Karen Hartley: Conscience over loyalty

I grew up a Republican in a small West Virginia town filled with farmers and coal miners. During high school, I espoused the merits of trickle-down economics. Being a Republican felt like part of my DNA, like being a blonde.

My first election, I voted straight ticket. There was no point researching the candidates when I was so sure of my convictions.

After college, marriage and children, my ideology softened. Social issues have trumped fiscal spending, and I have voted for many Democrats along the way.

When we moved to North Carolina, I could not understand the deep-seated hatred for Duke by my UNC-loving friends. Surely, there must be some good qualities about this school. None, they argued.

I recently realized that this type of loyalty is ruining our country and its very democracy. People are now voting for their “team” and fail to see the merits of any ideas held by the other party. Like my narrow-minded high school self, they equate their party to good. There is no gray area.

I urge voters to look beyond party lines. This year the stakes are too high to blindly vote straight ticket. Being a Republican wasn’t part of my DNA after all. It was a choice.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Karen Hartley: Conscience over loyalty."