Why is the Centrist Independent Voter Political Action Committee necessary?
Many independent voters, and many voters still formally registered with one of the major parties, feel increasingly alienated from American politics. They are uncomfortable with the extent to which the far right controls the Republican Party and the far left controls the Democratic Party. They are frustrated by elections that too often present voters with the lesser of two evils, and by a political system that rewards anger, ideological purity, and performative conflict more reliably than practical governing judgment.
CIVPAC exists to help define and promote a serious political center. We do not define centrism as vague moderation, automatic compromise, or simply splitting the difference between the two major parties. We believe many Americans want public policy that is economically efficient, fair, protective of individual freedom, and politically realistic, operating within strong democratic institutions and a stable international order. To understand what we mean by these criteria, read our Philosophy.
Because the political center can be hard to define, CIVPAC has developed detailed policy positions across a wide range of issues. Our goal is to make tradeoffs explicit, identify workable solutions, and support candidates whose judgment and positions reflect those principles.
What will CIVPAC do?
CIVPAC’s current work is to define, defend, and promote a serious political center through public policy analysis, candidate endorsements, issue advocacy, and civic commentary.
CIVPAC takes positions on major policy issues, explains the tradeoffs involved, and evaluates candidates based on practical governing judgment, democratic institutions, personal freedom, market-compatible policy, fiscal realism, and support for a stable international order.
CIVPAC uses this website and related platforms to promote centrist candidates where we find them: Democrats, Republicans, or independents, where there is a plausible path to success. We also invite readers to respond to our policy positions, suggest improvements, participate in blog discussions, recommend candidates, and follow CIVPAC’s work.
CIVPAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a non-connected, independent expenditure-only political action committee, commonly referred to as a Super PAC. As a result, CIVPAC may support or oppose candidates through independent expenditures, but may not coordinate its actions with candidates, campaigns, political parties, or affiliated political committees.
CIVPAC is not currently seeking donations. Our present focus is on ideas, analysis, endorsements, and public engagement.
Why does CIVPAC take positions on public policy issues?
The independent voter bloc includes a wide range of views. It also includes many voters who are nominally Republicans or Democrats because they want to participate in primaries. Even the terms moderate and centrist are vague unless tied to actual policy choices.
The bulk of this website is devoted to laying out CIVPAC’s positions on public policy issues in detail. The website addresses approximately forty public policy problems. Check the Table of Contents or the menu above if you are looking for our position on a particular issue. CIVPAC’s underlying philosophy is laid out in the Philosophy section.
Examples of CIVPAC’s Approach to Public Policy
Although CIVPAC addresses approximately forty public policy issues, our approach can be illustrated by four examples: climate change, health care entitlement costs, education, and spending, taxation, and debt.
Climate Change
We propose a substantial carbon tax in the U.S. and other countries willing to do the same, combined with a tariff on the estimated carbon emissions associated with imports from countries that do not impose comparable carbon pricing. Since any sensible country would choose to collect the proceeds of the tax itself rather than have it imposed on its exports, this policy would encourage broader international adoption of carbon pricing. See Climate Change.
Health Care Entitlement Costs
We propose economically efficient improvements to Obamacare, Medicare, and Medicaid that increase market-based incentives to curb costs, make health care more affordable, and convert open-ended entitlement programs into defined per-capita contribution subsidies for health care insurance. See Health Care.
Education
We propose reforms at all levels of public education. These reforms include increased compensation for effective teaching, greater use of technology to leverage good teaching, and separation of the educational and certification functions in higher education to introduce more competition. See Education.
Spending, Taxation, and Debt
We propose addressing the coming debt crisis by raising revenues in ways that improve market signals rather than distort them. We would use those revenues to reduce the deficit and subsidize education and social welfare programs that increase social and economic mobility. See Spending, Taxation, and Debt.
The underlying theme of these policy proposals is that government has a significant role in a number of areas, but public policy should marshal the power of markets and competition wherever possible. CIVPAC also seeks solutions that respect personal freedom and limit unnecessary reliance on the inherently coercive power of the state.