When You Support A Political Party, Its Because...

[NDL]

Interested in hearing the opinions of people other than commentators, I would honestly like to know:

Do you vote your candidate, and/or support a party, because:

1) They are the 'Lessor Of Two Evils?'

2) You truly like, and are in agreement with, the majority of what your Party stands for?

[avant1963]

When I was younger, it was definitely "the lesser of two evils" but lately, the one evil has gotten so much larger than the other and I have become much more tersed in politics that I really agree with a lot of what one party does over the other.

Don't get me wrong, there is still the "politicians are all crooks" mentality - I haven't drank the Kool-Aide - but it seems that there is a party that at least talks like it wants to help the working middle class and poor instead of bury them.

[thegriffon]

I take the view that there is a party which knows very well that they get more votes when people more people are unemployed or in need of assistance, and another that knows that people vote for them when they have a lot of money and don't want it taken away. I'd rather support a party that needs as many rich voters as possible to get elected, because that's really the only thing any politician cares about.

[Sixty8panther]

Yes, 99% of politicians are scumbags.

I'll say this much: Clinton gets too much for things that were really put in place by Regan. And while I think Bush is out of his mind it's not because he's a Republican. He's not even a good Conservative.

If I had to choose a party I'd say Libertarian. Every election is different though so it's tough to say I'd always vote for lesser of two evils or whatever.

One last side note: Ross Perot was actually a pretty smart guy & we should have listened to him. Hindsight's a B*&%^$@.

[the_yellow_dart]

In Canada we get to pick the lesser of four evils (hehe)

We just elected a minority government again, which means that no one party got 50% of the seats. It is a shaky situation where more than one party has to agree with a bill for it to get passed. It also means that if the government screws up bad enough, the opposition parties can vote them out. We don't have set government terms like the 4 years in the US, so they can vote 'em out whenever. The last minority government that just left lasted 18 months.

It's the conservatives who are the government this time. I can't wait for these a-holes to got voted out. I don't want to turn into USA part 2.

[sciguy_0504]

Dart, obviously the Liberals up there in Canada needed some help. You are not going to turn into "USA Part II" with conservatives in a minority government. Stealing tax money, which you pay a lot of, or unfounded fears of rediculousness? Even though I am not Canadian, I am proud of what my northern neighbors accomplished.

I support a political party because I honestly agree with most of what the party stands for. The events of September 11, 2001 turned me on to politics and really hardened my views.

[bobo]

Both of the major political parties have problems, but there is one party which strongly aligns with my own views, and they get my vote. However, when one party, either party, is in total control, all checks and balances go away, and the best interests of country get lost.

[Enzora]

Eh, the best interest of the country were lost even when it was more balanced, since everything's drawn so strictly along party lines now.

So naturally, I'm registered as independent, though my political ideology would be considered more socialist, i suppose.

Edited February 4, 2006 by Enzora

[Cadillacfan]

I registered republican because I don't agree with a lot of what the Democratic party has to offer but now.. I think I should've registered as Independant seeing that the Republican party also doesn't also fit my views.

We need a third party. I'm sure if there was one that offered a little bit of what the Republican and Democratic parties offered.. a lot of people would flock to it.

I know I would.

[Enzora]

I registered republican because I don't agree with a lot of what the Democratic party has to offer but now.. I think I should've registered as Independant seeing that the Republican party also doesn't also fit my views.

We need a third party.  I'm sure if there was one that offered a little bit of what the Republican and Democratic parties offered..  a lot of people would flock to it.

I know I would.

The way our elections are held, a strong third party can't really exist here. It would take something of extreme importance, like say, the abolition of slavery, to give a third party solid footing.

[CSpec]

The parties in the US are essentially identical, except for minor disagreements that get played up a whole lot. A third party would royally screw up the system; we don't need that. The reason the two party system has worked is because of the fact that Americans share a common viewpoint on most issues, with most of the differences taken up by the two parties.

[Sixty8panther]

The parties in the US are essentially identical, except for minor disagreements that get played up a whole lot.

You're right to some degree but...

1st amendment

2nd amendment

War

Health care

Abortion

Welfare

Taxes

These things are far from "minor". And yes, it absolutely works out best when there's a balance. I think both Republicans and Democrats have some great and some $h!ty ideas. I think my 2 biggest fears right now politically are:

1. 1984 is here and it's only getting worse! Down with the Patriot Act.

2. Jobs are being sucked out of the country like leaves in a Hurricane.

[Cory Wolfe]

It's hard to say, really... I don't really agree with either side and the last election was a case of the lesser of two evils, had I been able to vote. My family is strictly one sided, so naturally that rubbed off on me. However, as life moves on, I seem to be shifting away from that side, both sides. Especially, as I realize how... um... special the current Politition in control is. Did I say that nicely and indirect enough, those who support him?

[sciguy_0504]

1) The Patiot Act is vital to national security, no matter how many times a certain political party plays the "they can see what books you took out of the library!" card. It breaks down the proverbial walls between agencies (FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA, SS, NGA, etc.) and allows them to talk to one another, share information. For example, the NSA is not allowed to "talk" to the FBI without the PA. Each agency has a different mission so we cannot cut down on the number of agencies.

