Why Are You a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, etc.?

1. 68

   shazz01109posted 14 years ago

   I'm curious. Why do you affiliate yourself with a particular Party, especially with being a Democrat or Republican?

   replyreport
   1. 86

      livelongerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Democrat. Reason? The alternative is really awful.
      
      In a world where you didn't have to vote against the worse of two parties, I would consider myself center-left, socially-libertarian.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Because the Republican Party is the only Party whose Platform contains the moral and political beliefs that I hold to.

      replyreport
   3. 61

      JON EWALLposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Deleted
      1. 61

         Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Just curious, by what set of standards is the USA "The best country in the world"?  Did we win some contest?  Is it kind of like those t-shirts that say "world's greatest grandpa" in that no one really questions the statement?

         replyreport
   4. 77

      starme77posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't , I mean all those parties just pretend to hate each other when they are actually having dinner and partying and dating each other , the whole democrat, republican, liberal, whatever thing is a joke.

      replyreport
2. 68

   shazz01109posted 14 years ago

   I would say I'm to the right except for socially liberal, foreign policy non-interventionist.

   replyreport
3. 0

   Home Girlposted 14 years ago

   I am curious: Why do you like put labels on people? Is it so important? Well, I am a nobody. Just a human being (I hope).

   replyreport
   1. 75

      Arthur Fontesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are so right.  It is labels that Are used to divide us.

      replyreport
      1. 56

         Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Would you buy food at the store with no labels?

         replyreport
         1. 59

            writerelrickposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Would you consider this life to be more complex than just having labels for one circumstance and not for another?  That we could actually get along being non-identitarian rather than merely associate with a particular Party in a two-party system? 
            And there are other parties and labels which are out there that mostly do not get the funding or the media platform in which to express their opinions and ideas. 
            We used to have parties back in the 1800's that were focused on ideas and opinions rather than a cohesive platform.  That's not to say that money was never an issue back then in general to "winning" votes, but at the same time, the amount of money that's been funneled into the system of our government has stifled a socialist or leftist identity because of the Wall Street ways to get the money.  Profit motive has exceeded social welfare, and winning an argument has become more important to parties than actually having a point.

            replyreport
   2. 68

      shazz01109posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't "like" putting labels on people. That's precisely the point of tis question, and the several articles that I've written on this issue.

      replyreport
4. 61

   Mitch Rappposted 14 years ago

   I am neither Republican or Democrat, I have voted for members of both parties. However the Democrats have gone too far to the left for me to ever do so again. The Republicans can win me over if they actually return to being fiscally conservative. As far as social conservatism goes I think the government needs to get out of our lives, if there is a question of gays marrying let us as a nation vote it up or down, immigration up or down, and so on.

   replyreport
   1. 86

      livelongerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Minority rights should never be up for a vote by the majority. That's the reason we have a Constitution (one of the primary reasons we have it is to prevent the government from taking away rights from minorities).
      
      Besides, putting each and every matter up for a popular vote is impractical. We have elected representatives to mire themselves in the details. The reason that our officials typically disappoint us is that they don't do exactly as we expect them to (i.e. they are appeasing another part of their electorate, or the lobbyists who got them into office).

      replyreport
   2. 62

      SheriSappposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I just want to work, support my family, and have the government LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

      replyreport
5. 63

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   I am neither. Because I think for myself.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Denno66posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Amen.

      replyreport
   2. 56

      Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Are the two things mutually exclusive?

      replyreport
      1. 59

         writerelrickposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         What exactly do you mean by that question?

         replyreport
6. 71

   rhamsonposted 14 years ago

   I vote my mind and conscience so I guess I am an independent.

   replyreport
7. 61

   Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years ago

   etc.
   
   They take the correct stand on issues important to me, plus the conventions have lots of hookers and booze.

   replyreport
8. 78

   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Label me disenchanted.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Denno66posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Shouldn't you have a D on your shirt instead of an S, then?

      replyreport
      1. 59

         writerelrickposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That might confuse the Democrats who want to oust Scott Brown...

         replyreport
9. 68

   Jeffrey Nealposted 14 years ago

   I have voted for Blue, Red and others in between, but I DO vote even if it gets more and more frustrating.
   
