There’s a common assumption in today’s polarized world that political affiliation defines a person in absolute terms. That if you’re a member of a party, you must embody everything it represents. If you lean left, you’re a bleeding-heart liberal who hates capitalism. If you lean right, you’re a reactionary bootlicker who wants to rewind society to the 1950s.
But what if you exist in a space where you don’t fully belong?
That’s where I am: a progressive-minded, sex-positive, non-conforming individual in a party that has long since abandoned its progressive roots. To some, that might seem like self-sabotage, but to me, it’s strategy.
Why Stay in the Conservative Party?
A lot of people assume that if you don’t like the direction of a group, you should just leave. That if your values don’t align with where an organization is headed, you should abandon ship and find something else. And sure, that logic applies in plenty of situations. But politics isn’t just about where you stand. It’s about where you push.
I don’t stay because I agree with everything the Conservative Party does. I stay because if all reasonable people leave, then what’s left? The loudest, most extreme voices take over. That’s already happening. My membership isn’t a stamp of approval. It’s a position of influence, even if it’s just a whisper among roars.
I remember when the party still had room for moderates, for pragmatists, for people who weren’t just reacting to progress but trying to shape it. When Progressive Conservatism meant balancing tradition with evolution rather than outright rejecting change.
I’m not here to save anyone. I’m here to remind them what they used to be.
The Illusion of Political Purity
It’s funny how people love placing others into neat little boxes, as if identity can be boiled down to a two-party system of yes or no, left or right. The reality is, people are complex, multi-faceted, and often contradictory.
- I believe in personal freedoms, bodily autonomy, and an individual’s right to live life without oppressive moral policing.
- I also believe in fiscal responsibility, pragmatic governance, and the importance of preserving societal stability.
- I think free markets should exist, but not at the cost of human welfare.
- I think tradition can be respected, but not worshipped as infallible.
- I think personal responsibility matters, but so does systemic accountability.
None of these things are inherently “left” or “right.” They’re just perspectives – nuanced, evolving, and grounded in reality rather than ideological dogma.
A Contradiction They Can’t Process
If you tell someone you’re a Conservative but you also support LGBTQ+ rights, sex work decriminalization, and non-monogamy, they will likely malfunction. If you tell a left-winger that you believe in discipline, self-reliance, and economic pragmatism, they might eye you like you’re a closet reactionary.
Nobody likes cognitive dissonance. They want clean, binary definitions.
I don’t fit into those. And frankly, I have no desire to.
I choose my positions because they make sense to me, not because they adhere to a party line. And that’s what makes some people uncomfortable – the idea that you can have independent thought while still engaging with a system that isn’t perfect.
The truth is, if people like me weren’t still present, the Conservative Party would have long since tipped fully into the abyss. I may not be a major force, but I exist as a reminder – a voice in the storm, whispering to those willing to listen.
That alone is worth staying for. Plus, membership is only $50 per year, and I get a shiny flimsy plastic membership card too. 😉
