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What is your political affiliation
Republican 16%  16%  [ 8 ]
Democrat 27%  27%  [ 13 ]
Independent 57%  57%  [ 28 ]
Total votes : 49

Kraichgauer
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08 Nov 2014, 3:54 am

I vote Democrat because the Socialist parties don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to anything.


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auntblabby
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08 Nov 2014, 6:31 am

was independent before carter, then democrat because "any port in a storm." I voted one time for an independent, "john Anderson" in 1980, and my lack of support for carter was one less vote for him and one more for Reagan so that was the last time I voted independent. my time in the army [chock full of republicans] convinced me those pachyderms had nothing but bunk for me. further proof came when in 1988 I got a "push poll" in the mail that asked what my income was, and the lowest category was "$50k-$100k per annum." I had never even SEEN that much cash before.



trollcatman
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08 Nov 2014, 7:07 am

sly279 wrote:
Registered democrat, but I tend to be disliked by both parties due to falling on either side depending on the issue/policy.


Kraichgauer wrote:
I vote Democrat because the Socialist parties don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to anything.


This is why I like proportional representation. That way there are more parties to choose from that will also have a decent chance of getting representation and influence. The way it is now the minor parties seem fairly irrelevant. With proportional representation the Democrats and Republicans will never get a majority and will need to adress the smaller parties. And people will be able to vote for a party that more closely reflects what they believe. Most countries in the world have proportional representation.



auntblabby
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08 Nov 2014, 7:08 am

trollcatman wrote:
sly279 wrote:
Registered democrat, but I tend to be disliked by both parties due to falling on either side depending on the issue/policy.

Kraichgauer wrote:
I vote Democrat because the Socialist parties don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to anything.

This is why I like proportional representation. That way there are more parties to choose from that will also have a decent chance of getting representation and influence. The way it is now the minor parties seem fairly irrelevant. With proportional representation the Democrats and Republicans will never get a majority and will need to adress the smaller parties. And people will be able to vote for a party that more closely reflects what they believe. Most countries in the world have proportional representation.

but that would go against "American exceptionalism." [irony] ;)



trollcatman
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08 Nov 2014, 7:35 am

auntblabby wrote:
trollcatman wrote:
sly279 wrote:
Registered democrat, but I tend to be disliked by both parties due to falling on either side depending on the issue/policy.

Kraichgauer wrote:
I vote Democrat because the Socialist parties don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to anything.

This is why I like proportional representation. That way there are more parties to choose from that will also have a decent chance of getting representation and influence. The way it is now the minor parties seem fairly irrelevant. With proportional representation the Democrats and Republicans will never get a majority and will need to adress the smaller parties. And people will be able to vote for a party that more closely reflects what they believe. Most countries in the world have proportional representation.

but that would go against "American exceptionalism." [irony] ;)


I think there's exeptionalism everywhere, the Americans just made up a word for it. Although it surprises me how often US politicians feel obliged to say they love their country and that it's number one and other crap like that.



Kraichgauer
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08 Nov 2014, 1:04 pm

auntblabby wrote:
was independent before carter, then democrat because "any port in a storm." I voted one time for an independent, "john Anderson" in 1980, and my lack of support for carter was one less vote for him and one more for Reagan so that was the last time I voted independent. my time in the army [chock full of republicans] convinced me those pachyderms had nothing but bunk for me. further proof came when in 1988 I got a "push poll" in the mail that asked what my income was, and the lowest category was "$50k-$100k per annum." I had never even SEEN that much cash before.


At least today, when Libertarians run, they end up siphoning votes from the Republicans - so now they know how it feels.


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Dox47
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08 Nov 2014, 1:42 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
At least today, when Libertarians run, they end up siphoning votes from the Republicans - so now they know how it feels.


Actually, I've seen a lot of numbers on this, and libertarians pull pretty equally from both parties, depending on the specific person running of course. Republicans just like to whine about it because they feel entitled to libertarian votes, kinda like how Democrats think they own the black vote.


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0_equals_true
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08 Nov 2014, 1:49 pm

Why would conservatives expect libertarian vote? They were rivals for most of their history.

Conservatives copied some of the liberal/libertarian policies since Robert Peel.

Reality is Conservative are still fundamentally protectionist.



auntblabby
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08 Nov 2014, 5:01 pm

if I were black I would correctly realize that aside from emancipation, the GOP has done almost nothing helpful for 99% of black folk and in fact is correctly perceived as hostile to the lions' share of black folks' interests in many ways.



Jacoby
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08 Nov 2014, 5:18 pm

Dox47 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
At least today, when Libertarians run, they end up siphoning votes from the Republicans - so now they know how it feels.


Actually, I've seen a lot of numbers on this, and libertarians pull pretty equally from both parties, depending on the specific person running of course. Republicans just like to whine about it because they feel entitled to libertarian votes, kinda like how Democrats think they own the black vote.


Not only that, a lot of these folks wouldn't even vote so its a stretch to say any third party candidate throws an election. Think about how often you don't like either candidate in an election, it happens a lot. Not everybody wants to vote for the lesser of two evils.



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08 Nov 2014, 5:36 pm

Dox47 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
At least today, when Libertarians run, they end up siphoning votes from the Republicans - so now they know how it feels.


Actually, I've seen a lot of numbers on this, and libertarians pull pretty equally from both parties, depending on the specific person running of course. Republicans just like to whine about it because they feel entitled to libertarian votes, kinda like how Democrats think they own the black vote.