   I don't and have never really been able to affiliate with any party, but the Libertarian party is in line more with my stance on the issues.

   replyreport
10. 69

    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    Morals in politics? Who would have guessed.

    replyreport
11. 61

    Petra Vlahposted 14 years ago

    Right on; morals and politics do not belong in the same sentence

    replyreport
12. 59

    tony0724posted 14 years ago

    I am a budding anarchist. We have been sold down the river by both sets of Bozos !

    replyreport
13. 0

    Brenda Durhamposted 14 years ago

    Maybe.
    But not by both sets of principles.

    replyreport
    1. 61

       Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Of what value are these principles when you know going in that they will have no bearing on the conduct of your representatives?  Are you satisfied with lip service?

       replyreport
       1. 0

          Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Nope, not at all!  That's why I think the Party should make Candidates vow to stand by the Party principles before they can be leaders in the Party.
          The way things are going now,  I think many are hoping the Republican Platform itself will be changed, just like they're trying to change the Constitution's common-sense basis.

          replyreport
14. 66

    Ralph Deedsposted 14 years ago

    The truth is that I was born a Democrat--both parents, all four grandparents, all uncles and aunts except one black sheep aunt. And I've seen no reason to change. The only reason I would vote Republican would be that the Dem candidate was corrupt or otherwise unfit. The only Republican I've ever voted for was moderate Republican Willam E. Milliken who was a superb governor of Michigan for 14 years 1969-1983. He was Michigan's longest-serving governor. He flew 50 missions in WWII as a waist gunner and survived two crashes. Milliken supported Kerry in 2004 and McCain in 2008 but withdrew his endorsement as a result of McCain's attacks on Obama. He is the kind of Republican that is all but extinct these days.

    replyreport
15. 73

    livewithrichardposted 14 years ago

    If I have to choose a label then Im an Independent, slightly Right Moderate.  I choose not to affiliate with either major party because I see the good and bad on both sides. I pick and choose the candidates I want to support based on how close they resemble my desires regardless of how popular they may or may not be.
    
    Also, it depends on the office the candidate is running for. At the local level, I look for candidates that will do the best for the community I live in and sometimes that just means voting in fresh blood or against the incumbant. 
    
    At the national level, I look for candidates that support States Rights and smaller Government. For example, I can't stand the idea of the Federal Government passing a law that holds the people of San Fransisco to the same standards as those living in Atlanta and disquising the authority to do so under some claim of interstate commerce or stiff arm tactics based on Federal aid.  No Child Left Behind comes to mind.

    replyreport
16. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    I am registered as non-enrolled - at least I think that's what we call it in Massachusetts - meaning I don't belong to a particular party. Mostly I vote Democratic. But I did vote for Bill Weld for governor - he was a liberal Republican. Can't think of any other Republicans I've voted for recently - but I'm open to good people from all sides.

    replyreport
    1. 56

       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Did you vote for Scott? None of my business if you don't want to say, just curious.

       replyreport
17. 74

    Akhomesteaderposted 14 years ago

    Political parties are the glue that holds politicians together and divides voters, they should be outlawed.

    replyreport
18. 60

    tobey100posted 14 years ago

    None of the above.  I guess I'd be a constitutionalist is there is such a thing.

    replyreport
    1. 74

       Akhomesteaderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       There is: Constitution Party

       replyreport
19. 58

    Wilhelmina Noirposted 14 years ago

    I consider myself Independent. I don't think very much of either party, with the exception that they're both corrupt, and have their own interests at heart - and not the interests of the voters. I am a strong believer in borders, language and culture as the basis for the foundation of our nation and want to see greater limits imposed on government involvement in the lives of the people. Religious rights, protection rights, and I support the military, and want to see them released from the bureaucratic red tape so that they can do their jobs efficiently and come home.

    replyreport
20. 0

    sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

    I'm a right swinging independant.

    replyreport
21. 67

    SparklingJewelposted 14 years ago

    why bring politics into it...we need to all be most interested in following the Constitution and creating a government that abides by it...we the people need to stop the partisan waste of time and get the Constitution back to where it belongs in the government and we the people need to see that it gets done

    replyreport
    1. 56

       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       No way that doesn't bring politics into it

       replyreport
22. 0

    Kenrick Chatmanposted 14 years ago

    Democrat because I want prosperity for every human being and not just for the upper 1%-5%. I also agree with this FDR statement: "I hate war."

    replyreport
    1. 56

       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Republicans agree with those sentiments as well

       replyreport
       1. 0

          Kenrick Chatmanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Republicans hate war?
          
          Also a Democrat due to when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act... the Blue States eventually became Red States... since the Southern Democrats did not like this legislation.

          replyreport
          1. 56

             Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Of course Republicans hate war. What did you think?

             replyreport
    2. 68

       shazz01109posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Wow

       replyreport
23. 65

    Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

    I don't have an affiliation.  I just vote for who I like.

    replyreport