Why does it have to be either Liberal or Republican?

Question

What ever happened to the happy middle? It has been proven through polls that both the extreme left and right are losing votes.The less extreme people in the middle are getting them. Why do we even need political parties? Why can't we vote on the persons' ideas, rather than whether or not they are Republican of Democrat?

Answer 1

'cause a fundumental problem with this country is that people are too lazy to really put thought into the issues. They prefer to just check: repub., repub., repub. or dem., dem., dem.,

Answer 2

Because as soon as a person starts to express an idea, there will be a signficant number of people who disagree. If that person then express a second idea, there will be more who disagree - and some of the will be people who initially agreed with his first idea.

Stretch this out and you find why Candidate's cannot actually talk about their ideas: because if they talk about a bunch of their ideas, a majority of people in the country will disagree with any number of the ideas presented. Party's exist by bringing together general opinions and goals, and ignoring all of the inherent conflicts (say, between big business and christian conservatism), in a quest for Party power.

In this nation, with people how they are, we could not ever have a decent, honest, free-speaking President, because such a President would have most of the populace against one idea or another before any ballots were cast. It is difficult for an individual to measure the worthiness of another to fill a specific capacity - think of how difficult job searches are. Now take all these problems, and see how incredibly complex, and ridiculous, the entire electoral process is.


I don't think there really is a "happy middle." There are independents (I consider myself one), but this shouldn't mean someone in the middle. It should mean someone who knows that the whole left-middle-right description is worthless. An Independent considers each issue, the pros and the cons, and makes an informed decision on how they will stand on this issue, without regard to political allegiances. Most people who would describe themselves as in the "happy middle" are those who have no interest in politics, civic participation, or their Government at all. They want the roads paved, cops to arrest the neighbor, and government money when they retire. They don't know how things work, why they work, or when they may stop working. That is our nation's "happy middle."

The whole party system is a shortcut for voters, in that it lets them choose someone who probably shares their opinions on more things than the other party's guy does. But really, Party's exist for their own sake: their goal is power. They will build coalitions in any way they can (by finding a common enemy, or even a mommon cause), in an attempt to get a hold on the reigns of power.

The system has many fundamental flaws, but you can't expect results when asking those who most directly benefit from these flaws to change anything.

Answer 3

Sometimes it is hard to vote a person's ideas since most are imbedded in some kind of party (Repub, Dem, Green, Reform, Lib, Communist). What we need is simple discussions with each candidate as well as simplified ways to get the message across to voters. My mom and I had a discussion about this several weeks ago. She thinks that there should be a law stating that candidates can only "campaign" within a few weeks of the election. She didn't exactly specify as to a timeline but she thinks it should be shortened in order to help prevent the nastiness of ads coming from all sides. I agree with her to a certain extent but what it will really take is for the apathetic voters to get up and actually VOTE. We have a minority of people (yes, 100 Mil is a minority compared to the overall numbers of eligble voters) who are running this country.

As to the ideology of Liberal/Dem or Con/Repub, I personally don't subscribe to the complete ideology of Repubs although I am registered as one. Truly, I am a conservative since I believe traditional family values and ethics are more prevalent and beneficial than liberal socialist approachs. I think that if people actually sat down and truly listened then this country would be better off. Unfortunately, there is too much name calling (on all sides), too many pork programs and not enough personal responsibility.

Answer 4

Democrat and Republican parties run on huge sums of money. They use that to get their candidates elected. The people in the middle are not known to give money for candidates that take moderate positions. The extremes are what draws the money. The parties work the extreme edges.

The truth however is that governance is more in the middle than the party positions.

This is the benefit of having a mixed group in politics. If too many of one persuasion or another get into power, you get extremes. We are far better off with gridlock than we are with all three branches in the hands of one party.

Answer 5

It doesn't HAVE to be anything. Not in theory.

But the next president will be either a Republican or a Democrat.

He (or she) will not call himself/herself a Liberal, because the ratwingers have spent millions paying Rush and Sean and other clowns to turn the word "liberal" into a dirty word.

There is no requirement that a presidential candidate belong or run as a member of any party. But this is a traditional country, and the two parties are part of the system.

You can vote any way you wish.

Answer 6

There are many Republicans who are not far right. What they are is conservatives who want to see less government and more of their hard earned tax dollars. They don't believe that government should be everywhere "watching over you." The extreme right wing of the Republican party seems to have less power and influence than they had previously. Unfortunately the dems have many more liberals who want to increase the size of government and want to decrease the money you have in your pocket. I have no use for those voters who are one issue - in all things in life we must weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes it is necessary to vote not for the best person but for the one least likely to do damage to the community.

One must be a Republican or a Democrat to vote in most primary elections. In Federal elections an Independent can request one of the ballots. It is in the primary that a party's candidate is chosen so it is important to vote.

I believe that most Republicans are middle of the road.

Answer 7

Why are all Democrats automatically called Liberals? Most of us are different shades of Grey, not all the same color, though some may be all black or white!

I am not anti-business! I am against the way many businesses practice and the fact that there are too many monopoly's who get away with murder!

I am anti WalMart type places that creates a lot of dollar drought for areas they move into. Unlike local business, they hire few much higher than minimum wage and none of their money stays in the community! It is sent to NY or Boston, or wherever it goes! I have seen to many ghost downtowns caused by dollar drought!!

I am pro 2nd amendment!

And I am sick of people pointing to one side, believing the other side doesn't practice the same sort of programs, but for the rich they just call it something different! Corporate welfare is my dime!

Answer 8

It doesn't, but you are mixing your terms - Liberal is to Democrat as Conservative is to Republican (ideology vs political affiliation). You can be a Conservative Democrat or a Liberal Republican I suppose. But back to you original point, if you don't believe in anything, you can be a Moderate/Independent.

Answer 9

Personally I think that both sides have lost the right to respect. Elections are merely an excercise in picking the less of two evils. I think that the American people are in for a rocky future. Imperialist actions can only last so long. Even Rome fell.

Answer 10

Love money over people and you're a Republican. Liberals are the opposite.

Answer 11

I'm independent.

If and when the politicians try to define the word Independent in order to pinhole my beliefs, I'll change my label.

Vote for who you want to vote for.

I'm neither Democrat or Republican..neither Libertarian or Green party or any other party. I don't affiliate with parties.

I vote for candidates that will do the least amount of evil in the world. Every vote counts.