Serious question (not trying to bait anyone). What do you make of the rise of Independents?

[moriah]

33. I've known several, and they're a mixed bag.

In my state, Arkansas, we had the problem that confused the hell out of people trying to analyze the 2004 Florida panhandle for fraud a little longer -- the state-level races have traditionally only been competitive during the Democratic primary, as especially in rural counties the Republican party didn't even try. Yet those voters will often end up voting Republican in the election for federal candidates in the general, even if the only local candidates they knew are running as Democrats so they voted in that primary.

The Republican party has now built up more, but because we don't have to declare a party in advance or even just be unaffilated to vote in either primary (probably because of people wanting to be able to have influence in local politics without giving up their primary party affiliation), people see voter registration as more important than declaring a party. It truly doesn't matter here what's on your card, it's a vanity plate for all it's worth. You make the ballot choice of Republican or Democratic primary ballot st the polling place. Aka, true opem primary.

So, the mixed bag of nuts/fruits/people just used to how it is here:

1) My mother. She's technically unaffiliated. Votes Democratic at federal level, but says "it's about the person, not the party -- the last decent candidate they put up was McCain and he ruined his chances with me by choosing that dummy to be his VP, oh Tina Fey is so funny! Now, my favorite was Carter. I really liked him." Voted for Obama in the 08 primary, Hillary in 16. However, I must admit my mom has doormat syndrome. She's likely to say what she thinks people want to hear because she doesn't like disagreement. Middle-to-late Boomer.

2) My grandfather, when he was alive. My mother probably got the "It's the person, not the party" line from him. He said to me "Vote Republican when we need a war won, vote Democratic when we need the economy better." He missed Clinton's second term, but voted for Carter in 76 and 80, fell for the Willie Horton smear in 88, and had been quite intrigued by Perot during the debates. Wished Nixon hadn't been a crook because he thought Ford was too weak. Seemed to have equal respect and contempt for each party, but definitely DIDN'T think they were the same. Instead, felt the cycle of going from one party to another was a necessary part of the process, and each party had strengths and weaknesses. I think the realization that was a cynical view was why he was intrigued with Perot. Probably the precursor to views like the following:

3) My sister and brother-in-law -- unaffiliated, used to vote Democratic until 2008, now middle-age with no kids, a lot of chickens, and guns. Have been promoting "libertarian" views since the platform included cannabis legalization. Feels their vote for President doesn't matter in such a red state so third party is fine. Probably would vote Blue if in a swing state, part of why I hate the focus on "swing states". Disaffected, not really liking politics, definitely not liking taxes, but socially liberal.

4) An ex from an upper-middle-class but socially liberal family, Yankee transplant. Thinks vehemently Republican or vehemently Democratic people are both under the same delusions, that the people running in their parties actually care about the issues as much as they themselves do. Likes to stoke debate and pick on people who care either way. Complained about taxes and welfare, but stopped after getting called out on accepting WIC assistance with his first child (so hypocritical but at least ashamed of it). Has been single for a long time, but is contented enough with different hands for variety that while he's a hopeless flirt and often gets his heart broken, isn't unhappy with his current partners (aka, not an incel because he knows that's impossible, but definitely volunteers to help any ladies who feel they have that problem, especially when he knows it's just banter). Smokes a ton of reefer now, so again right now he's proudly Libertarian. But I wouldn't be surprised if his voting history was Nader, no vote in 04/08, then Johnson in '12 and I know in '16.

5) Too many to name: Socially conservative in views but poor so they like politicians helping the needy. Claim to not be interested in politics. Often thinly veiled racism. Usually quite religious, and for real. Aka, the old Dixiecrat-style voter who did vote for state Democrats because of trying to improve the state, but have wedge issues that if young have resulted in voting against their own self-interest federally their entire lives, potentially voted for Clinton "to make him leave" but really because he was their boy, possibly for Carter if they were alive then.