicans and Democrats reaches Grand Canyon size proportions. Watching the Republicans put party over country in their defense of Donald Trump during the impeachment trial showed how hyper-partisanship is withering of our democracy, even raising
Opinion
Brace yourselves voters! Donald Trump's third State of the Union Address was-- exactly like every other SOTU address any of us has ever seen in our lifetimes. Okay, maybe not exactly like every other State of the Union. The president is still-- well-- Donald Trump. And this address
Opinion
First published at Real Clear Politics The national discussion on whether America is ready for a female president provides both insight and context to the challenges that face independent candidates. Columnist Rebecca Traister offered the insight that the question itself, and not the sex of the candidate, is the real
Opinion
The impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump is underway! And it is... intensely predictable. This is why more and more voters are becoming independent. Democrats Want Trump Removed *GASP* And Republicans (You Guessed It) Want Him Acquitted CNN's public polling finds voters are evenly divided between wanting
Opinion
The most basic right in a healthy democracy is the right to vote. Without this right, governments can turn into the worst of autocracies and dictatorships, ignoring the needs of citizens and abusing the power of the state. Voter discrimination is not a new phenomenon and has been around since
Opinion
It was nearly four years ago that voters did the unthinkable. They rejected the party establishments’ favored candidates. And they did so to pick literally Donald Trump as America’s next president. That decision by the electorate completely blindsided Washington political operatives and the mainstream media analysts. How could Donald
Opinion
Democrats have been uniform in their condemnation of President Donald Trump after the targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani on Jan 3rd. Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the airstrike on Iran’s top general “provocative and disproportionate,” and a “dangerous escalation.” Pelosi warned: “America – and the world – cannot afford to have tensions
Opinion
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” -English Historian Henry Thomas Buckle In the never ending swirl of fake news media controversy, is anyone else wondering what happened to real political news about actual public policy? Fake News is one of the most apt terms
Opinion
The US House voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald J. Trump on charges of “Abuse of Power” and “Obstruction of Congress.” The vote was the most partisan result of any impeachment vote in the history of the United States. Clinton, Nixon Impeachment Proceedings Were More Bipartisan Two presidents have been