Foundations of Change: Building Unity and Adaptability from History to Politics

The following is an excerpt from "Off-Center: How to Save Our Kids From the Media's Political Bias", available now at amazon.com.

In 2019, my wife, Robyn, and I purchased one of Sewickley, Pennsylvania's oldest and most historic homes. Given my mild obsession with American history, the place was a dream come true. It was constructed in 1876 by a local architect and lumber dealer named John McMillen. John owned a thriving builders' supply business in Sewickley for nearly fifty years. He was considered a man of great character with a straightforward and exacting approach to business.

In those days, trains frequently crisscrossed neighborhoods in Western Pennsylvania, primarily transporting goods and people from one end of town to another. One morning in April 1904, John was struck by one of those trains less than a hundred yards from his house. Fading in and out of consciousness, he stumbled home and died on the front porch.

As was customary at the time, John's funeral service was held in the home he had so carefully built nearly thirty years prior. It's believed to have been the first funeral conducted on the property. It wouldn't be the last.

John's wife, Cecilia, maintained the house for several years until her own death in 1922, at which point their children sold it to R.D. Ritchey. Ritchey, who at the time was an apprentice mortician working in Ambridge, Pennsylvania—just four miles downriver from Sewickley—converted the house into Sewickley's first funeral parlor. He constructed a seven-bay garage for hearses, a casket showroom, and a space for preparing the deceased. Coincidentally, my office now occupies a significant portion of that space.

The building served as a funeral home until 1945, when it became Bell Telephone Company's regional offices. A decade later, an investor bought it and divided it into four apartments. It remained that way until we restored it to a single-family home.

So, why mention all this in a book about media bias, politics, and the Republican Party?

Our home still stands after more than 140 years for two reasons. First, John McMillen, a master of his craft, built it to last. Although our house was only his fourth, he constructed over a hundred more in the Valley before his untimely passing, each featuring his signature Italianate architecture and integrated front porch. Many still stand, a testament to his workmanship. Second, the building was able to adapt throughout its history—a key to survival—similar to ideologies.

The idea of being conservative, by definition, implies an inherent resistance to change, making it difficult for the party to embrace new ideas for electoral success. Sometimes, that's a good thing. It's crucial to acknowledge, however, that the Republican Party includes millions of individuals with varying beliefs and opinions and only a few key beliefs are the connective tissue between us all.

So, how do we adapt?

• We help younger generations understand true Republican values, not just what the far Left, far Right, and mainstream media tell them to believe.

• We realign our messaging around core beliefs and values to identify and promote electable candidates. Republicans often struggle with polarizing issues, especially around those who are not like-minded or on social media platforms like Facebook.

• We use simpler, more optimistic language to describe our beliefs. The young often perceive Republicans as cranky, old people—a notion reinforced by the doom and gloom we sell on a regular basis.

I believe the media has amplified political extremes at the expense of common sense. Ideologues and special interest groups on both sides are tearing our nation apart. And our country is weaker as a result. Frankly, I'm terrified of what that means for my three children, for your children, and for every generation to come.

Pragmatism and moderation, once the voice of reason promoting balance and compromise, has vanished from political discourse. We need to prioritize compromise and problem-solving over strict adherence to ideology. Advocating for policies that blend ideas from both political sides can create a balanced approach, garnering broader support while defending moral and religious beliefs through other means. We should value candidates who understand the importance of working across party lines and finding common ground, rather than labeling them. Let's stop pursuing radical change or revolution, advocating instead for incremental reforms that build on existing systems and structures. We must strive to appeal to a wider range of voters, transcending partisan divisions and focusing on issues that resonate with the majority rather than pandering to a shrinking Republican base.

That is how we win together. As a nation, as a people, we can either unite or be forever divided.