The candidacy of Hillary Clinton plays a role American politics desperately needs. In the age where politicians build the ramparts of partisanship and see compromise as a weakness, Clinton’s record of evolving on issues to meet the standard of American popular opinion represents a much needed pivot in the application of our democracy.

Issues like gay marriage, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Keystone XL pipeline and American foreign policy have all been evolving over the decades, and so has the stances of the former secretary. In each case she now represents the prevailing consensus, not that of the left, right or any business interest.

Why is this a good thing? Her career-shifting on issues based on popular opinion means she is most interested in representing the will of the American electorate. This flexibility highlights a purist definition of democracy where the candidate’s own idealism does not take precedence over the desires of the people.

Her ability to set partisanship aside will provide opportunities for compromise between Congress and the White House should she be elected. The forefathers designed our system to require compromise, and out of all the candidates Clinton seems best suited to reinvigorate this cornerstone of our political system.

Ryan Secord

Greenwood