Democrat or Republican

You are far from alone in this matter. The stratification we see in the ranks of the Democrats and Republicans on traditionally divisive issues just shows how everyone is trying to cram into the two parties and they are bursting at the seams. I can’t remember the last time that a front-running Republican would actually support abortion rights. Historically, that seemed limited to the Democrats.

The difficulty with being associated with “the other” parties seems not be limitations on ability or eligibility but entirely about funding. If you say that you are part of the green party, sponsors and supporter know in the back of their head that in this two party system you don’t have a dismal chance of winning. So, the only people that support those candidates do it more for the “principal” of the matter. And “principal” monetary support doesn’t even come close to rivaling the celebrity/aristocrat support that a Democrat and Republican receive. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Libertarian Party campaign ad on the tube.

So, I think we all know the two party problem exists. So what exactly is the cause? Apathy? Tradition? Money?

I feel very much the same way, some of my views are very liberal while others can be moderate or even conservative, there is no party in existence that sums me up. When I originally registered to vote I chose “not affiliated;” however, in NY State this takes you right out of the game as far as the primaries are concerned—which is frustrating. So I looked at the upcoming election and ran down the list of candidates and what I already knew of them and re-registered as a Democrat just in time to wait through one general election to be officially allowed to vote in their primaries. I guess what I’m saying is that I feel that I was forced to choose a side in order to have a say.

I’m no expert on how all the primaries work; but in New Hampshire it’s my understanding that Independents (i.e. not affiliated) are allowed to vote in whichever primary he or she as an individual chooses. This seems more democratic – though not perfect – as parties take on less power: they have to appeal to a whole group of unaffiliated voters and sell their ideas each election season in an attempt to draw that unaccounted for group (which is approximately 43% of NH voters)

Are there any other states that have interesting primary rules?

This type of discussion always reminds me of the Halloween episode of The Simpson’s, Citizen Kang

“I believe I’ll vote for a third party candidate”

“Go ahead, throw your vote away”

One great thing about Ohio is that everyone is welcome to vote in the primaries for any candidate on the ballot. In fact, when you register to vote here, you don’t declare party affiliation, you just register to be able to vote. It was a refreshing change, as I guess I always (naively) assumed that the New York system was the way all states handled the issue.

I suppose people make those Democrat / Republican assumptions about others, but the whole point is rather moot, isn’t it? Hurricane Katrina and the current ongoing war are two of many examples that have shown us that we have a government that is not concerned about its citizens. For almost all intents the difference between parties/candidates is who is giving them money.

There will not be a sudden rush of awesome, loveable, courageous and honest electable politicians running for office any time in the foreseeable future. Popular organizations and unions are the only way ‘the people’ have ever had a lick of power. The U.S. has some of the worst Labor policies in the industrial world and unions and other popular groups have very little voice.

For a brief example, I keep writing my representative, Louise Slaughter, kind letters stating that I and everyone I know wants her to stop funding the Iraq war. She writes kind letters back telling me she wants – she really really does! – WANTS this war to be over soon and she is working with Whosit and Whatsit to get that done now! Or soon! She tells me of resolutions she has voted for that continue to fund the war. She conspicuously never mentions funding the war. It’s like it is too obvious to even mention. This is the game we play, me and Louise Slaughter. And what Should she care? I’m one dude, not a bunch of them.

Here’s my question on this subject (and by way of compliment, it is one I’ve considered on multiple occasions…) Why do we have to choose? The obvious answer is so we can cast a vote in the primaries, but there are states who have done away with that requirement (California, my current home, being one).

I am not running for office. I don’t get an annual check from the RNC or the DNC to help fund my next year’s campaign. Therefore, there’s no reason for me to pigeonhole myself as Democrat or Republican.

Imagine my surprise when my wife told me, upon hearing that I was registered independent, “ooh, it’s a good thing you didn’t say that earlier. My family’s Democrat.”

This is one of those things where we, as non-politicians, foster the status quo. By registering one way or the other, we actually relinquish our ability to impact the various races which we care about. Why? Because the statisticians look at each district or state and say “well, we’ve got 48% Democrats, so we only need to influence 3% of independents and Republicans to win”. Registering with a particular party, from the statisticians view, is declaring yourself a lemming.

So, now… you still want to vote in primaries, and your state doesn’t allow this, so what do you do? Nick’s approach works – cast your lot by party early so you can participate in the primaries. I would suggest, however, that the non-primary voting independent might be heard more clearly come the general election. So, instead, lobby your state legislator to allow independents to vote in state primaries.

That’s what “independent” means, really.

I’m not sure I follow entirely. The fact of whatever you name the party or parties doesn’t have much to do with the multitude of candidates we have running now. The differences between all the Democrats and Republican candidates are pretty far apart. Aren’t they? The political affiliation, being one or the other is just the nature of the machine, me thinks…

I choose a different path and joined the Libertarian party it has been the best choice that I have made.