Are you democrat, republican, independent, or other, and why?
 

As a U.S. citizen and human being, you have the ability to think independently. How many of you reading this have ever voted? And out of you how many have taken the time it takes to learn what effects socialized health care would have on our economy? What about gun rights?

Without doing independent research, your thoughts will be inherently influenced by whatever propaganda you happen to run into. If someone were to come up to you before you voted and asked you, "Why are you voting for {insert name here}?" Would you be able to answer them?

I'm not assuming that you the reader have never done this, but can you see where I'm coming from? I've met and talked to so many people who are so adamant about their political ideals that no amount of arguing will ever shake their thoughts. It is these type of people that need to be not "dealt with" just ignored.

You do make a good point with the fact that people who don't go out and actually try to verify information they receive from the media or any other source are very likely to end up supporting positions based on a bias.
More difficult still is the ability to allow oneself to actually expend the effort to research something that does not coincide with their perceptions. Most people simply seek affirmation, rather than validation. And it works the same on both ends of the spectrum.
Personally, I think that if someone is consistently supporting a broad ideal that can be packaged into a general concept, they are controlled by that and will never let it go.
However, those that are willing to challenge that which lies within such a boundary, regardless of the outcome of such scrutiny, will inevitably be better off as a people who can make decisions, rather than simply adhere to the status quo because it makes sense to their preconceptions.

Really, I think everyone should treat absolutely everything like a scientist treats the results of an experiment. The results should be what matters, not the hypothesis.

I personally think that politics are becoming more of a promotional stunt than it is a reasonable way to solve our problems. Democrats and Republicans spend billions of dollars to try and influence your vote. This money should be spent educating voters on all issues through a non-bias third-party.

I have come to learn that anybody that deals in absolutes (meaning they can't see more than their own perspective) is not worth listening to at all.

Are you saying that if you're NOT a US citizen you don't have the right to think independently? ;) In any case, I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe.

:rofl:

Over here it's just as bad. We have three main parties --- Fine Gael (feena gale) Fianna Fail (feena foil) and Labour, and though the middle one was just kicked out of power a few years ago and seriously spanked in the polls, we of course find that the new govt --- a coalition of the other two; they've never either of them been powerful/popular enough to be in office on their own --- are pretty much the same. Now everyone who voted for them is bitching. What did they expect? We're already hobbled by having handed our sovereignty over to Brussels, and now all we can do is bend over, drop 'em and take it and try not to make much noise.

People thought getting FF out and FG/Labour in would solve everyone's problems at a stroke, now, like Obama after the Bush administration's rape of America, they have a mess to clean up and it's going to take time. Nobody seems to have thought of that...

Is the Irish press as right wing and fictitious in its reporting as the British press is?

The very nature of politics has always been this way though only the level of money being spent has increased over time because more lobbyists are pouring money in to help their party.

I disagree with your statement about money should be spent educating voters. If someone is voting they should be educating themselves on the issues that concern them. The information is readily available and out there for people that are willing to find out about it. Most people don't and they just stick with the bullet points that their particular party is spewing at the time.

More or less, well probably less so, but still just as bad.

Anarcha-feminist

Where did that^ obtuse statement come from?I honestly can't tell the difference between trolling and idiocy anymore. Guess it's best to treat them as the same thing.

It's a big mess and cannot be fixed by one man. It requires a strong and cooperative Congress with members on both sides of the aisle working together.

I'm very much a social democrat. Social democracy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not sure if the US has something similar... can't be as cut and dry as Democrat, Republican, Independent.

I voted that I'm independent but I'm actually part of the Working Families party.

I'm registered as an Independent. The last time around I happened to go to one of those, "Who should you vote for?" sites, and it was quite clear Gary Johnson fit with my views. I don't know if that actually makes me libertarian, but in a general sense, I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

I found it interesting concerning Neoliberalism, contemporary era, 1979 to present.

The economic crisis in the Western world during the mid to late 1970s resulted in the rise of neoliberalism and politicians elected on neoliberal platforms such as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and US President Ronald Reagan. The rise in support for neoliberalism raised questions over the political viability of social democracy, such as sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf predicting the "end of the social democratic century".

Like every country, there are papers that are right wing, left wing and no wing. I don't read the papers so couldn't say but I know a lot of them are owned by a conglomerate which is I think basically right-leaning. The news is relatively unbiased: if the govt ****s up, they report it. If the opposition **** up they report it. In fairness, even if they (RTE, the broadcasting authority) **** up they make a story out of it.

From the very opening line of your post.
Anyway, ffs I'm just joking, don't get all upset. Didn'tcha see the smiley?

politics is srs business. No joking allowed

I wasn't upset Trollheart, :) I just found the contextomy of your comment distorting its intended meaning. Sorry if I didn't include the subject of politics in all areas of society. That was a mistake on my part, my apologies.

