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It's not necessary to be classified into a political party.
The main benefit in the U.S. to declaring a political party (i.e., registering as a Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, etc), is the ability to vote in your parties' primary election to select candidates.
While it's true that many people declare that they are of one party or another because they identify with certain positions of a Party platform which is at odds with the other parties, even within parties many people are opposed to major positions of their own party.
For example, there are Republicans whom are pro-choice and who support gay rights, and there are Democrats who are for pro-lfe and support school vouchers.
Some live with the differences and try to change their party, while others look at other issues and feel they take precedence.
When it comes time to vote in a general election, each person votes as they wish, unhindered by party affiliation. Hence, Arnold can become Governor in California, even though registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a large margin.
The problems with American politics run much deeper than political alliance, which is drawn mostly upon social issues. For example on taxes. The Republicans claim to be against raising taxes, yet there is as much spent on pork barrel projects in red states as there are in blue ones, and it's undeniable how the current Administration has directed billions of dollars of government money to corporations which support their Party.
A lot of it is about spin. Create a tax cut that primarily benefits the richest people, and then spin it as if you helped all. Meanwhile you run up the national deficit to pay for your tax cut.
As far as I am concerned, the Republicans and Democrats are in cahoots in many if not most instances. real alternatives and creative solutions to the problems confronting the country are likely to occur given the status quo.
Infortunately, with our non-parlimentary form of government, it is exceedingly difficult for any third party to make a difference. Votes for them tend to hurt the major party they are most closely aligned with.
Many pundits are suggesting that the Democrats have a chance to retake the White House in the next election, however I have been hearing that Sen. Joe Lieberman from the party's more conservative faction may run as an independent.
As close as the past two elections have been, it is a distinct possibility that Lieberman, who has virtually no chance of winning as an independentm, could essentially hand over the Presidency to the party that was his rival his entire policitical career if he chooses to run as an independent.
True, there are problems with parlimentary style governments as well, however they do offer some voice for minority parties to be heard or to effect change. Nonetheless, with the two parties so firmly entrenched and opposed to sharing power with, or opening up politics in any meaningful way to third parties (they have make it harder for parties like the Greens to get matching funds, etc), I don't expect much change anytime soon.
ADG Webmaster
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