How do you feel when someone criticizes your political party?

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   woolman60posted 14 years ago

   When some criticizes your political party, how do you respond, and do you find yourself using sarcasm to retaliate?

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      AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't trust political parties, so I wouldn't say I "had" one

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         Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I don't trust anyone who claims to be an 'independent.' The two parties cover a broad spectrum.  I think some people are just afraid of being 'identified' and that's a shame.

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            AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I'm not American, or in America. So I don't live in a "two party state"

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               Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Yeah, good luck with that parlimentary mess.

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                  AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Sadly, I would say that the "Westminster" model (the British model, more or less what Canada has too), is approximately as bad as the US model... I think they're both pretty dismal, frankly. What I mean by this is that the individual's vote gets drowned out in both cases... in the US your presidential vote goes into a big pot called an electoral college, and Canada and Britain it goes into a riding, where, if someone is a strong incumbent, and you don't like him or her, it's essentially pointless voting. (I'm sure Congressional and Senate elections are the same).

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                     Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     For all intents and purposes my presidential vote goes for who I voted for. Congressional votes are even more direct. The US system is focused on individual candidates. The parlimentary system is based on party.

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                        Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        how many independents get elected to high office?

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                           Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Relatively few. Much harder for them to raise money and do without the infrastructure a party offers.

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                              Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              exactly.. in both systems 'party' politics was originally supposed to be frowned upon... but the reality of elections means that it is more often identification with a party that gets someone elected (which is why you often hear about candidates getting elected on the coattails of the leader of their party).

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                                 Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 It is also the lazy person's way of dealing with politics, unfortunately

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                                 Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 No, in our system people still identify with the candidate. We vote for the individual, not the party. Even the 'coattails' phenomena is an association with a popular individual, not the party.

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                                    Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    what about those who are life long registered democrats or republicans?
                                    
                                    there are a number of Hubbers who I couldn't dream of voting for anyone but a representative of a particular party

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                                       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       The beauty of a two-party system is that for the most part everyone is likely to identify more with one or the other general view of politics. If your political leanings are more to one side or the other it is likely you will find candidates on that side more to your liking. However, there is no mechanism for voting a party rather than an individual and few people will vote for an individual they dislike just because they are of the same party.

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                                          Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                          In Canada’s parliamentary system, I can't vote for a party either.  I do believe that in some countries (not mine) representation of some seats/bodies is decided by party..
                                          
                                          but it's been a long time since my university days(and most of the countries I studied no longer exist)
                                          

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                                       Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Sab Oh said: "However, there is no mechanism for voting a party rather than an individual"
                                       That is categorically false. In every single election since I was first eligible to vote, there was the option to vote a "straight ticket," that is, for all the candidates from one political party, across the board. This is the mechanism by which people can vote for a party rather than an individual, and according to exit polls, voters do use it.
                                       
                                       "and few people will vote for an individual they dislike just because they are of the same party."
                                       This, however, is probably true.

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                                       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       "In every single election since I was first eligible to vote, there was the option to vote a "straight ticket," that is, for all the candidates from one political party, across the board"
                                       
                                       
                                       You can choose to vote for every candidate of a given party but there is no "I vote for all the X Party" box.

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                                       habeeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       You might be surprised! I voted for Clinton once and for Ross Perot!

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                                          Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                          Yeah, I voted for Clinton the first time around.
                                          
                                          But I've recovered

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                                             Padrinoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                             I voted for Clinton too, you gotta admit it was kinda fun having him around, he was like the drunk Uncle that you never knew what he would do next!

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                                    Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    Sab Oh said "You can choose to vote for every candidate of a given party but there is no "I vote for all the X Party" box."
                                    
                                    Dude. Yes, there is. Next November, go and look at the ballot. There is totally a straight ticket option.

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                                       Ralph Deedsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       He probably has never voted.

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                                       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       I don't know where you live, but not here.

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                                       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       "He probably has never voted."
                                       
                                       Wow, that's...that's 'clever'....

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                        AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        The Westminster system is also based on candidates. You cannot vote for a party. You can only vote for a local representative. So this is the same as the US system (except that you have a presidential election on top of this).

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                           Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           "The Westminster system is also based on candidates. You cannot vote for a party. You can only vote for a local representative. So this is the same as the US system (except that you have a presidential election on top of this)."
                           
                           No, it's not the same, because in the US, you can vote a "straight ticket." There is a place on the ballot for voters to vote for one party's candidates across the board.
                           
                           I suppose it's possible that in Sab Oh's state (wherever he lives), they don't have a straight ticket option, but in Michigan we do.

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            Padrinoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I claim to be independent, I think there are good people on both sides of the political spectrum. I have voted for many Republicans and Democrats throughout my life and have only regretted one choice, that of voting for the current President.

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         Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, me neither. I've never voted a straight ticket in my life, and have voted for 3rd party candidates when there was one that was worth anything.
         
         I tend to defend policies rather than parties, and if someone criticizes a policy I like, well, it depends on his mode of criticism. If they person is a blowhard who's just spouting a party-line, he'll get sarcasm. If he's honestly criticizing  the policy based on facts and honest analysis thereof, well, I say, let's talk. Heck, I might learn something to my benefit, and discover that the policy I was supporting isn't such a great idea after all. Or the opposite might happen.
         
         It is possible for intelligent people of goodwill to disagree on matters of policy without one of them necessarily being a scoundrel. This is important to remember.

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      Poppa Bluesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Actually I don't mind if anyone criticises my politics, or my party, actually I'm a registered independent and have been all my life. Any discourse is good it helps you to understand your own position as well as that of your opposition.

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         AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yep. Once more agreeing with you... What is this??? What have you done to my mind...

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      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes it's irritating.  Yeah I'll use sarcasm in response sometimes.   Because I'm Republican.  And it's not the PARTY that needs criticism, it's the people who make up the Party who may need criticism.   The Republican Party Platform is sound and good.   Too bad that Platform isn't being adhered to like it should be.

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      lych200520022posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      simply, well stay what you believe, listen sometimes their comment just be calm..

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   cupid51posted 14 years ago

   Positive criticism is always good!

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   Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

   No, I don;t mind...
   
   but if they start bad mouthing my favorite sports teams, then we have a serious problem

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   stephensaldanaposted 14 years ago

   Political parties critism should not be hyped and must not e felt bad.. it is the one side of the same coin.. When you have come up with some idea than it has merits and demerits for different people as they see it differently... so not so bad...let people critisize and let me enjoy!

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   SparklingJewelposted 14 years ago

   ...see.?....see how certain words and the use thereof bring unity across diversity???
   
   Once we all learn that partisanship of politics hurts everyone, we will stop...oh, what a glorious day that will be
   
   ...there are many other aspects to that, I know, but one day.....................

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   habeeposted 14 years ago

   I'm a Southern moderate Republican, and my best friend is a Northern liberal democrat. We discuss politics all the time and NEVER get upset with each other. I wish we could do the same on the forums!

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   Madame Xposted 14 years ago

   Parties per se are not relevant and I think people get caught up in all the left-right stuff too much. What's really important is what someone with power is doing and why. It's irksome when someone decides I'm of one party or another and I will sometimes respond with sarcasm usually out of frustration over their unfounded assumption.
   
   Assumptions also cut off any meaningful discussion.

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   europewalkerposted 14 years ago

   Doesn't matter to me,everyone is entitled to their own opinion

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   Ralph Deedsposted 14 years ago

   Intelligent, factual, criticism is one thing, name calling something else. Seems to me there's too much name calling and too little intelligent criticism on the HubPages forums. Before someone else points it out, I plead guilty to occasional name calling.

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