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Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
23. It would.
Mon May 2, 2016, 09:39 PM
May 2016

There will be some, of course, who have never been registered with a party. Which doesn't mean they don't ever vote for Democrats or Republicans. In fact, many "independents" vote regularly for one or the other, as surveys have indicated. Some don't vote much at all. Some vote for a 3rd party. Some vote for Democrats *and* Republicans *and* 3rd Party candidates.

My only point is that "independent" isn't synonymous with "unbiased" or "anti-establishment" or "anti-mainstream" or "anti-label" or "critical thinker." Which is the sort of mythology that the author -- in the article I posted -- is referring to.

OMG!!! guytonfox May 2016 #1
Hello. bigwillq May 2016 #18
Some just dont feel represented by the parties in power ShrimpPoboy May 2016 #2
Agreed, it's not a monolithic group. Garrett78 May 2016 #15
Independents are the people whose votes you need to win Bjorn Against May 2016 #3
I'm not sure where you get the idea that I want Democrats to lose every single election. Garrett78 May 2016 #10
Well you are not going to get any independent votes if Democrats push crap like we see in the OP Bjorn Against May 2016 #14
What's insulting about my OP? Garrett78 May 2016 #16
The fact that you suggest they are a myth is insulting Bjorn Against May 2016 #17
I put the term in quotes because clearly not all are "independent" in any true sense. Garrett78 May 2016 #21
If a person does not belong to a political party they are an independent Bjorn Against May 2016 #26
Sure. Garrett78 May 2016 #29
What? The OP is not saying that at all. brush May 2016 #51
Yeah, I addressed that above. Garrett78 May 2016 #57
And they are the largest of the electorate at 44% of all voters. floriduck May 2016 #79
They aren't united, though. Garrett78 May 2016 #81
I agree. But that could change based on the bizarre nature of this years election. nm floriduck May 2016 #82
Most "Independents" I've met are Libertarians. Most of them are racist and callous. Hoyt May 2016 #4
Might have a lot to do with it. nt villager May 2016 #7
People who refuse to vote for labels and think for themselves. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #5
That applies across the spectrum. Garrett78 May 2016 #19
It would be interesting to see a long term sadoldgirl May 2016 #6
It would. Garrett78 May 2016 #23
People like me, who have been loyal Democrats for over 4 decades, Zorra May 2016 #8
I can't recall making a pro-Clinton post. Garrett78 May 2016 #12
I am registered as "unaffiliated", or independent of any party. Life member of int'l union,.... dmosh42 May 2016 #83
Then there are those of us who think the Democrats really suck, and the Republicans... immoderate May 2016 #9
+++ frylock May 2016 #13
What are your interests? Garrett78 May 2016 #20
Fair wages, fair trade, renewable energy, common-sense drug laws, non-interventionism. frylock May 2016 #22
Sounds like Green Party to me. FWIW, I support those things, as well. Garrett78 May 2016 #25
I register as a Democrat. I mostly dislike the Democrats but... immoderate May 2016 #41
Sounds like Bernie to me. And my issues as well. JudyM May 2016 #40
I'm registered as 'No Party Preference' because I have no Party preference. frylock May 2016 #11
Blowing in the wind. LiberalFighter May 2016 #24
"Or because they are 'liberal' on some issues and 'conservative' on others." CompanyFirstSergeant May 2016 #27
Or...they are just simply able to think for themselves without having to be told how to think. n/t michaz May 2016 #28
See post #19. Garrett78 May 2016 #30
Guess this proves my point! n/t michaz May 2016 #32
Which is what? Garrett78 May 2016 #34
Some people are better at thinking for themselves than others. michaz May 2016 #37
I don't have much issue with any of what you just wrote. Garrett78 May 2016 #38
And add all that to being able to think for themselves and you will have it. michaz May 2016 #39
Okay. Garrett78 May 2016 #42
Obviously any one that chooses to can be an independent. It is their choice. But michaz May 2016 #46
Some people are just not that engaged... Yurovsky May 2016 #31
Absolutely. Garrett78 May 2016 #33
They are 40% of the electorate AgingAmerican May 2016 #35
But most typically vote for one party or the other. Garrett78 May 2016 #36
They are 40% of the electorate AgingAmerican May 2016 #45
Yet most are, in fact, party loyalists. Garrett78 May 2016 #56
Some people are registered Independents because they are sick to death of the bjo59 May 2016 #43
I'm an indy pinebox May 2016 #44
Registrared Green for over twenty years but changed it to (D) for Bernie in California nolabels May 2016 #48
Most Dems favor all those things you listed brush May 2016 #53
me too and I'm with you 100% dana_b May 2016 #63
Independents are fashionistas. randome May 2016 #47
Well. Do you want to offend an entire voting bloc? VulgarPoet May 2016 #49
Wasn't the point of the OP that independents aren't actually a bloc in any real sense? nemo137 May 2016 #55
Exactly. Garrett78 May 2016 #58
Interestingly, LWolf May 2016 #50
I don't think you can generalize that way. People are independent for all kinds of reasons. yellowcanine May 2016 #52
I've done the exact opposite of "generalize" in both the OP and throughout this thread. Garrett78 May 2016 #60
The many independents I know are thoughtful, discerning free thinkers democrank May 2016 #54
I am unenrolled but never call myself an independent. I do have a bias for Dems as that is the only seaglass May 2016 #59
Agreed. Garrett78 May 2016 #61
No they are not a voting bloc. Trying to create a political party around independents would be seaglass May 2016 #62
"because they think it gives the impression that they are unbiased, critical thinkers" dana_b May 2016 #64
Do you really not think that's true for *some* who self-identify as "independent?" Garrett78 May 2016 #65
your entire post is insulting to indys n/t dana_b May 2016 #66
You didn't answer my question. Garrett78 May 2016 #67
I never suggested any such thing dana_b May 2016 #68
If I give a variety of reasons why people self-identify as "independent"... Garrett78 May 2016 #70
Or we're to the left of both major parties. eom TransitJohn May 2016 #69
There is no "we," though. Garrett78 May 2016 #72
So I'm not allowed to include myself in a group I self identify with? TransitJohn May 2016 #73
Of course you can. Garrett78 May 2016 #76
You exposed your limited thought process. Oops! pdsimdars May 2016 #71
By pointing out that there are a variety of reasons why people self-identify as "independent?" Garrett78 May 2016 #74
They are a group of voters the majority of whom will not vote for Clinton... leeroysphitz May 2016 #75
Just as a majority didn't vote for Obama in 2012. Garrett78 May 2016 #77
Are party loyalists unbiased? Are they critical thinkers when they vote for a label? Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #78
It's hard to say. Garrett78 May 2016 #80
There are no facts, only interpretations. Friedrich Nietzsche Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #84
Agreed. Garrett78 May 2016 #85
Does it matter? They represent 39% of the voting public, and Socialism appeals to them. lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #86
Socialism appeals to *some* of them. Garrett78 May 2016 #87
Enough do that it's vitally important to the DNC and the Clinton campaign to keep them out. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #88
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