Why are you Forward?

| July 12, 2022

Our team is putting together a montage video of our amazing Forward community. We want to hear your stories!

Be sure to include the following:

Your name and where you're from.
"I am Forward because..."
Any of the following:
- What’s wrong with today’s politics?
- How do you feel about the government?
- What three words would you use to describe what America needs the most right now?
- What can we do to find solutions to the problems facing Americans today?

There is no requirement to answer all of the questions above, just answer the ones you are comfortable with. Don't worry about making mistakes — we will be clipping these videos together to show the best responses. And, if your response doesn't make it into our initial montage, no fear: we'll be using these for future uploads on our soon-to-be-published activist YouTube channel.

Here is an example of a video that a member of our team recorded. She recorded this on PhotoBooth video on her Mac, but you can record yourself on your phone or whatever video format works best for you. Just make sure to send us the raw video clip as a MP4 or MOV file type. Have fun with it and be yourself! We can't wait to hear from you.

Got It? Upload Your Video!

About Will Conway

Not just a new party - a new *kind* of party. Let's change politics together.

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Daniel Brown commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-11-06 17:45:52 -0500

I could repeat and acknowledge some of the other statement here but, our country and Political parties need to move away from the need to tell other countries and human beings how to live; our history has shown it doesn’t always benefit folks in other countries. We do need to change some of our ways too better ways; in our elections and interacting politically.
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John Cain commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-10-21 19:15:41 -0400

John from Texas

After years recognizing the increased polarization of voters in both parties, I understand that fanaticism is unacceptable.

I’m old enough to remember the days when there was more understanding in politics. Citizens of our Country were raised in the same social milieu. We may have had differing opinions on how to address issues, but at the end of the day we were all Americans. There was no hate or comtempt for others just because they belonged to the “other party”.

Lately, all I hear is hate speech…from both Democrats and Republicans, they are two sides of the same coin…it has become hard to see any difference between them. Each lambasts the other while pounding thier chest proclaiming “ours is the only acceptable way, we’ll never work with them!”

I come to the Forward Party because I seek a return to the time when we rolled up our sleeves and worked things out, like Americans, like citizens, like the good people we are. I’ll make my words and actions support this statement by spreading the word, in the hope that other, like minded people will join me, and together we’ll come up with a real solution.

I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, a veteran, and a voter…I am a humble American, and I am ashamed at what we have become, we are capable of so much better.
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Mark Yacco followed Why are you Forward? 2022-10-17 17:05:07 -0400
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Daniel Rademaker followed Why are you Forward? 2022-10-14 10:07:50 -0400
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Georgia Mangan commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-09-24 16:52:21 -0400

Much needed change in our current politics. Need to try something like this again that will bring more balance into the conversations we have with each other about our country has a whole. I feel that one thing we all agree on is the intense feelings of frustration that our government has been addressing all these same issues for decades. Tired and angry of hearing it over and over again. Not anger that makes me want to use physical violence that seems to be infecting many people nowadays…. but the kind that brings on motivation to get involved in something like this movement to try to make this world a better place to live for all of us. We need a third independent party to shake things up and finally take away the extreme controls of the Republican and Democratic parties over our lives. I’m willing to give it a try.
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Dennis Hayes commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-09-18 14:32:58 -0400

A feeble attempt at ending gridlock.
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Bethanie Rames followed Why are you Forward? 2022-09-11 10:01:34 -0400
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Toby Proctor commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-26 13:27:27 -0400

I am politically homeless.

I have most often found myself being Center-right, politically, where, when the GOP was a Big-tent party, I could agree with most of the fiscally conservative positions and plug my nose on some of the more socially conservative concepts. But then I started to watch the radical side of the GOP gaining ground (i.e. Religious Right and stick to moral and social traditions at all costs) and found myself liberalizing on some issues (I believe in Capitalism, but I am starting to doubt that the completely free market system isn’t truly creating more greed and wealth inequality). However, I can’t deal with the radical left that makes me feel guilty about being a Straight, White, Christian, Male whose ancestors happened to have been on this continent for 300+ years (and some, yes, were slave-holders) and that all things about America have been built on oppression and greed. The radical left has also made me feel that I can’t have certain opinions about some aspects of the cultural revolution without feeling that I am a bigot or suffer from some phobia.

