Will independent be the next big ticket ?

Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
edited October 2012 in A Moving Train
Whether you're unhappy with both political parties or you feel that there's no moderate candidate this election, 40% of Americans now identify themselves as independents, according to the Committee for a Unified Independent Party.

http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/862638?hpt=hp_t2


Godfather.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    I would hope so. I fall into that category.

    I'd REALLY like to see a term limit party or the anti-incumbent movement to take off, though. We need to clean house.
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  • VitalogensiaVitalogensia Posts: 1,995
    I certainly hope so. The problem is, I bet the vast majority of these "independent" voters will still vote for one of the top two parties, so I call shenanigans!
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  • ZosoZoso Posts: 6,425
    I hope so.. more options the better.
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  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    know1 wrote:
    I would hope so. I fall into that category.

    I'd REALLY like to see a term limit party or the anti-incumbent movement to take off, though. We need to clean house.

    ohhhh yea I agree,it's way over due and we need to clean house ASAP.
    but I was wondering if the "strong runners" for the independent party will rule the elections next time around ?
    I think it's coming because the people are getting fed up and are looking for a new leadership party.

    Godfather.
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    SK359828 wrote:
    I certainly hope so. The problem is, I bet the vast majority of these "independent" voters will still vote for one of the top two parties, so I call shenanigans!

    I'm thinking that maybe there is a bit of a confusion between 'independent' and 'non-affiliated'. I don't believe that the 40% are 'truly' independent.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    As I said somewhere else....

    I want a candidate that stands up and says they will focus on running the country to the best of their ability and stop focusing on running the citizen's lives.

    The politicians just need to run and lead this country. Politics has lost its focus over the years and the importan election "issues" seem mostly about running people's lives.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    know1 wrote:
    As I said somewhere else....

    I want a candidate that stands up and says they will focus on running the country to the best of their ability and stop focusing on running the citizen's lives.

    The politicians just need to run and lead this country. Politics has lost its focus over the years and the importan election "issues" seem mostly about running people's lives.
    Yes - and not one who just says it, but actually does it or genuinely attempts to.

    No more lip-service.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,090
    Politics are (is? come on, grammar police, help me here :lol: ) an institution and institutions change very slowly. My guess is that eventually independents will gain a lot of ground but probably at least not for anther few generations.
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  • redrock wrote:
    SK359828 wrote:
    I certainly hope so. The problem is, I bet the vast majority of these "independent" voters will still vote for one of the top two parties, so I call shenanigans!

    I'm thinking that maybe there is a bit of a confusion between 'independent' and 'non-affiliated'. I don't believe that the 40% are 'truly' independent.

    True, and I think a lot of people consider themselves "independent" because the republican and democrat labels have become basically insults, even if this "independent" voter basically votes straight ticket.
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  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    I think it'd be great if there were more viable choices.
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  • Black DiamondBlack Diamond Posts: 25,107
    It needs to be a party, not just a candidate
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  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Realistically... I don't think so... at least, not for a while.
    Why?
    Because the two party system favors the ones who benefit from it the most... the wealthy.
    They can wield so much influence... especially not that the Citizens United thing allows corporations to pour unaccountable millions or billions into campaigns to keep the status quo in place and operating business as usual. That amount of money will crush a third party like it were a maggot.
    Whoever wins this election... the wealthy win and the good fortune will continue to flow into their pockets.
    ...
    It's a great system... the two-party system (as long as you are one of them).
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  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Actually... i thought about this a bit last night and came up with this...
    The only way an Independent party will take root is over time. During that time, Independent candidates, electors and voters needs to do a few of things:
    1. Consolidate all of the fractured little parties (Libertarian, Green, etc...) in to ONE unified party. I know, this is going to be difficult, but unless Libertarians and Green party types can make concessions to each other, they are both going to be bullied by the two super-parties. Without completing this most difficult task... the rest of it does not matter.
    2. Once that is done... concentrate on Congress. If Independents can sway House votes one way or the other, they can get their policies into play. The way it is now, their votes don't make that much of an impact.
    3. Voters in both Republican and Demorcats ranks HAVE TO ABANDON their partisan voting habits. Republicans and Democrats will always have their base who would vote for Hitler over Jesus as long as the correct letter is next to their name. There is NOTHING you can do about those people. They will continue to suck on the Elephant or Donkey dick because they cannot see beyond their Red or Blue colored glasses.
    ...
    When Independents can influence Congress... then, the road to a Third Party President can be laid.
    ...
    Pipe dream? Yeah. The reality is... Americans are to lazy to do anything other than mouth off.
    But, you know what I'm going to do on election day? I'm going to vote Independent all the way. No Democrat or Republican is going to get my vote. I know, it is basically 'wasting' my ballot on a lost cause... but, i'm going to refuse playing this bullshit game I've be forced into for all these years.
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  • Cliffy6745Cliffy6745 Posts: 33,841
    I'd love to see Bloomberg make a run at it. Not gonna happen though.
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Most independents lean left or right. There isn't really much of a middle. Politics is all about change.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    kenny olav wrote:
    Most independents lean left or right. There isn't really much of a middle. Politics is all about change.
    ...
    That is what keeps the Democratic and Republican parties strong and in control. The weakness of the Independents and keeping them seperated into small, insignificant... easily handled pieces.
    The way I see it... the only way a third party is going to succeed is with growth... first in numbers.... then, by power. Fragmented Independent Parties feeds the status quo.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Cosmo wrote:
    kenny olav wrote:
    Most independents lean left or right. There isn't really much of a middle. Politics is all about change.
    ...
    That is what keeps the Democratic and Republican parties strong and in control. The weakness of the Independents and keeping them seperated into small, insignificant... easily handled pieces.
    The way I see it... the only way a third party is going to succeed is with growth... first in numbers.... then, by power. Fragmented Independent Parties feeds the status quo.

    The majority of voters are registered in one of those two parties. Partisanship is what voters want, and I think they are perfectly right to want it.

    When I registered to vote when I was 18, I registered as "unenrolled" (the Massachusetts version of independent). My parents were both unenrolled, and like them, I didn't want to belong to any party. I also liked that being unenrolled meant that I can vote in either party's primary - that's how it works in MA. For a short time around 2001-2002 I was enrolled in the Green Party, and then I switched to unenrolled so i could vote in the Democratic primary, and later I switched back to the Green Party, and then back to unenrolled.

    This year, I enrolled with the Democratic Party. I like being a Democrat in the year 2012. A lot of good people are in today's Democratic Party. Everything on the Democratic platform is good for this country. Nothing that the Republican Party has on its agenda is good for anyone. I decided it was time to take a stand with millions of American voters who were already standing for the same things I believe in.
  • groovemegrooveme Posts: 353
    kenny olav wrote:
    Most independents lean left or right. There isn't really much of a middle. Politics is all about change.

    Probably true, but a lot of folks dislike both candidates and vote for the lesser of 2 evils, because they see no viable alternative. I think most people are close to the center, but the parties are dominated by their far right and far left wings
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    I simply don't agree that most people are in the center - as in a place that is neither left nor right. Most people aren't in the far off fringes of the left and right, but my experience tells me that most people are to some degree either left or right.

    We're either moving forward or moving backward.
  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 38,718
    it will have to start locally. Then grow to state office. once its proven these people are what they say and not just saying what they think we want to hear, then national might be possible.

    In my view the middle of the road guy/gal is the right path. Not sexy but it takes all into account and tries to do whats best for all. At least I think so anyway.
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