Great post. I don't identify with either party and all the politicians are bought.
It's odd. It is almost like you have to follow some dumb ass checklist for the party you support and most of the "issues" are just nonsense to get people riled up.
Yeah, I don't care for accepting all the baggage that would come with supporting a single stance of either party. It's fucking mentally lazy and quite honestly I don't see how everyone can just "fit the mold".
Oh, you're a republican? Well then, that means you support A, B, and C, right?
Oh, you're a democrat? Then I would assume that you're in favor of X, Y, and Z, correct?
On the one hand it's hard to imagine how someone would allow themselves to be type casted into a specific role and not just have their own personal beliefs, but then on the other hand you realize a large portion of it is likely handed down to them from their parents.
I remember when I was in undergrad during an election year. Me and a good number of people just not giving a shit about the whole process at all. Almost zero interest, where's the beer and where are those fine young ladies who are just entering into their "exploring" phase? Dorm room down the hall housed 2 friends from a well-off area in their home town. Their hanging on the edge of their seats with the debate going on, ridiculing one of the candidates and actually applauding his opponent. Sitting in a dorm chair bought from Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond and their applauding the points being made on TV.
I walked by their room and broke the apparent unwritten rule of politics by asking who they were going to vote for. They were taken back at first and then said "republican, probably". I didn't respond just so I could propt a little more out of them. Fucking 18 year old kid starts talking about taxes. Probably never worked a fucking day in his life and never having had to actually examine a pay stub to see what taxes taken out even looks like. Freshman in college, ain't doing shit that would require filing any sort of tax paperwork while he's in college, and not getting a job where he'd even see the effect of a tax increase until at least the next election. No personal implications that he could stand on so basically just casting a vote for daddy.
OT, but not discussing a person's vote is a completely chicken shit idea. If you voted, or will vote for someone, fucking own it. This whole, "oh, don't wanna talk about that" bullshit is just childish. If you're supportive enough to vote for the guy, you should be able to fucking say so. Stand up, be a man, and support your position...........provided you actually can. I'm suspicious this is a fopaux to some people because they can't tell you why they voted for their candidate. Not being asked absolves them from having to explain why they supported the guy. They can continue being fucking ignorant to every issue other than the initial next to each name, the least shitty of the two candidates may or may not win but that doesn't really matter, and then everyone can go back into their comfort bubble where everyone has the same beliefs.
My dad has one of the most fucked up voting patterns I've ever seen but he'll openly tell you who he voted for and how pissed he is that he chose that candidate. I think he votes mostly to fulfill that civic duty bullshit he was fed back when he was growing up. He'll vote for 1 party during one election and flip the following. He generally hates both parties and is usually least thrilled with the party currently holding office so he'll vote for a party switch more often than not. Fucked up as his strategy is, I at least respect the fact that he's willing to say his vote sucked......even if it always sucks because he's become jaded with that party at that particular time. Registered party members don't do that. If their vote turns out shitty, the first line they'd go to is that things would have been EVEN WORSE under the other candidate. I guess that's just politics in general though. People aren't elected by presenting themselves as the most competent candidate, they're elected by painting their opponent as someone who is less competent than they are.
If any candidate ever comes out (and I don't care what party they belong to) and says, "listen, I'm not hear to try to convince people to choose the least crappy option. I'm hear to tell you why I am the better candidate", and doesn't go down the constant smear campaign path but strictly builds their platform around their own accomplishments and leadership qualities........fucker's got my vote.
