Independent voters are what win elections and political opinion. Not everyone is a Democrat or Republican, despite what the media, and many outdated state laws try to cookie cut people into. Thinking independently, and critically of the issues, often does not fit into the Democrat/Republican, Left/Right divide.

Gallop reported this past week, that ..."registered independents say they would likely vote Republican rather than Democratic, 52% to 30%, if elections for Congress were held today." That could all change next week, or next month (http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx?CSTS=tagrss). So who are the 'independents'?

Are independents 'moderates', who supposedly consider all points of view, and then make their own decision? Are they people who are just fed up with both major Parties, and vote on the candidate, and/or issues? Better yet, are they people who have a political philosophy, who just happen to encompass the ideals of the Democrats, Republicans, and other Parties or political/philosophical ideologies (i.e. libertarian, socialist, free-market, etc.)?

In my Hub Pages article, Think For Yourself, I thought it interesting to ask, why do people consider themselves a Democrat or Republican? And in this article, the question that I'm also asking is, why do people consider themselves independents?

When I first became a registered Republican when I was 18, I believed in a federalist (States' Rights), smaller government, less taxes, free market, strong national defense, anti-nation building, individual responsibility, philosophy. These days, especially after President George W. Bush, that Republican philosophy seems to now be a myth. And the Democrat Party in many ways, was, and continues to be, antithetical to my personal philosophy. No one Party seems to fit my personal philosophical values, and the ideals of what the role of government should be. So I have become an independent, and 'declare' a party affiliation during election time, because of outdated state election laws, that caters to a two Party system.

Watching the Sunday political and news shows for example, have become laughable, and very predictable. When the President (no matter what Party) sets and outlines a policy, of course politicians of the same Party will subscribe to those predictable talking points. And the opposing Party will adhere to the talking points of theirs. It's as if no one is thinking for themselves, and don't have a mind of their own. It's the classic Left/Right divide. And even in the so-called 'post partisan politics' of President Obama, he is just as partisan, and an ideologue as anyone else. He's just more clever about it, and some people and the media are just as naive to believe that the President isn't. But in critically discerning the issues, and examing President Obama's short political record, one can clearly see that he is indeed an idealogue of the Left. President Bush was an idealogue of the social Conservative Right.

Thinking Critically

So, in being an Independent, here are some questions to consider. What is/should be the role of government? What is/should be the role of the individual and community in government? How should the Constitution be interpreted? What is a person's philosphy regarding taxes and fiscal matters? What is a person's philosophy regarding the military, foreign affairs and foreign policy? What about social and environmental issues? What does it mean to be a Liberal, Progressive, or Conservative? Hopefully these are some questions that will be considered in forming a philosophical ideology, and perhaps a political Party affiliation. No one should be forced, or be cookie cut into a two-Party system, simply out of convenience, peer pressure, or lack of critical thought.

As the researchers of the Gallop Poll indicate, people have become disillusioned with both Parties. But we just keep getting more of the same from both sides, even despite being put in new packages. It would be refreshing to hear perspectives not just from a Democrat or Republican on these news and political shows. Perhaps because I'm a political and current events junkie, I pay more attention to these types of things. No matter how much charisma any politician might have, the issues should take center stage. And in being a voter, personal and philosophical values should rule the day in identifying with any Party, if a person identifies with one at all. In critically thinking of the issues, realistically speaking, a person could be liberal in one area, and more conservative, or moderate or radical in another. Personal values and ideology often could extend beyond being a Democrat or Republican. And perhaps that's why people might have become so jaded about politics these days.

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

Shabazz Wilson