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I don't get it.

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ORIGINAL: truckinslave

First, a disclaimer: Popeye, this is not about you. You are neither the subject nor the inspiration of this thread. You are neither urged to respond here nor encouraged not to respond here.

It's just about the fact that I don't understand how anyone marginally politically aware can be an independent. I also do not understand how anyone can respect the status of "Independent". Can the reason for being an Independent be anything other than an ignorance of the propfound differences between the two parties?

I will admit that I fell into the trap myself, halfway. Although I have been a registered republican since '76 (I wanted to vote in the Republican Presidential primary), I thought there was something... unthoughtful.... about voting a straight party ticket and through 2000 always found a Dim or two to vote for (and only slightly regret the time I voted for Sam Nunn). Watching local Dim poll personnel try to steal Florida for Albore taught me the importance of voting the party line. Watching Bart Stupak explode the myth of the prolife Dimocrat and seeing straight partyline vote after partyline vote both before and especially since 2008 has reinforced my belief that if you know what the hell is going on as regards any issue in which you take an interest-  you  have to take a fucking side. Don't you??

Welfare, immigration, deficit spending, military strength, foreign affairs, taxes, the economy, blah blah blah, pick your poison, how in the hell, in the United States of America as it is constituted in 2010, can you just blow with the wind from one party to the other, voting Republican this time and Dim the next???

I just don't get it. Pick a team already.