Who are we kidding

"If the right is a grade behind, why are we holding up the class?"

What a great question!, and I believe it brings up a very important point.  I voted for McCain (really a vote against Obama), I'm a registered Republican, I proudly served my country, and I come from a family of pretty staunch Conservatives.  Yes, its a little scary :).  If you were to ask my political beliefs, I would consider myself a Libertarian.  My political values?  Small government and fiscal responsibility are the biggest two.  Stay out of my private life and make sure there is enough money in the coffers for my children's children.  Social security is in the red.  I've accepted that it will be gone by the time I 'retire.'  And here we are a'spendin' anyway (Granted, every administration finds something to spend money on, and therein lies the problem).  It bothers me that my way of thinking is considered archaic. 

If Liberalism is Green, then why don't Liberals incorporate the best from what Conservatism has to offer? That's the whole notion isn't it - transcend and include?  Conservatives get a free pass since they're "lower" on the spectrum.  In Integral Life Practice, "Orange plays to win in a competitive market place of ideas and opportunities."  Alternatively, the Green "pluralistic world view attempts to give equal recognition to a diversity of perspectives."  Both sound pretty good to me.  

The fact is that neither side generally acknowledges the good of the other - they focus on their disagreements instead of finding a middle ground.  A certain amount of conflict is already part of the equation, built into the system. That doesn't sound like Wilber to me.  

Honestly, I don't believe the current two-party system fits into an Integral way of thinking at all.  If you're a Liberal, then your worldview is not Green, you're just a Liberal.  The same goes for Conservatives, you're not Orange or Amber, just a Conservative.  Giving preference to one or the other (I'm a Democrat! or I'm a Republican!) automatically takes you outside the Integral mindset.  

Integral politics should transcend and include (remember?).  That's why I believe Libertarianism fits the bill well.  I get to simultaneously conceal carry my Colt .45 while driving my Prius hybrid, with both a "Who is John Galt" and a "Save Tibet" bumper sticker posted on the back.  

There is a middle ground.  There's always a between.      

Is there room for Integral on the ballot?

Cheers,

Kevin