I don't get the Democrats, Republicans, or Libertarians!

[Boss]

I am quickly discovering, I am a man without a party. Oh, I very much am aware that I'm a constitutional conservative, but there simply doesn't seem to be any political party that viewpoint fits with anymore. Certainly it's not the Democrats, who have essentially become Marxists, Maoists and Communists. These people have become rabid sociopaths and narcissists, full of hubris and unshakable in their determination to never compromise. I don't know what their ultimate goal and objective is, honestly. I guess it's to push us into a state of civil war, whereby they believe their side will ultimately prevail, killing off all opposition, and ushering in liberal utopia? Because it's certainly not a reasoned bipartisan approach at all. They get elected to power, and immediately start ramming their agenda down our throats like little dictators, without any regard for the law or the constitution, whatsoever. And it doesn't seem to matter how badly their ideas fail, they continue to push for more and more of the same. You try and have a reasoned debate with them here, and they just ridicule and hurl insults, refusing to be civil in any manner. I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime.

Then we have the Libertarians, who I happen to share many common viewpoints with, but these people tend to be whack jobs, who take everything to the most bizarre extremes, like the idea that we should just legalize heroin and disband our military entirely, and let society do whatever the hell it pleases, with no moral or ethical boundaries whatsoever. As with the left, you try to communicate with these people, and it's like talking to a brick wall. They are all about standing on their principles, and consequence be damned. Refusing to accept any other alternative than total and complete libertarianism, without consideration that 96% of the country aren't voting for libertarian government.

Finally, we have the glorious GOP... The Grand Old Party. Once was a time, I believed the Republicans were the party who represented my viewpoints the best, and I have been a fairly consistent supporter of the party in recent years. However, what I see today makes me absolutely sick at my stomach. The current crop of mealy-mouthed leaders, have simply abandoned every conservative principle for the sake of trying to cater to special interest groups and minorities, none of which are ever going to vote Republican, because they never have. They have bailed on illegal immigration, nationalized health care, defense, taxes... you name it, if Bohner can cave on it, he's proven he will. McCain and Graham are running around acting like New Age Democrats, lecturing the rest of the right on how we have to be this way now, or else there will be hell to pay come election time...but....it's not about politics, noooo!

I used to think I could vote for Chris Christie, but he has pretty much cooked his goose, trying to be a "moderate" and play both sides of the fence, whenever it's convenient. I thought for a while, maybe I could support Rubio, he seemed like the "future" of the GOP, but he sold out on the so-called "immigration" bill, which was just outright amnesty. I liked Ron Paul for a bit, until he went totally batty during the 2008 primaries. I like a lot of what Sarah Palin has to say, but I think the presidency is a bit over her head. I am never in my life, going to vote for another Bush, sorry Jeb. I'm down to Ted Cruz, who simply has no experience to speak of, and Rand Paul, who came from the seed of a nutball. So, I am thinking the Republican party might not be the answer.

I'm simply a man without a party at this time, and it's a bit frustrating, to say the least. I'm only reassured by the fact that I don't believe I am alone. I think a growing number of people who are like myself, are disillusioned and searching for an answer, but where is it?

 

[Two Thumbs]

My serious doubts began after I took time to read and understand the patriot act

then, I had to fly

I spent a long time searching the internet, talking to people. Most 3rd parties are fully controlled by the religious right or by people that are openly socialist/communist. Even the Constitution party isn't based around the Constitution.

There's nothing out there for a Constitutional conservative.

nothing

 

[Politico]

I don't get the Democrats, Republicans, or Libertarians!

Join the club.

 

[Mac1958]

.

The parties have become caricatures, their flocks have become narcisisstic Limbaugh/Maddow/Paul wannabes. Egos, advocacy journalism and money have completely polluted the system. I don't know how this is reversed. The only thing I know is, I agree with you, I can't be a part of it and look at myself in the mirror.

.

 

[get_involved]

You are not alone.

 

[NightFox]

I am quickly discovering, I am a man without a party.

Well said! A man without a party, it's nice having on your conscience and your reason as your only guides, huh.

"I sent the club a wire stating, Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member." -- Groucho Marx

 

[LoneLaugher]

I have a suggestion for those of you who occupy the higher ground. You know who you are.

Instead of spending your time telling everyone with a less than 100% cynical outlook that they are dupes and stooges, how about putting your efforts into helping get the money out of politics.

 

[NightFox]

I have a suggestion for those of you who occupy the higher ground. You know who you are.

Instead of spending your time telling everyone with a less than 100% cynical outlook that they are dupes and stooges, how about putting your efforts into helping get the money out of politics.

Uh-Oh, I think we hurt it's feelings.

