Time & Perspective Quote by Kristi Noem

“Labels” is doing a lot of work here: it’s framed as a diagnosis of national dysfunction, but it’s also a rhetorical escape hatch. By blaming division on naming - on categories like “MAGA,” “progressive,” “RINO,” “extremist,” “elitist” - Noem sidesteps the uncomfortable fact that politics is, by design, a contest over values, interests, and power. The move is familiar in contemporary campaigning: criticize polarization without naming the policies, actors, or incentives that produce it.

The intent is conciliatory, but strategically so. Calling for people to “be their own person” flatters the listener’s independence while quietly discouraging ideological scrutiny. It recasts political commitments as mere “labels,” implying that strong identifications are superficial, tribal, maybe even childish. That’s emotionally effective in an election cycle saturated with online pile-ons and cable-news caricatures; it invites voters to see themselves as above the fray.

The subtext is an attempt to claim the high ground of common sense. “Come with their own suggestions” signals a preference for individualized, technocratic problem-solving over collective movements or party platforms, even though elected officials operate through parties, coalitions, and disciplined messaging. “Really solve the problems” offers a promise of competence without specifying trade-offs, which is exactly why it travels well: it unites audiences around dissatisfaction while leaving room for almost any agenda.

Context matters: in an election, “unity” language often doubles as brand management. It’s a way to appear reasonable, broaden appeal, and disarm critiques - all without conceding anything concrete.