Why do people conform to party lines instead of thinking for themselves?

Question

As I sit here and read other's answer's on this most august of forum's, it occurs to me that some people just can't help but follow a party line, such as Democrat or Republican. Personally, I am an independent. I agree and disagree with both parties on several issues. I think for myself. Is this just a need to belong or can some truly not think for themselves?

For one thing, I always love it when I strike a nerve and I seem to have struck a few. This is about (hopefully) logical debate. I seem to have angered some who have answered thus far. Tough, deal with it. You can state however eloquently that you like that people think for themselves, however, the vast majority of people don't do research on how they vote or even what they are voting for. A lot of people in country couldn't tell you who Sorros or Condi Rice are much less what they actually do. People vote as they are told to by their religious leaders and the celebrity of the moment. They take what these people say as holy writ on both sides. They don't bother to find the answers and they are led along in ignorant bliss. Get angry, cuss at me, I don't care. The sad truth of the matter is that the vast majority of American people are ignorant of the issues and only vote because a party tells them that is what they stand for. They sadly don't try to find out for themselves.

Answer 1

They have been feeding from the troughs too long and are unwilling to part ways. If one thinks for himself he must also be willing to admit his mistakes and I really do not think the majority of Americans can do that.
Everyone has a hard time admitting mistakes but if you think for yourself I believe it to be a requirement. No longer can you depend on soros or hannity to tell you if you are right or wrong.
Another though just occurred to me - have Americans become so lazy that they would rather someone else think for them? I mean if you think for me I can blame you when something doesn't work out right, so why bother thinking?

People that are angry with you have their face in the feeding trough of some parties agenda and can't admit they are full of ****.

Answer 2

I agree, I am an independent to b/c I just can't stand either party. It sucks that we just have only a two party system b/c there are so many diverse viewpoints. It is extremely stupid and irresponsible to base a decision based solely on whether it's a lib/dem or conservative/rep issue rather than learning about the issue and deciding for yourself. I think many people are moderate and like things about both parties but many feel forced to identify with one or the other and once they do they start to get all partisan and hypocritical b/c the party leaders are so far to the left or right. Gerrymandering of congressional districts have lead to less moderate and more extreme politicians getting elected, which further polarize people into two stupid, narrow minded ideologies. I don't get why so many people have to be a democrat/liberal or a conservative/republican either. Just think for yourself and then decide, then maybe politicans would actually listen and respond to us, the average american citizen, rather than the extremist idiots that have the loudest mouths and run the party.

Answer 3

Well, keep in mind if the politicians were horribly out of sync with the general beliefs of the american populace, they'd stop being elected consistently.

There are some things I dislike about the republicans, but you can't expect elected officials to unilaterally reflect all the values and morals you hold dear. They're human, and so are we.

But I'll tell you why I conform to the republican party line. It's because they care as I do (in general) about the big issues that trouble me; namely abortion and the war on terror. Democrats, in general, don't.

That is to say that, generally, I'll trust a republican to agree with me on the big issues. However, if a democrat came along and spoke against abortion and maintained that we need to be present in Iraq, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat, unless any other candidate (republican or democrat) was more fervent in these same beliefs.

Good question.

In response to the addition to you question: What constitutes "finding things out for yourself?" Listening to the news? When it comes to Iraq, only the people on site know what's really going on. There's no way to be perfectly informed about it without experiencing it first hand. You just do the best you can.

Answer 4

How can you be in a position to judge whether other people are thinking for themselves? It is very possible that regarding any given set of issues an individual who is familiar with the issues may come to the same conclusions as the stated views of the Republican or Democratic Party. I think it’s rather condescending to make statements such as yours. The fact that you are an independent does not mean that some or even all of your views may not coincide with those of a given major party.

Some Democrats disagree with some or even most of the official statements of the Democratic leadership. Some of these individuals are even elected representatives. The same holds true for some Republicans.

Some individuals choose to align themselves with either major party because they think they can be most effective by doing so. That doesn't mean that they're not thinking for themselves.

Answer 5

Might be if one doesn't conform to party lines they will get hate e-mail from both sides. This way hate e-mail only comes from one side.
It mostly is issues. While there are things I agree and disagree with issues on both side. I take what are the most important issues to me at the time and vote for the person who stands for that issue.
Prime example is Illegal immigration. I won't vote for anyone who supports amensty, work permits or anything other then deportation. That will be the top issue from me on the next election.

Answer 6

Cause when it comes down to picking a political candidate, only dems and repubes are taken serious. Kacinich was noted during the state of the union as getting the most media time when the camera past by him for a second and then to the president. People side with parties cause they are the ones that hold the power.

Answer 7

How the hell do you know why people think what they think? Perhaps they always think independently, but just happen to agree with one or the other party most of the time. Those would be people to the far left or right. The moderates, like you apparently, would naturally come out in the middle. Correlation doesn't prove causation.

Answer 8

Thinking isn't easy, and when your conclusions contradict the cherrished illusions of others, you can be ostracized for it.

It's just easier to pick a party and toe the line.

It is particularly ironic when Dems do it, since they trumpet the liberal ideals of free speach and independent thought so loudly, yet want the same kind of knee-jerk support from thier base as the republicans get from thiers.

Answer 9

People agree with issues on both sides. If you want to make a difference, you try and align yourself with one of the two parties in power. I wish their were more choices, but until then, we have to deal with reality.

Answer 10

There are many of us here who are conservative but not registered Republicans but the terms cons and libs or repubs and libs are the ones that are always tossed out.