I am 100% open to discussing all topics in a civilized manner and feel both sides of the spectrum have fallen prey to sensationalized, hate and fear filled media that feeds on demonizing the other side. We can’t have that anymore. The parties want power or recognize that holding and/or abusing power is the only way the system allows them to progress their agendas. The republicans have actually gone out of their way to grab or hold onto power at the expense of real institutions and the rule of law. The democrats demonize the lack of rule of law of certain portions of the right without self-reflecting or turning a blind eye to the race riots of 2020.
Please, let us all come Forward to move the country Forward and help heal the pain of the two parties’ venomous hatred towards each other. I am tired of disliking potentially half of the voting population. Let’s fix this magnificent country of ours and continue the 246 year-old experiment that has changed the face of the earth for good.
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Toby Proctor followed Why are you Forward? 2022-08-16 12:45:16 -0400
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Jerry Mills commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-10 11:45:55 -0400

Eugene Hohenstein commented on Why are you Forward? 1 day ago
“This web site needs follow up as opposed to just asking for contributions. The web site is designed for signing up new members, but little for those who have signed up. The “FORWARD” party needs to adjust the web site to “progress” those who are already on board. Many of us are willing, but we need better direction.”

Look here for lots of things to do. One important thing to do is help your state get onboard :-)
https://www.forwardparty.com/your_dashboard
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Jerry Mills commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-10 11:45:55 -0400

Eugene Hohenstein commented on Why are you Forward? 1 day ago
“This web site needs follow up as opposed to just asking for contributions. The web site is designed for signing up new members, but little for those who have signed up. The “FORWARD” party needs to adjust the web site to “progress” those who are already on board. Many of us are willing, but we need better direction.”

Look here for lots of things to do. One important thing to do is help your state get onboard :-)
https://www.forwardparty.com/your_dashboard
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Jose Tumang commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-10 06:44:35 -0400

@sharon feola This is no all-or-nothing decision. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a matter of pragmatic objectives, focus, and (in time) results. Personally, this Forwardist is a card-holding Libertarian who supports ANY party’s campaigns on a case-by-case basis, depending on if it advances my causes (minimization of government, decentralization, and maximization of personal freedom; whether that’s in ending wars/war-involvements, nullifying unjust Federal acts on a State-level, cutting budgets, ending qualified-immunity, protecting the Bill of Rights, etc.) or not.

And as may be noticed: With the absence of other major-parties, the duopoly-members have changed both within our lifetimes & in much-longer U.S. History. Party-leaders’ proprieties, campaigns, and actions are bound to neglect, marginalize, even outright abandon certain causes, depending on happenings of the day (overall state of the 2-party rivalry, palace-intrigue, positive/negative media-coverage or lack thereof, who & what party’s in power at the moment). PERSISTENCE is a must, REGARDLESS of who’s in power, what their priorities of the day are/aren’t, what mainstream media & party-leaders dictate, and the like.

For example, we Libertarians in the non-party Tenth Amendment Center have been pushing States to remember their long-lost, Federally-usurped power, and have received much “extremism”-flack for more than a decade, under Republican & Democratic rule. But NOW, then-“extremist” nullification has become so mainstream, it’s being used by the Left & Right (State-legalization of marijuana and/or raw-milk, countering Federal gun-rights restrictions, countering local police-militarization, limiting qualified-immunity, Defend the Guard, etc.) without 2nd-thought. Could this have happened if we depended solely on 1 party? lol NOPE! WE had to do it.

We helped allies when they existed (depending on campaign), and continued even when alone. Persistent pressure over the years gave us victory. So, depend on mainstream party-leaders? lol The Republican party-leaders “supported” us Libertarians when we proved useful, stopped pretending, then kicked us out afterward. Democratic counterparts kicked their own ideologically-consistent Bernie Sanders in the gut, how did they treat their own anti-war Tulsi Gabbard, and what “support” did they give their own reformer Andrew Yang? Even if they “support” our cause now, what do you think they’ll do as soon as it ceases to prove useful to them?

