The Democrats have a big problem with “solutions” that either don’t address the problem or create worse problems in doing so. And maybe I’m biased by dealing with the Chicago Machine, but there’s too much corruption as well. And don’t even get me started on the corporatism.
The DNC is pretty left socially on a global scale, which I approve of, but just all over the place in terms of economic policy, and I think that axis is where they get labelled as centrist or even right-leaning globally. Though, yes, Secretary Clinton in 2016 was the most conservative candidate with any real support, partly because she was the most experienced in actual governance.
For example: eliminating the Electoral college, term-limiting senators, declaring an official language, limiting jus soli citizenship, granting senatorial representation to the federal district… there are others that don’t come up as often that I can’t remember now.
I do have things I think should be changed or reformed, of course, as everyone does, but I’m very much against change for the sake of change. Society can be dynamic, the government should be stable.
Illinois has open primaries and you don’t need to register a party when you register to vote; but you can still register with the parties themselves. I also grew up in South Dakota, which has closed primaries, and you do fill out an party (or not) when you register to vote there, or at least when I turned 18 you did.
I’m conservative in the sense of opposing change, especially to our political system. Not all change, but my default stance is “don’t fuck with it”.
Because I live in and enjoy living in Chicago, am socially liberal, an ardent feminist, an aspiring antiracist, people assume I’m a Democrat. Honestly, even the first alone is usually enough to trigger this assumption.
Because I’m politically conservative, respect religious freedom, respect the second amendment, and oppose stacking the Supreme Court, people assume I’m a Republican; even though the GOP hasn’t respected religious freedom or been politically conservative in general in decades.
And when I tell people that I’m not registered with a party, won’t vote along party lines, and won’t vote the lesser evil, I’m assumed to be politically inactive, apathetic, or ignorant. Whereas I’m very active, always vote, usually campaign for favored candidates and against corrupt incumbents.
The “team sport” mentality of FPTP political systems is absolutely terrible, honestly.