This is unfortunately true.

In my Social Work & Public Policy class, several students cited the Libertarian Party as being most compatible with Social Work "because they support freedom."

Of course, I had to link to the LP's position on safetynet programs.

http://www.lp.org/issues/poverty-and-welfare
Quote:
1. End Welfare

None of the proposals currently being advanced by either conservatives or liberals is likely to fix the fundamental problems with our welfare system. Current proposals for welfare reform, including block grants, job training, and "workfare" represent mere tinkering with a failed system.

It is time to recognize that welfare cannot be reformed: it should be ended.

We should eliminate the entire social welfare system. This includes eliminating food stamps, subsidized housing, and all the rest. Individuals who are unable to fully support themselves and their families through the job market must, once again, learn to rely on supportive family, church, community, or private charity to bridge the gap.


When it comes to politics, people are PAINFULLY stupid. :(


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auntblabby
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08 Nov 2014, 5:42 pm

I have nothing but contempt for the people who won't vote. it is like we are all in hell and Beelzebub gives us a choice put to a vote, do we all want to climb up a hill and stay where it is further away from the flames of perdition, and a bit cooler, or do we wanna stay down in the pits and barbeque some more? and a substantial group of resisters says "to hell with it" [:lol:], "stick it where the moon don't shine, we're gonna sit and sweat because we hate both choices!" resulting in a working majority in favor of status quo or worse. we HAVE to choose the lesser of two evils, there is no way around it, otherwise the greater evil wins by default.



Jacoby
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08 Nov 2014, 5:57 pm

GoonSquad wrote:
Dox47 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
At least today, when Libertarians run, they end up siphoning votes from the Republicans - so now they know how it feels.


Actually, I've seen a lot of numbers on this, and libertarians pull pretty equally from both parties, depending on the specific person running of course. Republicans just like to whine about it because they feel entitled to libertarian votes, kinda like how Democrats think they own the black vote.


This is unfortunately true.

In my Social Work & Public Policy class, several students cited the Libertarian Party as being most compatible with Social Work "because they support freedom."

Of course, I had to link to the LP's position on safetynet programs.

http://www.lp.org/issues/poverty-and-welfare
Quote:
1. End Welfare

None of the proposals currently being advanced by either conservatives or liberals is likely to fix the fundamental problems with our welfare system. Current proposals for welfare reform, including block grants, job training, and "workfare" represent mere tinkering with a failed system.

It is time to recognize that welfare cannot be reformed: it should be ended.

We should eliminate the entire social welfare system. This includes eliminating food stamps, subsidized housing, and all the rest. Individuals who are unable to fully support themselves and their families through the job market must, once again, learn to rely on supportive family, church, community, or private charity to bridge the gap.


When it comes to politics, people are PAINFULLY stupid. :(


The official Libertarian Party platform is pretty meaningless, getting libertarians to agree on things is like herding cats. Bob Barr, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Mike Gravel, all pretty different. Ron Paul actually beat out Russell Means for the Libertarian Nomination in 1988.

Third parties are pretty pointless and futile, they're simply protest votes more times than not. It's better to try to work within the existing parties, Ron Paul's presidential runs of Republican in 2008 and 2012 were much more influential than his run in 1988 as a Libertarian.

btw, my mother is a social worker



GoonSquad
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08 Nov 2014, 6:02 pm

Jacoby wrote:

The official Libertarian Party platform is pretty meaningless, getting libertarians to agree on things is like herding cats. Bob Barr, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Mike Gravel, all pretty different. Ron Paul actually beat out Russell Means for the Libertarian Nomination in 1988.

Third parties are pretty pointless and futile, they're simply protest votes more times than not. It's better to try to work within the existing parties, Ron Paul's presidential runs of Republican in 2008 and 2012 were much more influential than his run in 1988 as a Libertarian.

btw, my mother is a social worker


Yeah, I agree. Working within parties is much more effective, as the TeaParty has shown us.

PS

My mom was a social worker too...


what the hell happened to you?

:P
:lol:


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Jacoby
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08 Nov 2014, 6:33 pm

GoonSquad wrote:
Jacoby wrote:

The official Libertarian Party platform is pretty meaningless, getting libertarians to agree on things is like herding cats. Bob Barr, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Mike Gravel, all pretty different. Ron Paul actually beat out Russell Means for the Libertarian Nomination in 1988.

Third parties are pretty pointless and futile, they're simply protest votes more times than not. It's better to try to work within the existing parties, Ron Paul's presidential runs of Republican in 2008 and 2012 were much more influential than his run in 1988 as a Libertarian.

btw, my mother is a social worker


Yeah, I agree. Working within parties is much more effective, as the TeaParty has shown us.

PS

My mom was a social worker too...


what the hell happened to you?

:P
:lol:


I think it is pretty hard to not become disillusioned with the system and even the actual people you're trying to help when you deal with it 1st hand. I've always been very interested in my mother's work and the experiences she's had doing it I feel have definitely influenced my own beliefs, it's a thankless job and its hard to quantify the good you do.



funeralxempire
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08 Nov 2014, 7:04 pm

I'm pretty neutral on the topic of republicanism. While in theory I support republican ideals, Canada's constitutional monarchy works just fine, doesn't cost anything additional and effectively ensures our head of state is a politically neutral position.


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