Hence, diversity, and support cooperation. That way, even if any 1 fails, the others can keep pushing.
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sharon feola commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-09 15:06:41 -0400

I’m Sharon Feola from Washington State. I appreciate this effort to encourage public discourse. But I see by the website, the goals are very similar to those of the Democratic Party. I’m having second thoughts about diverting any support from the D Party right now. I think it may be the only thing standing between our democracy and ruin. Until we have popularly voted presidents, fair districts, and ranked choice voting, the downward slide away from democracy will continue. The high court must be held accountable. Democrats have been working on all those issues for a very long time, and all are addressed in current House bills. But because they are Democrats, they must have more than a majority in the Senate even thought they represent a clear, large majority of the voters. Correcting that injustice being must be our first order of business. I’m throwing all support behind D candidates right now.
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Eugene Hohenstein commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-09 00:24:05 -0400

This web site needs follow up as opposed to just asking for contributions. The web site is designed for signing up new members, but little for those who have signed up. The “FORWARD” party needs to adjust the web site to “progress” those who are already on board. Many of us are willing, but we need better direction.
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Ernie Dickens commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-09 00:18:00 -0400

My name is Ernie Dickens. I am a resident of the State of Washington. I believe the U.S desperately needs a political party that’s puts the country ahead of party. The current two parties have lead us to toxic politics, which has in turn lead us to dysfunctional governance, and an underperforming economy. I hope a pragmatic, centrist third party will lead to (1) compromise, (2) consensus, and constructive (3) progress, instead of divisiveness. Simply giving Americans a new avenue to express their hopes would be a major new development.
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Angelo Hamm commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-07 09:43:39 -0400

I am Forward because our system is almost broken. ‘For the good of the people’ has been replaced with ‘For the good of me’ and ‘for the good of the few’. Time and energy are wasted on political retaliation and interests not intrinsic to good policy and morale. For too long, we have been stuck spinning our wheels and sliding backwards down the hill that we were making progress on, and we need to chain up our tires and move forward.
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Gary Mikami commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-05 19:36:46 -0400

I have been a Democrat, I have been a Republican. I insist on staying in the “middle”, the well- spring of common ground. I have managed to be a hater, but continue to be positive and be a uniter. After Jan 6, I was searching on what it takes to, if it is possible to, create a new party. I concluded during the election, that Trump had hijacked the Republican Party. After Jan 6, I saw that the Republican party had painted themselves in a illegitimate box, with no way out. We need this, a new party. A party that saves, values, and honors the Constitution. Values laws, civic norms, honors oaths and handshakes. Brings legitimacy back to Government.
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Paul Kapsar commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-01 19:10:47 -0400

I currently live in Las Vegas, was raised in Western Pennsylvania in a very democratic town. by the time I was in my 20’s I was already unhappy with that party and the people running things. When I moved to LV in 2000 I had had enough and registered non-affiliated. I have been very happy with that decision because I do not see any party caring for the country one for the PARTY. I have never donated to any political party but I started a tiny monthly donation to this concept party. If it is as it states I will be increasing that level. I am sick to death of the current BS that constitutes “government” these days.
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Ben Sheaffer commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-08-01 10:39:14 -0400

Ben in Philadelphia- I am a GenXer, and was raised in a pretty liberal household. The Democratic Party that I grew up supporting has lurched into an unsustainable ideology that is beginning to practice a dangerous exclusion of diverse ideas. The Republican Party, in my opinion, has lost the right to use the term “conservative”. They are pure radicals at this point. I feel incredibly energized by the Forward Party’s vision. I believe changing the voting processes in this country is a real possibility. Also, I think Forward can and will give serious traction to some workable and dynamic solutions. One note of concern: I am seeing in the media fairly consistent negative press about Forward being a viable political option. Pundits are starting to come after it. I hope there is a messaging strategy to combat these pieces.
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sharon feola commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-31 15:33:08 -0400

In reading why citizens are supporting the Forward Party, its is clear the movement is attracting a diverse following. History is giving us yet another chance to build a real coalition, and a real democracy. It will be hard, and each of us will have to do the work of building harmony in our families and communities- we cannot and must not expect government alone to do that work. Religious disagreements belong at home, not in the state house. We the People, this beautiful variety of people, must care about each other. This may be our last chance to get this right.
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Eric Mitchell commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-31 12:39:15 -0400

Eric – from Florida. I’m tired of being surrounded by people that have been fed lies and yet choose to believe those lies instead of the facts. I support a fact based party. I believe there’s a need to ensure a news media that can’t shift left or right just report what happened. I support strength through democracy and a county that can be an example of world peace. I believe that a business should make this country stronger without taking advantage of the people.My prayers and money to the idea that this party will grow and thrive. It’s time far left and far right knew the true pulse of the nation.
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Robert Olds commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-31 11:27:38 -0400

