What political party are you?
duncvis
Veteran
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,642
Location: The valleys of green and grey
In terms of US politics, I am probably closest to Nader's views, although I wouldn't have voted for him due to the total pointlessness under the American electoral system. (i.e. not a hope of winning any seats, and taking a vote from Democrats, making the Republicans more likely to win)
I vote Green in local and European elections, or whichever seems like the best local election candidate for the area (with the exception of Conservative and BNP candidates, neither of which will ever see my vote. Same goes for the 'Little Englanders' in the UK Independence Party). Nationally, I don't know who I will vote for this time. I voted Labour in the last General election, and I am quite happy in the main with Ann Cryer as our MP, but I am sickened by Britain's involvement in Iraq, which has been done on the basis of false evidence, without UN backing, and against the wishes of the majority of the British people. grrr. I will look at my options - I am tempted to vote LibDem who are to the left of the Labour party anyway, but don't want to see the seat go to the Conservatives.
Dunc
_________________
I'm usually smarter than this.
www.last.fm/user/nursethescreams <<my last.fm thingy
FOR THE HORDE!
Last edited by duncvis on 26 Jan 2005, 2:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
i'm a leftie, pure and simple, but probably what you'd call a green chilli - very left, and with a massive dollop of green party. like dunc, i tend to vote green, as i've always lived in constituencies with large majorities - safe seats. i do vote tactically, too, especially when scum like the BNP are involved (to keep them out, of course).
since blair is somewhat to the left of US politics, and i'm light years to the left of blair, i doubt i even appear on the star chart compared to the poll.
I have bounced around. Once I was Democratic, Once I was moderate and supported an equal number of candidates from either side, Once I was almost exclusively third party, and for a time I became Republican. Which in a way is confusing, because I hear that many southern Democrats merged with the Republican party in the 1980's and were known as Reagan Democrats. I can't say one party is all for rich over the other, last I heard there were more wealthy and total wealth for Democrats then for Republicans. I have problems with the current state of Democratic party. I only seem to see the worst examples of them publically, they seem to be out of touch with the majority of Americans (mostly it seems with respect to morals and family values), they don't seem to get a hint and want to change for the better (might explain the possibilty I heard of split in the party), they seem far too concentrated (true in the last few elections) in large urban areas (thus falling short of equal representation of the whole nation, at least in votes or attracting voters (so I must concluded they are doing something wrong and not spreading their appeal broadly enough)), too many of them sound like lemmings (what one says they all say, lack of a sense of independence, views, or thoughts among individuals (could help explain how Clinton got off scott free)), and maybe a few other things. I say this because, while I don't care for the Democrats right now as they seem to be synonimous with hippocracy (Example: Newt and Hillary book deals and Hillary's statements, the 2000 election "every vote must count" my hind end, what Gore meant was every vote counts as long as it is democratic,- why only recount 3 democratic majority counties in Florida and not the whole state, why not New Mexico which was closer?, why not the whole country?), gripe and whine, support each other even if they did something wrong (Gore, Clinton, Kerry, Berry, Hart) and often seem to defend that wrong unless a Republican does it and then they change their minds about the crime but not their party member, or just want to increase taxes (they will say something else, but it comes down to higher taxes).
I hope the Democratic party changes, gets their act together, and maybe kick out some of the deadbeats dragging them down. I certainly don't want to see the U.S. slowly morph into a one party system because one party seems clueless and refuses to change. If not maybe, they will change their party name and bylaws, split, disintigrate and a new party form. Zell Miller may have sided temporarily with Republicans, but at least he speaks his own mind. I kind of like Lieberman right now too, straight and not wishy-washy.
They are too regional. There is too much lopsided Democratic leanings in New England, New York, California, and about 5 or 6 other large urban areas. I hope and expect there would be a broader range, but few districts if any outside of these areas ever seem to fall Democratic.
Traits you cannot have in a leader:
Indecisive (Ex.: Kerry)
Poll Descisions- Let the Polls rule your every move (Ex.:Kerry)
Selfishness - (Jesse Jackson, Pat Buchanen) ones a glory hound the other thinks he right all the time
Immoral - Clinton (Hillary and Bill), Bob Packwood, Nixon (watergate), Ben Harrison (unlike in 2000, in late 1800's Republican stole election from Democrat Samuel Tilden), Joseph McCarthy
Ignoring Advice not that it always has to be heded, but a good lead must at least listen to good advice. [/b]
I like to think of myself as a pragmatic "softish" leftie - my natural inclination is always towards Labour, irrespective of whatever they're up to at the time: voting Tory would be akin to cannibalism to me, and as for the Liberals.... why bother?
Anyway, I'm just glad I'm not a part of the American political system where you only get a choice between 2 practically identical right wing parties to vote from..... Democracy, huh? Its no wonder that half of the people in the US don't even bother to vote, as the system makes sure there's nothing they can vote for.... At least there generally is something I can vote for over here......
_________________
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!"
I am pretty conservative, far more conservative then the Republican party. I am more economically conservative then socially, but I am a social conservative too. I am probably closest to the libertarian party, except for some social issues. The Government should just stay out of most things...
But generally I don't like the political parties in America. A 2-party system is just too limiting, especially with the Republicans and Democrats not veering too far from just plain middle of the road.
I have a hard time supporting republicans though, they don't take a hard enough stand on issues that are important to me. But I would never support a democrat...
I have a hard time b/c I am socially liberal, while economically conservative, as in letting the free market control and as little government manipulation as possible. That is why Clinton was a good candidate for me.
I really think we need the Parliamentary system in the U.S. I think it is a much more representative system.
Also, in the US, the candidate shapes the platform, so you are voting for the candidate, and not really the party. That is why you will see a lot of cross-over voting in our states' primaries. In other countries, the party shapes the candidate. Said party would not nominate someone who would not follow their agendas. So, in that situation, you are really voting for the party.
Tallgirl.
I bounce around on the political spectrum.
Last edited by Minus on 26 Mar 2005, 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
But generally I don't like the political parties in America. A 2-party system is just too limiting, especially with the Republicans and Democrats not veering too far from just plain middle of the road.
I have a hard time supporting republicans though, they don't take a hard enough stand on issues that are important to me. But I would never support a democrat...
I know what you mean.
In the last election, I voted mostly for Republicans (including Bush), and a few Libertarians. But there wasn't any candidate I fully agreed with.
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