Question for Independent Voters?

I don't consider myself an independent, and I don't accept the old paradigm.

In my state, we can register as Libertarians, so I am a member of a political party, hence, not independent.

It is true, Washington thought political parties are dangerous, but people of a similar thinking will clump. People clump. In fact, Washington was the only president not a member of a party.

Even in Congress, people would clump even if they were not members of parties. Perhaps we might clump only on specific issues, but I believe that basic political beliefs would be the motor that drives the clumping.

And yes, not having a party does make getting your view across.

Think, those who have no party cannot (and should not, since parties are private organizations, not public), in most States, participate in the selection of candidates. They participate only in the election of candidates put forth by the parties.

Well, if a party came along that I happened to agree with 80% of the time or more, I'd happily join them. Thing is, I just respectfully disagree with Republicans and Democrats a bit too often to really see the point of joining either party, although I probably vote for Democrats a bit more often than I do for Republicans. I also have voted for third party candidates when I didn't like my other choices.

Being an independent does make it harder to be heard, and that's a shame, but it is what it is. I'm still content with what I am. When I look at the vicious and unmerciful bickering that goes on between hardliners from both parties, I'm reminded of why it's nice to be an independent. I think that partisan politics have been taken to a dangerous level in this country. I feel like some folks in each of the "big two" are so loyal to their parties that they would risk compromising their own ideals and sense of reason just for the sake of defending their parties from the "enemy." That makes me very nervous.

Independent means no party affiliation at all. It would be kind of stupid to have an "independent" party. In fact, my voter registration card says "decline to state" under party affiliation. In California, that means I can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries for any office, so I can support the candidate of my choice regardless of party.

As for being heard, I don't want a party to speak for me. If I agreed with much of what either party says, I would join that party, but I don't. If I want to be heard, I write a letter to the editor in the newspaper, or my Congresswoman or my Senators, even the presiden. My Congresswoman has written me back, so I know she hears me. And anyway, political parties give voice to the loudest whackos on the right and the left, not to the average guy or gal. This is why Republican politicians slobber all over Rush Limbaugh and the religious right, and Democratic politicians cower in fear in front of organizations like MoveOn.org. Unless you are a whacko, parties don't care about you or your voice.

I'm closest to Libertarian (socially liberal, fiscally conservative) in political ideology, but I prefer to not be affiliated with any political party. Being an Independent is somewhat of a drawback because I live in a state that doesn't hold open primary elections. On the plus side, both parties need to listen to Independents because we're growing in numbers due to dissatisfaction with both major parties and it's the Independent vote that can swing an election, particularly at the national level.

I'm an independent conservative constitutionalists . The Democrats have been taken over by the Marxist Socialist and their extreme ideas are causing the death of this country

The Republicans have be come what we used to call liberal Democrats.

What a mess of political evolution. there needs to be a third party Conservative in nature, adhering to the Constitution and strong on policies that will protect this republic from all enemies domestic and foreign

I am independent because of the corruption in the major political parties.

Most of (not all) the national level politicians are more concerned with their party standing and support than with the people.

The major political parties have grown so powerful and have near total control of our election process that it is virtually impossible for any "third party candidate" to viably compete on a national level. The election finance laws (written by members of the major political parties) insure that competition is virtually eliminated. The ones with the power to change those laws are the ones that will 'lose' the most.

Well, in New York, Indepependent IS a party. In order to be a member of no party, you must check the box saying you wish not to affiliate yourself with any political party.

As far as your last question, The Good Lord gave me a big mouth, and I'm not afraid to use it, so I know I get my views heard.

Isn't an Independent Party a contradiction of terms? If you are part of a party, and thus acquiesce some of your views that do not align with the party, you are no longer independent.

I like no party affiliation. Political parties are a bad idea, we should have listened to George Washington's warning about them...

I would rather have a viable 3rd party to make the D and R parties uncomfortable and not so smug, just taking turns to rob us blind.