Do you consider political affiliation to be part of your identity?

Question

A lot of people feel that their belonging to a party is part of their identity. For instance "I am a Republican" can mean that being a Republican is part of who I am, not merely the party that you happen to align with.

How important is being a member of a party to you? How much is it part of who you are?

Answer 1

Interesting question. Believe it or not, I can recall asking my mother, when I was probably 5 or 6 (really) what the difference was between a Democrat and a Republican. She told me that the Republicans were for rich people and that Democrats were for ALL the people. :-)

As you might imagine, I was raised a Democrat. When President Kennedy died, we gave up half our lunch periods for a week to pray for his soul. When Bobby Kennedy & Martin Luther King got shot I cried my 12 year old heart out for a week. I stumped for McGovern in high school and went to work in politics - yes, for Democrats - right out of high school.

I'm quite a bit older now and identify less with any particular party (not that I could EVER identify with the Republican party). Both parties seem beholden to special interest groups and lobbyists. The Democratic party seems to have lost its progressive ideals. While I have admiration for some candidates of other parties - such as Ralph Nader - the two party system is firmly entrenched in American politics & history has shown that votes for independents/third party candidates are thrown away.

I love my country and want to see it become the great nation it once was, so in that respect my political beliefs are a large part of me. Being a member of a party, however, is no longer important to me. I consider myself a progressive & do contribute regularly to moveon.

Answer 2

I do now. I was getting more and more angry at the Republican Party (to which I belonged) and the Democratic Party (to which several of my family members belong) because no one seemed to be doing anything about the rampant raping of our civil rights in the U.S. Then...I discovered the Libertarian party. I VERY much identify with their goals and objectives. It may be awhile before any of our people gain high office, but our presence is very real in this country and we are telling people that our rights are still ours and we will not sit back arguing about the war when that for which our Constitution stands is being ever more violated each day.

Answer 3

I don't consider my political party to be part of who I am. Who I am and what I believe, however does determine what my political party is.
I believe in God, I believe in small government, I believe the United States is great because we are good. If we cease to be good we will cease to be great. I believe we are the richest, most powerful nation in the world for a reason - and don't think we should have to apologize for it. I believe that a person's station in life is almost entirely in their own control - and the constitution guarantees the right to the PURSUIT of happiness. If you don't make it, that's your own fault - not the governments. Because this is who I am - I am proud to be a member of the Republican party.

Answer 4

Small. Patriotism will always be stronger. Even so, I don't take any of it too seriously as identity. I still do my best, regardless, but to take offense is to say that your image is more important than the truth you might hear.

Not me. I thank the people who deal with me as a fellow American and correct my posts when they are wrong. These are my brothers and sisters, Democratic or Republican or other.

Answer 5

Absolutely not a part of who I am. I will vote for Ron Paul in 2008! Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are perfect examples of 2 idiots that are stupidly loyal to their "party" no matter how dangerous and psychotic their "leader" has become. My party is the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. My party is America and the freedoms that were supposed to be my birth right!

Answer 6

People are indeed nuts. They align with and form an identity base on a bunch of lies from politicians while they continue to get screwed by the same people. WE are sheeple, we pay illegal taxes and we hope that our representatives will do the right thing. Might as well hold your breath and piss your pants for all the good it will do!

Answer 7

People overidentify with political parties, mostly because they have low self-confidence and seek safety in numbers. They may also be looking for easy answers, despite the fact that there never are any.

If I had to choose a political party, I'd probably most identify with the Greens. I've only voted in one election, and that was only because I was young and naive (19 years old, back in 1992). I've since come to believe in the old anarchist credo, "Don't vote; it only encourages them."

Answer 8

Politcal affiliation, and politcal identity can be closely compared. You don't need to disclose your politcal affiliation, or have any preference. How you act, or decisions you make in situations based on who you are, and what you believe help form your identity. These beliefs give tendency's to lean one way or another on the politcal spectrum, but your affiliation is a choice. It is a decision based on what you belive like I said which helps form your identity. Therefore I believe there is a direct correlation between affiliation and identity.

Answer 9

My political PHILOSOPHY is a part of my identity - not my political party. It is not as important to be a member of a party, as it is to join with others who share the same philosophy.

Answer 10

I used to indentify strongly with the Democratic party,until I started to realize that they were supporting ILLEGAL AIIENS,on almost every issue,instead of AMERICAN CITIZENS..... I am no longer a Democrat,I am now an INDEPENDENT,for what thats worth.