Wouldn't it be better if we did away with identifying as Republican or Democrat?

Question

In my home town the position of mayor and city council is non-partisan meaning that, they don't state their political affiliations when they decide to run. I heard someone say today, I voted for Mayor Chavez, and then the person listed all the good things she liked and there were a lot, but then she said "Had I known he was actually a democrat I wouldn't have voted for him.

I voted for Clinton 2 times, I voted for Gore and the next time I voted for Bush, Of the potentials for president I like Giuliani. Isn't it time to just get rid of the Republican and the Democrat and vote for the person that best represents what you stand for?

Answer 1

i hear ya angel. i don't vote because of the party. i vote for the person. i voted for bush his first four years. but when his second term came around i voted for no one because i didn't like bush's course of action and john kerry was in my opinion fuller on th bs, than bush.

Answer 2

I served on a City Council for eight years. Our focus was to leave our political affiliations outside of Council Chambers. Which we did. If you were to attend the meetings you could not tell which person belonged to which political party. We worked together without having the pressure of feeling obligated to either political party. We were all there for two purposes, to serve the public and to the best of our ability, manage the city in such a way to benefit all. It isn't that the Democrats or the Republican parties didn't try to influence our decisions, we just didn't allow it.

At a local level what you suggest is not hard to accomplish. It becomes far more difficult the higher up the political ladder you climb. It seems the more power you gain the more power you want. To achieve that power you have to start selling off bits and pieces of your soul. Knowing what I know from what I experienced, I don't see how anyone reaches the level of representation on the national level without owing more to special interests than remaining loyal to the common citizen. I worked one on one on issues with State elected officials and Federally elected officials. Some I consider as friends. Most I consider as empty souls who are only focused on keeping their jobs or climbing higher up that ladder.

You didn't ask but what I am about to say is directly related to what I just explained...

I will say this, I think President Bush has been judged more harshly than he should be in this respect. I am not saying that he isn't guilty of using political favors to get to where he is, but I will say that I think his top priority is the security of the American people over those special interests. Not everything that occurs around the Presidnet is controllable by the President. Anyone who thinks it is, or should be does not have a realisitc view of what his job entails.

You are exactly right, vote for the person who best represents your point of view. BUT... if that person does not win then it is in the best interest to support the person holding the position. It is not in the best interest of anyone to attempt to undermine any public official simply because they were not our first choice. By undermining someone we don't like we are also undermining the whole institution. Which is why our country is in the shape it is today. It is possible to support a position and not support the person holding the position.

Answer 3

I don't see anything intrinsically wrong with having a two-party system, but it can be argued that the current two parties have soured people on politics.

I say leave it alone and let the electorate determine how they would like to manage their politics. Personally, I think we are overdue for a new and viable third party, one that significantly differs from the Republican and Democratic parties, which aren't really that much different when you get down to basics.

I don't like the Libertarian Party as they stand for nothing.

I would favor something along the lines of a Constitutional party, dedicated to bringing the United States back to the values on which it was founded.

Answer 4

Voting doesn't matter. Despite what people try to tell you, our votes don't count. The electoral college selects the next president. As far as R or D, it doesn't matter. The difference between the two is that the Democrats will screw you over less than a republican will.

Answer 5

Vote for the person that represents what you stand for-just what does someone who voted for Clinton AND Bush stand for-multiple personality schizophrenia? They are SOOOO different!
But to answer your question, I agree-no parties, no borders, just one big world.

Answer 6

I'm affraid political parties are a must in any democracy. People just group together that have simular beliefs and agendas. I'd like to see a multi party system myself...

Answer 7

Yes then we could just call everyone Nazi's since that seems to be the big word of the new century.

Answer 8

I'm for it but it will never happen !