As a registered Independant, I like to look at a candidate's record and their position on issues I am interested in to gauge whether I should vote for them, not at their party. There are things I agree with both liberals and conservatives and things I disagree with. Are people becoming more moderate and what is your definition of being a moderate? I think the more accurate term for someone like me is independant.
moderate, liberal and conservative are all in the eye of the beholder. I imagine Ralph Nader, for example, would consider me fairly moderate whereas Colin Grabow probably thinks I'm a bleeding heart knee-jerk liberal. I, for what it's worth, consider myself comfortably left of center. As to your question, I think that as our two major political parties become more and more homogenous, people do tend to drift more towards the center. I think your definition of yourself (that is, finding that you agree with liberal viewpoints on some things and conservative viewpoints on some things) would be a good definition of "moderate" (though I'm perfectly happy to call you independent if you prefer)
One question I just thought of: Are you registered "Independent" or are you registered "No Party Affiliation?" Big difference.
Re: Re: What is a moderate? Nader thinks I am somewhat of prattling nincompoop. But interestingly, Grabow thinks I am a rather sexy, swarthy hardbody.
Re: Re: Re: What is a moderate? Colin has so far resisted the temptation to comment on my physical appearance. If it helps, I kind of think you're a nincompoop too
It was "No affiliation". The drawback of this is the possibility of being excluded from primaries (where I live).
I originally registered NPA so I wouldn't get a whole lot of party nonsense in the mail. Of course I now get a whole lot of party nonsense in the mail from both sides, so I'm reconsidering. That, and the primaries.
by definition, independent doesn't have a platform because it means independent of any political party. there are 3rd parties and Ross Perot's party tried to call themselves the "Independent party" it's a contradiction in terms. Perot tended right and was strictly anti free trade. Nader's 3rd party, the Green is significantly left. there is no "moderate" party, though there is the centrist coalition in the senate. however this is more of a legislative organization than a political party (considering it is composed of Rs and Ds)
Perot's party was the "Reform Party" The "Independent Party" or "American Independent Party" is an actual political party. If you put "Independent" under party affiliation on your voter registration card, this is what you're signing up for. The American Independent Party (of California anyway) does indeed have a platform, but I don't really have a huge interest in reading it. Here's the link. http://www.aipca.org/Platform/platform.html
you're right. thanks for the info. though i think in most states, registering as an independent means you choose not to join a party. i still think independent party is a contridiction in terms.
Exactly. Registering "independent" so that the parties won't bother you is the most foolish thing you can do. It's like covering yourself in honey so that ants won't bother you.
From a junk mail perspective I would tend to agree with you. As for the most foolish thing I could do, this isn't even close
No idea. The link I provided was actually for a California party, which is apparently the local affiliate of the Constitution Party.