Growing up in the 1990s in Flagstaff, Arizona, I remember an America that felt like home. We came together for Fourth of July parades, high school football games, and community barbecues under the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks. We celebrated everyone—different backgrounds, beliefs, and dreams—without forcing anyone to conform or flaunting lifestyles in each other’s faces. “We the People” meant unity, freedom, and respect. But today, politics and hate have spiraled out of control, and I wonder how we let it happen. The Democrats’ troubling history and their obsession with villainizing people, combined with the betrayal of RINOs—Republicans who act like Democrats behind closed doors—have made it hard to trust politicians or the media they lean on. Their actions, including the recent uproar over Stephen Colbert’s show, pushed me to become an independent voter. This is my story.
A Kid in Flagstaff: When America Knew Who It Was
In the ‘90s, Flagstaff was a small town where neighbors waved and looked out for each other. I’d ride my bike through downtown, past the old train station, feeling like everyone had a place here. Nobody cared if you voted differently or went to a different church. We didn’t force beliefs on each other, and nobody shoved their lifestyle in your face. America felt united, and “We the People” was a promise we believed in.
Now, division tears us apart. Neighbors in Flagstaff argue over politics, and families struggle with rising costs and shrinking opportunities. Hateful rhetoric and cancel culture have replaced the community spirit I grew up with. It’s nearly impossible to separate truth from the lies spun by politicians and media. The latest example—Democrats and their media allies accusing CBS of bribing President Trump over Stephen Colbert’s show cancellation—shows how far they’ll go to dodge accountability. This shift broke my trust in political parties and reshaped how I see myself as a voter and citizen.
Democrats: A History of Division and Media Manipulation
The Democratic Party’s past is hard to stomach. In the 19th century, they defended slavery and later enforced Jim Crow laws and segregation into the 20th century. Figures like Senator Robert Byrd, a former Ku Klux Klan member, remained a Democratic leader until 2010. While they’ve rebranded as champions of fairness, their modern tactics are just as divisive.
Today, Democrats focus on accusing and villainizing anyone who disagrees with them. In 2016, Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables,” dismissing millions as racist or hateful for having different views (Clinton, 2016). In 2021, they labeled parents protesting critical race theory in schools as “domestic threats,” despite these being ordinary moms and dads concerned about their kids’ education (DOJ, 2021). This shuts down debate and tears communities like Flagstaff apart.
They also use the media to push their narrative. Outlets like CNN and MSNBC amplify Democratic talking points, spinning stories to make opponents look evil while ignoring their own failures. During the 2020 riots in cities like Minneapolis, media called them “mostly peaceful protests” while businesses burned (CNN, 2020). In Flagstaff, small businesses have struggled with rising costs, but Democrats and their media allies pushed defunding police instead of helping us feel safe.
The recent Stephen Colbert controversy is a perfect example. In July 2025, CBS announced that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would end in May 2026, citing financial losses due to declining ad revenue and a shrinking late-night audience (POLITICO, 2025). Yet Democrats, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, along with media outlets, accused CBS of bribing President Trump, falsely claiming the cancellation was retaliation for Colbert’s criticism of Trump. They tied it to a $16 million settlement Paramount (CBS’s parent company) paid Trump in 2024 over an edited “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, ignoring CBS’s statement that the decision was purely business-driven, as the show was no longer profitable (The New York Times, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025). Democrats would rather blame Trump than admit their ally’s show couldn’t sustain itself. Their history of control—from Jim Crow to modern media manipulation—shows they care more about power than people.
RINOs: Republicans Who Betray Their Voters
Then there are the RINOs—Republicans In Name Only—who campaign on conservative values but vote like Democrats. In 1990, George H.W. Bush broke his “no new taxes” promise, raising taxes despite campaigning against them (Bush, 1990). More recently, Senator Mitt Romney continued this betrayal by voting for a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill in 2021, stuffed with spending unrelated to roads or bridges, adding to the national debt while Flagstaff families struggled with economic hardship (Congress.gov, 2021).
Senator Lisa Murkowski is another example. In 2022, she supported a gun control bill that many conservatives saw as infringing on Second Amendment rights, siding with Democrats over her voters (Congress.gov, 2022). In Flagstaff, we needed lower taxes to help small businesses recover, but too many Republicans backed bloated budgets that ignored us. RINOs talk about fiscal responsibility and traditional values but often cave to corporate elites or Washington insiders, betraying the voters who trusted them.
How Their Actions Shaped My Choices
The actions of Democrats and RINOs show they don’t represent “We the People.” Democrats’ obsession with villainizing dissenters and using media to control the narrative—like their baseless accusations against CBS over Colbert’s cancellation—drowns out real concerns. Their focus on accusing border security advocates of “xenophobia” ignores how unchecked immigration policies strain local schools and hospitals in places like Flagstaff. RINOs, meanwhile, sell out their voters by supporting policies that don’t reflect our priorities, like runaway spending or weak stances on core issues.
The unity I knew as a kid in the ‘90s—when Flagstaff felt like a true community—has been replaced by a system where politicians prioritize power, donors, and media approval over citizens. I’m tired of the hate they’ve sown and the lies they spread, whether it’s smearing opponents or crying “bribe” when a company makes a financial decision. It’s why I became an independent—to vote for candidates who focus on solutions, like lower costs, better jobs, and safer communities, not division or betrayal.
Choosing Independence as a Citizen
Becoming an independent was about reclaiming my voice as a citizen. I’m done with Democrats’ history of division and their media-fueled attacks on anyone who thinks differently, like their overblown reaction to Colbert’s show ending. I’m fed up with RINOs who campaign as conservatives but govern like elites. Being independent means I judge candidates by their actions, not their party label. It’s freed me to focus on what matters: policies that bring back the unity and opportunity I remember from Flagstaff in the 1990s.
If you’re sick of politicians and media tearing us apart, I urge you to dig into their actions. Check their voting records, not just their speeches. Ask yourself: Are these leaders fighting for you? For me, the answer was no—so I chose independence. What’s your story?
Sources
• Bush, G.H.W. (1990). Statement on the Budget Agreement. The American Presidency Project. Retrieved from https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-the-budget-agreement
• Clinton, H. (2016, September 9). Remarks at a fundraiser in New York City. C-SPAN. Retrieved from https://www.c-span.org/video/?415131-1/hillary-clinton-calls-trump-supporters-basket-deplorables
• CNN. (2020, August 27). Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after Kenosha shooting. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/us/kenosha-wisconsin-protests
• Congress.gov. (2021). H.R.3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684
• Congress.gov. (2022). S.2938 – Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2938
• DOJ. (2021, October 4). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Addresses Threats Against School Boards. Department of Justice. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-addresses-threats-against-school-boards
• POLITICO. (2025, July 16). CBS to End ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ in 2026. POLITICO. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/16/cbs-ends-colbert-late-show-2026
• The New York Times. (2025, July 17). CBS Cancels Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Amid Financial Struggles. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/business/cbs-colbert-late-show-cancellation
• The Washington Post. (2025, July 18). Democrats Claim CBS Bribed Trump in Colbert Cancellation. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/18/democrats-cbs-trump-colbert
Deep Thinking 