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Thread: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Well, in most states you can register as an independent, as opposed to picking a party. Maybe that's not deep enough, but it's a start.

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    Senior Member Senior Member Ser Clegane's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Well, in most states you can register as an independent
    OK - now you lost me - I am claiming genuine ignorance on my end: What is the purpose of being registered as being "independent"?

    Does it give you the right to support the nomination of an idependent candidate?

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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Well Ser, to give you an example, in New York State the primaries are closed, so unless you register you cannot participate. I went ahead and registered as an indie for a simple reason; so that the politicians in my district would see that there were some independents. Letting my non-affiliation flag fly, as it were.

    When you register to vote you are asked to tick off an affiliation, or at least you are in the states I've lived in since I've reached adulthood.

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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus View Post
    That is patently false. From all the sociology books I have read, the US is composed of roughly 25% Republicans, 25% Democrats and the rest willing to vote for either, .
    Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard View Post
    That is completely contrary to what I have been taught in university. The percentage of independents has been rising since the 1980s and is, IIRC, the highest ever right now..
    My politics teacher said that psephological studies have revealed that 70% of the US Population is partisan, with the rest independents. Admittedly, at least some of those independents are leaners, or lolbertarians , but there are probably more than 10%.

    Quote Originally Posted by alh_p View Post
    So winning an election in the US is about mobilising partisans and who can interest/motivate a greater number of theirs to get them to a ballot box?
    Yep. That's how Bush won in 2004. That's why they place such great emphasis on "energising the base"

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    Senior Member Senior Member Ser Clegane's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Well Ser, to give you an example, in New York State the primaries are closed, so unless you register you cannot participate. I went ahead and registered as an indie for a simple reason; so that the politicians in my district would see that there were some independents. Letting my non-affiliation flag fly, as it were.
    So other than a registered Democrat/Republican the registered Independent does not get the right to actively participate in the nomination of a candidate - but the registration rather serves the purpose tto demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?

    Just paraphrasing to make sure I understood it

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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Ser Clegane View Post
    [T]he registration rather serves the purpose to demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?
    Not exactly, no. My intent is that when the politicos look at their district maps, they will see a percentage of independents. I think that's healthy for them.

    And to be honest, I have chronic problems with both the Dems and the Repubs, and have no desire to be affiliated with either.

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    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Ser Clegane View Post
    So other than a registered Democrat/Republican the registered Independent does not get the right to actively participate in the nomination of a candidate - but the registration rather serves the purpose tto demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?

    Just paraphrasing to make sure I understood it
    Here in Virginia, we have open primaries. Independents can vote in one party's primary (chosen when they get to the polls), which allows us to add votes for a more moderate candidate that may not appeal to the hardcore base.
    Last edited by drone; 01-27-2010 at 21:54. Reason: clarification
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by drone View Post
    Here in Virginia, we have open primaries. Independents can vote in one party's primary (chosen when they get to the polls), which allows us to add votes for a more moderate candidate that may not appeal to the hardcore base.
    This varies from state to state, as the comments of Drone and Lemur suggest.

    You don't really "register" as a party member in VA. You simply choose your party ballot and select as appropriate at the polls. I'm an unregistered GOP-type, but voted for Hillary in the VA pres primary as a favor to Louis (and because I thought the GOP had a better chance against her than against Obama -- which proved to be true).
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    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

    Quote Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh View Post
    You don't really "register" as a party member in VA. You simply choose your party ballot and select as appropriate at the polls. I'm an unregistered GOP-type, but voted for Hillary in the VA pres primary as a favor to Louis (and because I thought the GOP had a better chance against her than against Obama -- which proved to be true).
    I'm also an unregistered conservative, but my voting patterns have gotten more cynical. Lately I've been either voting against incumbents (regardless of party affiliation), or voting with the aim of gridlock.
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