Teddy's Political Thoughts Today

The Two-Party Trap & The Need for a Third Way

We are living inside a political system designed to profit from our division. Fueled by Citizens United money and institutional corruption, the two major parties have built an industry out of anger and stalemate. As a Black man in America with strong Libertarian values and a deep personal faith, navigating this binary system is exhausting. I am a father. I am a man who believes he will answer to God for how he spent his time here. Both of those realities remind me every day that I have a responsibility to leave the world better than I found it, not just for the people I meet along the way, but for my children and the generations that carry my blood after I'm gone.

I have tried finding alignment elsewhere: the Green Party was too liberal, and the Libertarian Party often ignores the complex, systemic issues my community is deeply concerned with. The result is that millions of Americans, myself included, feel completely politically homeless. I have come to realize that the only thing that can break this toxic stalemate is a viable, serious third party. It is time to step out of the trap.

Why I'm Not a Democrat

There is a cultural assumption that because of the color of my skin, I should automatically align with the Democratic Party. But I have a fundamental issue with how they operate. The left focuses heavily on identity politics, yet they frequently fail to do what is right for the people holding those actual identities. Time and time again, the specific struggles of the African American community get co-opted. Our issues are taken up by other groups for their own benefit, and our problems get pushed to the back of the line. While they may not actively block our advancement, we find ourselves at a constant disadvantage because our unique challenges are used as talking points rather than solved. That is a dealbreaker for me, and for many people who look like me.

Why I'm Not a Republican

In principle, I actually share a lot of conservative values. I believe in small government, fiscal conservatism, family-oriented values, freedom of religion, and the absolute right to exercise the First and Second Amendments. I completely reject any form of victim mentality. I recognize that people can be victimized. That is real, and it must be acknowledged. But I also believe that people can be empowered to overcome that victimization by using their words, their actions, and their lives to drive change and improve the world around them. I believe people destined for sovereign rights must be able to protect them, something I dedicated myself to as a Marine. I refuse to rely on the government to solve my problems.

But here is the reality: I am a Black man. It is incredibly difficult to align with the Republican Party when so much of the overt racism in this country lives on that side. I am frequently judged by the color of my skin until I open my mouth and people realize we have more in common than they thought. Their brand of "conservatism" historically and currently puts my people at a severe disadvantage. I cannot and will not align with a political faction that tolerates racism and views me, and people who look like me, as less-than.

Why Forward

When neither legacy party represents your values, you have to build something new. I believe that Black people should be more aligned with each other and our shared experiences than with a broken political machine. That desire for a practical, unifying path led me to the Forward Party. I currently serve as a Board Member for Maryland Forward and President of the Frederick Forward Club. Forward is built on non-negotiable principles: a staunch respect for the rule of law, the defense of the Constitution, treating every individual with dignity, and using data-driven solutions regardless of ideology. Forward is proof that we can champion our sovereign rights without hating our neighbors.

What I Believe Should Be Done

Fixing this country is a change management problem, and I've spent my career solving those. Years of training, learning, and executing strategy and change management at the enterprise level. I know how to move resistant systems. Real change starts with rebuilding our civic organization and communication from the ground up. In government, we must return to true Servant Leadership. We need the Marine Corps ethos that leaders eat last. We need radical transparency, honest communication, and leaders who take absolute ownership of outcomes.

But I am not waiting for permission. I am already doing this work. I founded Frederick Civic Works, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings people together across generations to solve problems that matter. Through programs like the Future Civic Leaders Program, the SPARK Initiative, Taps and Topics, and Community Conversations, we are building the civic infrastructure that actually moves communities forward. I lead the Frederick Forward Club as a space where people from different backgrounds can sit at the same table and talk about the issues that shape our county.

The philosophy behind all of it is simple: get active, get involved, and be a part of your community. Stop relying on the government to solve your problems. Be innovative and courageous in the face of adversity. And always learn, because when we are always learning, we are always improving, and that means we are always moving forward. I believe this is what Jesus taught. It is the command of the Almighty: to live in community, to learn from one another, and to be a part of this great experience together. That is the purpose for all of us being here. To learn, to grow, to enjoy this life, but to do it together.

My Future in Politics

My entry into the political arena didn't start today. In 2016, I ran for U.S. Congress in Maryland's 6th Congressional District, gaining an invaluable education in grassroots organizing. Today, I recognize that true civic leadership requires me to take a personal step forward, to be a leader among the masses of people who are disadvantaged, disaffected, and desperate for change. I intend to run for office again. I am setting my sights on a national-level seat in 2028, a campaign built to put the party on the map and give voice to those who have been ignored for too long.

It will be an uphill battle. But fatherhood and faith are the two things that keep me going and keep me feeling responsible for the world. Both of them remind me that I am going to die, and that there is a legacy I will leave behind through my actions. That legacy will reverberate not just in the connections I make along the way, but in the blood-shared kinship I have with my children and my family. I owe it to them to fight for something better. Because of my professional training and my faith, I am up to the task.

My mission remains unchanged: to lead change, defend our sovereign freedoms, and build a community that moves forward. Join me. Let's get to work.