With the most recent elections in Idaho, history has been made. And when history is made, surprises are almost always in the equation. From governor all the way down to local county commissioner seats, history has been swirling. If anything, these changes and decisions are certainly reflections of Idaho’s changing character.

The battleground in Idaho is not the traditional Democrat vs. Republican dichotomy that breaks the nation. No, in Idaho, the split is between ultra-conservatism and middle-of-the-road conservatism. The truly sad part is the middle-of-the-road conservatives of Idaho are the ultra-conservatives of other areas. Sad, I say, because of how Republicans and conservatives alike treat each other despite their so-similar ideologies.

This recent election showed our true colors. Worse, it split us within party lines, exposing the fragility upon which ideology itself rests. Middle-of-the-road conservatives may be Republican, but they might as well have been Democrats, or, as I’m sure they are called by many here in Idaho: “the enemy.”

Seriously, just look at the number of letters, campaign fliers, and signs you see around. Look at the pure amount of money each candidate spent. While they all claim they are doing what is best for the community, it is abundantly clear that all they care about is “winning.” Why does winning turn gentle souls into rapacious monsters?

“Winning” leads people to steroids in sports events, “Spygate” in football, “Watergate” in politics, the JFK and Lincoln assassinations, the Holocaust in Germany, “waterboarding” in war, and a whole host of other major events and ills the country, the state, and individual cities have all been subjected to. All because someone’s hypersensitivity to “winning.”

In fact, little old Bingham County found itself mired in controversy. The contest between Julianne Young and incumbent Julie VanOrden turned particularly bitter. I, myself, received quite the vile letter berating Julie VanOrden, insinuating, it seemed, as if she were the devil and the reason for a whole host of unconscionable ills — all on behalf of, though not from, Julianne Young.

If all we focus on is the end result of winning, instead of how we win, it really won’t matter who we elect or don’t elect. I’m only 26 years old, and I’m already sick of our distasteful national, state, and local politics.

Amidst this climate of negativity, and this focus on “winning” during our elections, I found a little gem inside some dystopian short stories.

In Jerome K. Jerome’s short story “The New Utopia,” a young man who happened to be an eager participant in the “Great Socialist Movement of 1899” fell asleep and awoke in the society of which he so eagerly dreamed. Upon awaking, he received a tour guide to show him around the city. He then has this poignant exchange with his guide: “Have you got a religion?” “Oh, yes” came the reply. “And you worship a God?” Once again, “Oh, yes” came the reply. Puzzling the man then asks, “What do you call him?” Swift came the reply: “THE MAJORITY.”

In their society, it was said, the “majority could do no wrong.” Therefore, whatever the majority decided upon was right. We carry that sense of hubris today. We find security being in a majority group. We care so much about what “the majority” says, even to the point that it drives our fashion, our trends, and our elections. Recent election victors feel “justified” in their wins, feel empowered to institute their campaign agenda because the “majority says so.”

But, you know what, the majority is not always right. In fact, we make stupid decisions all the time as a collective. If we didn’t, our society would be much better off. It’s reassuring to know that you don’t always have to win an election. There’s no vindication in it, no holy justification. Especially considering only a portion of the community actually voted in the first place.

It’s time to get over this concept of “winning.” We are not just a community of the “majority” but of the “minority” as well. As public officials, we have a responsibility for the entire community, not just a portion of it. We are beholden to the entire constituency, not just the ones that checked the box next to our name.

It takes courage to think beyond party platform. It can no longer be about holding true to the “Republican” or “Democrat” platform. If we let the talking points of our parties dictate our policies, we will be a mess of contradictions. Over time our parties, their platforms, and their policies have changed immensely, simply because that’s what “appealed” to the base or allowed them to “win” a stupid election.

We should focus on what’s right for everyone.

Tayler Bingham, a Blackfoot native, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is currently a Masters of Public Administration student at Idaho State University. He works as an administrative associate for the City of Blackfoot.