Opinion

Independent authors share their opinion on a wide range of topics, from political commentary to less politicized issues that are relevant to the discussion. Articles in this category express the opinions of our contributors, not IVN as a whole.

A Poem by Jessie Fields

Dear IVN Reader,

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For the holidays I give you this beautiful poem by my beautiful friend Dr. Jessie Fields. A physician, a leader, a conscience and a poet, Dr. Fields is fierce and tender in all she does. You will be touched by her, by this poem.

Happy Holidays. Be safe. Be Independent. Be loved.
Jackie

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“Poetry: Forgive me for having helped you to understand that you are not made of

words alone.” Roque Dalton

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Poetry Can

I Voted For Trump; Now I Support Tulsi Gabbard

I supported Trump in 2016. I will not be supporting him in 2020. It is not because I hate him. It is not because I think he has been a disaster as president. It is not because of Russia, the Ukraine, or what the Democrats, CNN, MSNBC, and the New York Times say about him. In fact, I like the way he has taken on the establishment and pushed for change.

There are three primary reasons I have withdrawn my support: 1. He has been catastrophic on animal and environmental issues, 2. He has been governing from the far right, and 3. He has been a divisive president.

Don’t Let A Divisive Media Narrative Diminish Hope for a Better Republic

I have had the distinct honor of covering the nonpartisan reform space for the last seven years. In that time, I have seen it only build considerable momentum — and garner one historic victory after another.

These victories come despite a mainstream political media narrative that is divisive, hyperbolic, and gives the loudest megaphones to those who wish to keep the United States trapped in a perpetual partisan war between the “Right” and “Left.”

Money and Politics: Why Small Businesses Should Fight to Unrig the System

As we close out November each year, America celebrates Small Business Saturday — where we are encouraged to patronize small brick-and-mortar retail stores during the busiest shopping weekend of the holiday season.

OPINION: Bloomberg vs. Trump 2020 Is So Coke and Pepsi

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s entry into the 2020 race for the Democratic presidential nomination could add a jolt to a field of candidates that has so far failed to inspire much enthusiasm.

Independents and Major Party Candidates Should Play by the Same Rules

It might surprise you to learn North Carolina (NC) has more unaffiliated (Independent) voters than Republicans. The percentage of NC voters registered as unaffiliated has been steadily increasing from 18% in 2004 to 32% in 2019.

OPINION: Why Voter Reform Trumps Impeachment

Here are four reasons voter reform is a far better, and more permanent solution to the problems the most earnest Democrats are hoping to solve by impeaching Donald Trump.

OPINION: Why Voter Reform Trumps Impeachment

Impeachment headlines have dominated the news cycle for much of Donald Trump’s presidency. The relentless clamor for impeachment, along with the lack of anything substantial so far for Democrats to hang their hat on as an impeachable offense, smacks of partisan fervor and political gamesmanship, rather than serious and enlightened statecraft.

6 Ways to Have Agency — and Harness the Facts — in the Post-Truth Era

We can no longer deny that we are living in a post-truth era. It is real, and it has tragic consequences. But the situation is not hopeless.

6 Ways to Have Agency — and Harness the Facts — in the Post-Truth Era

Who among us could have imagined the post-truth era?

Yet, when ‘alternative facts’ abound, when deception and lies are shrugged off as just spin, when the U.S. president has made tens of thousands of proven false or misleading statements, when fake news penetrates YouTube and Facebook, and then spreads insidiously across the internet, we can no longer deny it. The post-truth era is real — and has tragic consequences.

Opinion