"If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions." -- Jules, Pulp Fiction

 

[eflatminor]

I get it. I often feel the same way. You are not alone.

I sometimes refer to myself as a "small 'l' libertarian", which is to say I embrace many of the ideas of libertarianism, but don't consider myself a full-on party member.

Certainly, there are some far out whack jobs in the Libertarian party, but to be fair, I think you may have misrepresented libertarian ideals just a bit, which I've pointed out below. That is not to say that your experience isn't valid, just that I may have a slightly different take, which I'll share for the sake of conversation...

Then we have the Libertarians, who I happen to share many common viewpoints with, but these people tend to be whack jobs, who take everything to the most bizarre extremes,

Agreed, though I often doubt if some of those folks are really libertarians. I've encountered several self proclaimed libertarians that, when pressed for specifics, simply are not.

like the idea that we should just legalize heroin

Not quite. The idea is not to "legalize" anything, which involves government regulation and oversight, but to instill the idea of stopping the criminal prosecution of adults engaged in consensual activity. Stated differently, if one is not harming nor taking from another, they shouldn't be subject to prosecution.

Of course, we all know that drugs are bad for you and people can do decidedly NON-consensual things to others while under the influence. Libertarians would therefore not object to the idea of making the punishment harsher for someone that hurts or takes from another due to their engaging in clearly dangerous and self-destructive activity. For example, if a clean and sober person hits another with their car, they're subject to a fine and perhaps forced to take safe driving class. Hit someone with your car while under the influence of drugs? That person should be subject to massive fines and significant jail time...a harsher consequence of engaging in known dangerous activity.

and disband our military entirely,

I know of no libertarian that supports this idea. More likely is the idea that our troops should be deployed to protect our borders and international waters/shipping lanes. Many libertarians would even support the idea of overseas military intervention under certain circumstances. However, most libertarians do not support the idea of permanently stationing hundreds of thousands of troops in hundreds of countries and generally playing the world's policemen. Perhaps Adams summed up the libertarian idea of military best when he said "America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.". This is clearly not a call to "disband our military entirely".

and let society do whatever the hell it pleases, with no moral or ethical boundaries whatsoever.

That's an anarchist position, not that of a libertarian. Again, libertarians believe that laws and courts should exist to punish those that have harmed or taken from another....that have infringed on the rights of others. Further, libertarianism is not in conflict with the basic tenants of the Judeo-Christian morality.

As with the left, you try to communicate with these people, and it's like talking to a brick wall.

I can only speak for myself, but I try to communicate in a transparent and professional manner.

They are all about standing on their principles, and consequence be damned.

Personally, consequences DRIVE the principles upon which I stand. Perhaps we disagree about the likely consequences of libertarian policy, but I must disagree with your assessment.

Refusing to accept any other alternative than total and complete libertarianism, without consideration that 96% of the country aren't voting for libertarian government.

While I will always argue for libertarian ideals, I am happy as a pig in shit for even the slightest inclusion of libertarian ideals in today's society. That said, I have also encountered other libertarians that seem hell bent on a 'all or nothing' approach, which can be frustrating to deal with.

All the best.

 

[deltex1]

Lone laugher wants to get the money out of politics and into her pocket IAW the obabble redistribution scheme.

 

[BobPlumb]

The only way you will ever find the "perfect" candidate is to run for office yourself.

Because of our two party system that narrows the field of candidates through primaries, most voters are picking between the lessor of evils with the final election.

 

[NightFox]

The only way you will ever find the "perfect" candidate is to run for office yourself.

Because of our two party system that narrows the field of candidates through primaries, most voters are picking between the lessor of evils with the final election.

That is the root of the problem with our duopoly, the field is narrowed, first by the election for the monied special interests then by the partisan popularity contests (aka "the primaries"), until finally all that is left to choose from are lowest common denominators.

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil." -- Jerry Garcia

 

[Sallow]

A "Constitutional Conservative"?

That's sort of an Oxymoron.

The Constitution is not a conservative document.

 

[Edgetho]

Well, kids.....

It's time you found out something your parents should have told you....

There is no such thing as 'perfect'.

Have a nice day

 

[Sallow]

The only way you will ever find the "perfect" candidate is to run for office yourself.

Because of our two party system that narrows the field of candidates through primaries, most voters are picking between the lessor of evils with the final election.

That is the root of the problem with our duopoly, the field is narrowed, first by the election for the monied special interests then by the partisan popularity contests (aka "the primaries"), until finally all that is left to choose from are lowest common denominators.

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil." -- Jerry Garcia

The "root" of the problem in this country is that we are continually allowing money to be speech and corporations to be treated as people.

