Where do I stand?

Question

I don't feel that I identify with any election group, I just vote for who says they care about the people especially if you mention anything good for women and children you have my vote or should I pick a certain party and stick with it right or wrong, good and bad. How do you choose what party you identify with?

Answer 1

You have to pick a party when you register, but that doesn't mean you have to vote that way. That's partisan politics and not a good thing. If you're not sure, pick Independant. You can always change it next time.

You can vote for whomever you wish. Follow the words of H. Ross Perro - "Vote your conscience", or the words of TV/Radio talk show host Glenn Beck "Don't vote for a Democrat, don't vote for a Republican, don't vote for an Independant. Vote for an American".

Don't vote for someone because of special interests, unless it's for the good of the country. Vote for who YOU think will do the best job for the country.

Answer 2

Figure out what is important to you - What is good for women and children seems high on your list. Define what that means - more money for schools, locking up for life/death penalty for child molesters, pro-life/pro-choice, etc. Remember that the ads you see and the mail you get is written to put the candidate in the best light. It may contain information that you would interpret differently than the candidate does. (For example, in Georgia the Governor cut roughly $1.2 billion from the school budget early in his term. Times were tough, the economy was bad, cuts had to be made. Now that times are a little better, he's putting $1 billion back in the school budget. So, does he get credit for increasing the school budget or is he still $300 million behind where he started and has therefore cut school spending? You decide.) Call the candidate up and talk to him/her or her/his staff. Read the newspapers, blogs, etc. Watch the news on tv, listen to it on radio. Watch and listen to different stations. What they say on FOX is not the same as what they say on CNN and neither is the same as the BBC (yes, foreign perspective counts. The more opinions you get, the more perspective you get.)

Think some more about what's important to you. Make a decision. You may never get enough information, but you will be better informed than most.

If you want a party, do the same thing you do for a candidate to a party. Research, think, see if their ideas match yours. They probably won't be identical, but maybe they'll be close enough. The voting booth is private, so even if you're signed up with a party no one will ever know if you vote for another party's candidate. (Unless you tell them.)

In any case,. research, think, compare with your own values, make a decision and go Vote!

Answer 3

The best way to choose a party - or offical - that you identify with is to read the candidates websites. You can never count on what the media says to be true or accurate. The best way to form the decision is to look at their voting history and promises made and broken.

Choose the candidate that best reflects what role you think the government should be playing in your life - and don't just think of your life as the decisions made will affect your children and grandchildren.

Answer 4

Don't vote based on political party alone. That is the problem with democracy today, it forces the general public to separate themselves from a common goal and to view each other negatively. We should all be trying to elect people into power who are interested in promoting society and not one's own personal gain. However, more than just voting on what one candidate may stand on a certain issue, is to research, personally research, such as online, the character of the candidate. Make sure that the candidate you are voting for has a good character, is reliable, not shady, and is willing to do what he actually says he will do.

Answer 5

Your are on the right track in not voting just on pary lines....myself I am a registered REP because I tend to take a more conservative view of most things....there are some things about the party that I do not like but for the most part I fit well there....however, I will vote DEM if the candidate is better that what my party has to offer....You have to be willing to stand against your own party if you are really going to make what little differance you can....don't be afraid to do this....Those people who vote just along party lines no matter what make me mad....people need to have their own minds and not just one big one. You are doing the right thing in my opinion.

Answer 6

First off--look at your demographics. Are you rich--250,000$ a year plus or, are you middle class/poor 250,000$ or less a year. Basically--if your from the working class your a democrat--period--unless you like being told what to believe--then your a republican without a clue. You can be independent or Green also. Nothing wrong with those parties except for the fact that they do not offer candidates in all elections so your better off belonging to a party that shares most of your commonalities/views of the big two. Everyones everyday life is affected by the laws decided by the simple stroke of a pen so it is in everyones best interest to be involved with their own politics. If you need further help deciding which party you belong to--listen to talk radio, surf web sites, look for the definitions of what liberals believe, conservatives, moderates, --don't wait till some party that you don't believe in does something that directly affects you to motivate your own personal politics.

Answer 7

I switched party aligence a few years ago... but never have voted for one party just because that was the one I was registered with. I listen to their platforms and then vote for the person I think will do the better job.

Too bad we haven't had much of a selection to choose from lately.

Answer 8

It's always best to vote in a way that matches up with most of your beliefs. When voters elect an individual to Washington, they become consumed with party politics anyway. Also, it's very important to really think about your beliefs and where politicians actually stand. (i.e. a pro-life governor with the highest number of prisoners put to death during his term in the state of Texas.) I won't tell who, but his middle initial happens to be W.

Answer 9

Don't vote based only on political party, look at whose best for the job. Usually you have to pick who is the lesser of two evils. The two party system is what's wrong with American politics.

Answer 10

I look CAREFULLY at where each candidate stands on the issues that are important to me. I don't vote by party, nor do I get my information off of soundbites and 30 second TV ads. CAREFULLY was the key word. Forget party line voting.