Interested in a party that provides diversity in solutions.
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Edward Schrems commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-30 22:11:48 -0400

I left the Republican Party in 2015 mostly because I could no longer reconcile the social conservative aspect of the Tea Party movement with my own views. I am currently registered as a libertarian. I strongly feel the two main stream parties are radicalizing on their worst characteristics. The oscillation between parties in power every decade or so used to keep us centered. Now it is just tearing us apart. We need a new direction.
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Daniel West commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 15:30:31 -0400

The left has fallen to the whims of crazed ideologues who think America is nothing but oppressive and deserves to be destroyed. The right has fallen to conspiracy theorists and con men who will destroy our democratic institutions if it suits them. Of course we need a centrist party. The odds are long, but it’s certainly worth a shot.
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Elin Eifler commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 15:17:59 -0400

I want this party to help guide voting across elections. That’s what many people rely on “democrat” or “republican” for – as a shortcut to help them choose candidates when they can’t possibly know all things about all candidates. Those candidates can still be listed on the ballot as democrat, republican or independent. But publish a cheat sheet for understanding which candidates, of any party, best: i) represent the majority opinions of Americans (not just left or right), and ii) will be behave effectively to get those things done. THAT’s what I want FORWARD party guidance on.
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Elin Eifler commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 15:14:44 -0400

No one’s representing the middle very well any more. Which party supports economic responsibility AND LGTBQ rights? Which party can find the appropriate line between the freedoms that don’t hurt others and should be rights, and the “freedoms” that deprive people of their right to live safely? Why can’t we support the multi-religion values of love, care for others, humanity – without catering to the bigoted far right. Why can’t we support climate concerns, and support a safety net, affordable healthcare and quality education for our children, without becoming wholly socialist? We are a nation of mostly immigrants (at some point or another), why can’t either party solve the issues at the border? And how do we start managing it all better – spending money to make it work well, rather than spending all the money (donations, lobbying, politician attention) on fighting over extremes?
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Elin Eifler commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 14:57:46 -0400

It’s unacceptable that our legislatures can’t pass common sense solutions that have support from the majority of Americans. There are common sense solutions to things not represented by extremist politicians and lobbyists. Take gun reform: gun ownership should be a responsibility. It should only be allowed responsibly. Why can’t we get that done? No one wants kids dying in schools. What the hell is wrong with us?
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Robin Spatafora commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 13:59:38 -0400

There’s a reasonable solution to every problem we face if we approach it with respect. Both parties have lost respect, even for themselves as well as each other. I’ve been an Independent for 42 years and have believed the same tenets Forward promotes. My rights end where yours begin. Don’t trust a politician who tells you how to pray or a preacher who tells you how to vote. Vote for the person, not the party. But….I’m excited to see Forward birthed and be a part of its positive impact on politics for the good of all.
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T Han commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 12:08:13 -0400

I am Pro-choice, Pro-gun (AKs need background checks and waiting periods) and Pro-LGBTQ. You are 1000% right that both parties are catering to extremists. Live and let live. I believe womens sports should stay 100% female (as in born with a vagina). I believe COMPROMISE is the best way. EXA. Why only male and female sports? Why can’t we have another category for Trans? or even more categories?? Believe in gay marriage, Trans rights…. just not at the expense of womens’ scholarships. Believe wholeheartedly in individual freedoms. Love open primary idea, non-partisan districting. Congress should have limits and they, and their families, should not be able to buy stock with companies that have government contracts. We the people are losing faith in our system. How can you buy stock in a company (Pfizer) and then force the American public to get it?? You are making yourself rich. Do not turn our grade schools into liberal propaganda machines. WHY are government officials and the rich above the law?? If something is good enough for the public, it is good enough for our elected officials. Can we please get someone in that actually CARES for the people and not just in it to get their family rich???
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Jerry Mills commented on Why are you Forward? 2022-07-29 11:54:11 -0400

What has to happen for a current office hoder can change to Forardist and stay in office until the run for re-election ? In Congress you only need 3 or so to gum up Republicans and Democrates to force them to TALK and reach agreements