Practically every modern problem we are facing is the result of this ridiculous thinking.

 

[FA_Q2]

I am quickly discovering, I am a man without a party. Oh, I very much am aware that I'm a constitutional conservative, but there simply doesn't seem to be any political party that viewpoint fits with anymore. Certainly it's not the Democrats, who have essentially become Marxists, Maoists and Communists. These people have become rabid sociopaths and narcissists, full of hubris and unshakable in their determination to never compromise. I don't know what their ultimate goal and objective is, honestly. I guess it's to push us into a state of civil war, whereby they believe their side will ultimately prevail, killing off all opposition, and ushering in liberal utopia? Because it's certainly not a reasoned bipartisan approach at all. They get elected to power, and immediately start ramming their agenda down our throats like little dictators, without any regard for the law or the constitution, whatsoever. And it doesn't seem to matter how badly their ideas fail, they continue to push for more and more of the same. You try and have a reasoned debate with them here, and they just ridicule and hurl insults, refusing to be civil in any manner. I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime.

Then we have the Libertarians, who I happen to share many common viewpoints with, but these people tend to be whack jobs, who take everything to the most bizarre extremes, like the idea that we should just legalize heroin and disband our military entirely, and let society do whatever the hell it pleases, with no moral or ethical boundaries whatsoever. As with the left, you try to communicate with these people, and it's like talking to a brick wall. They are all about standing on their principles, and consequence be damned. Refusing to accept any other alternative than total and complete libertarianism, without consideration that 96% of the country aren't voting for libertarian government.

Finally, we have the glorious GOP... The Grand Old Party. Once was a time, I believed the Republicans were the party who represented my viewpoints the best, and I have been a fairly consistent supporter of the party in recent years. However, what I see today makes me absolutely sick at my stomach. The current crop of mealy-mouthed leaders, have simply abandoned every conservative principle for the sake of trying to cater to special interest groups and minorities, none of which are ever going to vote Republican, because they never have. They have bailed on illegal immigration, nationalized health care, defense, taxes... you name it, if Bohner can cave on it, he's proven he will. McCain and Graham are running around acting like New Age Democrats, lecturing the rest of the right on how we have to be this way now, or else there will be hell to pay come election time...but....it's not about politics, noooo!

I used to think I could vote for Chris Christie, but he has pretty much cooked his goose, trying to be a "moderate" and play both sides of the fence, whenever it's convenient. I thought for a while, maybe I could support Rubio, he seemed like the "future" of the GOP, but he sold out on the so-called "immigration" bill, which was just outright amnesty. I liked Ron Paul for a bit, until he went totally batty during the 2008 primaries. I like a lot of what Sarah Palin has to say, but I think the presidency is a bit over her head. I am never in my life, going to vote for another Bush, sorry Jeb. I'm down to Ted Cruz, who simply has no experience to speak of, and Rand Paul, who came from the seed of a nutball. So, I am thinking the Republican party might not be the answer.

I'm simply a man without a party at this time, and it's a bit frustrating, to say the least. I'm only reassured by the fact that I don't believe I am alone. I think a growing number of people who are like myself, are disillusioned and searching for an answer, but where is it?

Good. Parties are a plague and one of the few things that I would outlaw through government if I had the chance even though I would identify a libertarian (small ‘l’ as eflat calls it).

What you are describing is the singular mindset and rot that comes with it of being a partisan hack that is unable to support anything that the chosen party has not rubber stamped.

I will say that you are now free to view politicians based on positions and voting record alone rather than party. The party is irrelevant.

 

[Sallow]

Well, kids.....

It's time you found out something your parents should have told you....

There is no such thing as 'perfect'.

Have a nice day

First sensible thing you've posted.

There is hope.

 

[editec]

I don't get the Democrats, Republicans, or Libertarians!

I do.

But different members of those tribes are members for different reasons.

Some are members because they stupid enough to believe their propaganda.

Others are members because they are the propagandists benefitting from the system.

NO real NATIONALISTS are in power, folks.

That is the very FIRST thing you need to understand about our parties.

 

[Edgetho]

A "Constitutional Conservative"?

That's sort of an Oxymoron.

The Constitution is not a conservative document.

As usual, Callow.

Everybody gets it but you.

Nobody said the Constitution itself was/is Conservative. But the person who might like the Constitution to be interpreted as it was written usually is.

Unlike the idiots on the left who claim it's a "Living Document"

You're like Pavlov's dog

 

[NightFox]

The Constitution is not a conservative document.

Preservation of established institutions, traditions and standards, constitutional strict constructionism falls into that category thus "constitutional conservative" is not an oxymoron if one stops and thinks about what the phrase is intended to mean by those professing to follow the doctrine.