2) 4.5 million jobs have been created in the past 2 1/2 years, more than in Japan and the EU combined.

[the_yellow_dart]

Maybe "USA part II" is a bit extreme, but I'm very ashamed of my country right now.

Maybe the Liberals did steal some money. Personally I don't care. I'd rather see the NDP as government, but not because of what the Libs did. Sure, the Liberals stole some tax money, but the Conservatives will just take the same tax money and give it all to corporations, to line the pockets of a few, and much will end up in American hands.

I was proud of Canada as a place where you can stand up against American values and be more left wing. Now I just feel as if we've given in because of a little corruption, and it's so pathetic.

[Flybrian]

2) 4.5 million jobs have been created in the past 2 1/2 years, more than in Japan and the EU combined.

This is a specious figure and not one borne of accuracy. What kind of jobs? Minimum wage cashiers at Wal-Mart? Is the quality of jobs being maintained? That's far more important than rote numbers.

[thegriffon]

Multi-party systems are unstable. In both the US and Australia there were once third parties created (Republican and Liberal), but in both cases they have eclipsed one of the former major parties to such an extent that the there are now effectively only two parties again. The US is a little different to most countries in that the inherent differences between the main parties lie in the way government functions rather than in the policies adopted. Normally this allows a greater degree of bipartisanship than exists elsewhere, but there is an increasing amount of virulent, paranoid political bigotry which is bad for reasoned debate and good government, as seen in some recent confirmation hearings. The right of the Republican party has largely grown past this, but many Democrats have not.

[Robert Hall]

For me it's usually #2. For the most part, the Democratic party fits my views pretty well. There used to be aspects of the Republican party that I liked (financial responsibility, etc) but there is no way I could support that party now as it has been hijacked by the right-wing neocons and evangelicals, two groups I want nothing to do with.

[LosAngeles]

1st amendment

2nd amendment

War

Health care

Abortion

Welfare

Taxes

These things are far from "minor". And yes, it absolutely works out best when there's a balance. I think both Republicans and Democrats have some great and some $h!ty ideas. I think my 2 biggest fears right now politically are:

1. 1984 is here and it's only getting worse! Down with the Patriot Act.

2. Jobs are being sucked out of the country like leaves in a Hurricane.

We agree 200% here, mein freund....

[Robert Hall]

1) The Patiot Act is vital to national security, no matter how many times a certain political party plays the "they can see what books you took out of the library!" card.  It breaks down the proverbial walls between agencies (FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA, SS, NGA, etc.) and allows them to talk to one another, share information.  For example, the NSA is not allowed to "talk" to the FBI without the PA.  Each agency has a different mission so we cannot cut down on the number of agencies.

2) 4.5 million jobs have been created in the past 2 1/2 years, more than in Japan and the EU combined.

1. The Patriot act goes far beyond opening up communication between agencies (which itself is a good thing).

2. Yes, but how many of those are sh*tty McJobs at McDonalds or Wal-Mart? I know in my industry (software) there has been a huge loss of decent paying ($60-120k/yr) development jobs in the last 5 years, due to outsourcing and general economic malaise...

[trinacriabob]

I will try to keep this as apolitical as possible.

I definitely vote for the candidate. I am non partisan. There is no party that represents where I stand so I have no choice. I would either be a conservative Democrat or a liberal Repulican. Liberal Democrats and consevative Republicans scare me...they are too far off on either side of the continuum to best address the variety of issues.

I had a real problem with Al Gore. I wanted the Clinton dynasty to end. And I don't think that Hilary has a chance. She will not have the Repulican popular vote and she most likely will not get a large part of the Democratic male popular vote. I hope I am right. Somebody (maybe Stephanapoulos) wrote a book and alluded to her vulgar crudeness in and around the White House. (I would not expect any politician to be nice...you're not supposed to be.) She is truly the "sn*tc* du jour" from what I can deduce.

As for California, I wish that Cruz Bustamante (D) was governor instead of Arnold ( R). I really don't like that someone with his background (no background) is the governor of the most populous state in the union. I think that Gray Davis's problems were partly bad management and partly bad timing.

Edited February 5, 2006 by trinacriabob

[SoCalCTS]

1) The Patiot Act is vital to national security, no matter how many times a certain political party plays the "they can see what books you took out of the library!" card.  It breaks down the proverbial walls between agencies (FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA, SS, NGA, etc.) and allows them to talk to one another, share information.  For example, the NSA is not allowed to "talk" to the FBI without the PA.  Each agency has a different mission so we cannot cut down on the number of agencies.

2) 4.5 million jobs have been created in the past 2 1/2 years, more than in Japan and the EU combined.

low paying crappy jobs.

Here is the current plan. Get rid of a job that pays $50K and replace it with 2 that pay $20K. Wow look we've created jobs!

Thats the truth of the current U.S. economy.

As for the Patriot Act, its indefensible. Its uselsess to argue because either you are a fascist or not.

Edited February 7, 2006 by SoCalCTS