Here in the States we have, Republicans. Democrats. Libertarians. Greens. Neocons. Ultraliberals, and so on. Americans are a diverse bunch, and they're growing increasingly polarized and seemingly more unable to discuss or not always willing to listen to and hear an opposing or contradictory view. I have been guilty for those same exact reasons mentioned before myself, I am in no way an expert or scholar on the subject of politics by far, just having an open discussion while adding my own personal opinion, nothing more.

Thank You! for your participation my friend. :beer:

:laughing::laughing::laughing:
:clap::clap::clap:

Hermione is now your fan~!

I'm a Buddhist.

Oh are we doing religions too now?

I'm a Anarcha-Feminist Bokononist

WHO WANTS TO TOUCH FEETS

I'm an anarcho-syndicalist that rejects the executive authority of our head of state claimed by the mandate of some watery tart offering a sword.

I guess, to take it a little more seriously (must we? Yes we must. Okay then) I don't really have terribly strong political views. In our last general election I voted for Sinn Fein (Republican Party, Gerry Adams, all that lot) simply because I was sick of voting for one of the Big Three (well, two: I would never vote for Fianna Fail. You have to be Irish to understand) and thought feck it let's see how they do. I didn't expect them to win (they didn't) but I still felt better for not going for the obvious.

Other than that, I pretty much see all politicians and political parties as painted with the same brush. One gets into power, the other bitches at their policies then when the positions are reversed they do the very same thing, while the original party, now in opposition, bitch about the new party's policies, which were theirs in the first place. It'd be funny if they weren't deciding our fate, setting our wages and shutting our hospitals!

But I know this is not exclusive to Ireland. It just makes me not want to vote. I do, but it makes me not want to. Seems very little choice, lesser of two or three evils, with the captain's armband, as it were, being passed around but the same team in control all the time.

Bloody politicians!

I usually just vote Labour over here. National however, have come in a **** over our country to serve the rich and make everyone else poorer.

Owww...you are just so sweet. :love:

I have "always" liked Paloma, but I LOVE Hermione!

Republican as far left as you can get but republican none the less...

I think the whole republican/democrat/independent scenario is all BS. Ever since Obama's first running into office in 2008, America's been so divided.

"I'm a Republican"
"I'm a Democrat"
"Well fuck you then!"

I actually experienced a confrontation with a grown ass man that said that to me.

You know Slow Groove, I understand your animosity when politics and government are concerned. I wish there was something I could tell you but I know exactly how you feel man. That was my first reaction also, but I somehow eventually came around and realized I could at least voice my opinion. It sure can not make things any worse off than they seem to be sometimes.

There is a lot of grown adolescents out there as well.

like, I get what people say when they say they don't care about politics but they don't realise how ****ing privileged they are to be able to say **** like that.

And that bothers me. I want no part of any people like that.

The world doesn't revolve around you, *******s.

I'm a republican w/ liberal views :confused:

Now I know why I love this website so much - almost no democrats LOL j/k

I surrendered my right to vote and all interest in politics after Tony Bliar (who I once voted for) sent our country to war on a lie. My future aim is to give up thinking altogether. Picture it, man... it's my Mount Zion, my Shangri-La, my Veedon Fleece, my Tao.

Interesting article but if we removed government and replaced it with anarchism, I'm pretty sure that, given enough time, we'd end up exactly where we are. Things like law and order or lack of are cyclical, or two sides of the same coin.

An Independent Liberal

Well I don't want total anarchy, and I hate it when people think they do.

I dunno I support gay marriage n abortions but am very pro gun so u tell me bucko

Stark/Stark 300 AL TBH

I believe in politics there is a certain amount of bias, especially in the media so wherever you get your news from, there will be some bias. To bring up a fact politically or a event without bias, you would have to be there and witness it first hand. That being said, I am a Republican and fully supported for almost all of his presidency. I was not registered in 2008 to vote but showed support for McCain then in 2012 voted for the first time for Romney in a heavily intense election season. While I don't dictate others in what to do politically,I don't think being independent this day in age is the best choice. With the last six years of Obama's presidency and the "my way or the highway" attitude of the Senate (thanks but no thanks Henry Reid) I think it is a clear choice where to go politically in the states. Either Republican or Libertarian.

I firmly believe in a free market and the hard work and determination attitude that comes with the Republican party, because a free market ensures trade and business can flow smoothly and precisely. And I don't want to be part of a party where you become dependent on the government, if I wanted that I'd go to China. Because of Obamacare and the fraud that is the affordable care act, my moms medications she needs to function have skyrocketed in costs.

Do you watch a lot of Fox News?

Lol you'd probably think I was Sean Hannity from my last post, wouldn't you? No, I also watch CBS. I also go to Real Clear Politics for the polls. I don't mean to go off topic here but why is it Dems fry Fox News all the time (Jay Carney's countless references to the network)?

While I am a Republican, I consider myself more of a moderate or a "Chris Christie" Republican. I am pro choice and support legalization of marijuana for medical purposes mainly but also recreationally (if done responsibly).