Historically, there have been authoritarian societies that placed Party Loyalty above all else.

[hunter]

54. There is no authority worthy of respect...

... but for that authority based in experience, talent, or science.

All the other sorts of "authority" are best defused or avoided.

One generally respects parents and teachers because they are experienced.

One respects artists because they are talented.

One respects science because it is tested.

All other "authorities" are highly suspect and must be challenged.

Anyone who can't answer "why?" (including parents, teachers, artists, and scientists) is probably hiding something and not worthy of respect as an authority.

For parents, "Because I said so!" is only a temporary placeholder demanding further attention at a later time.

Yep, my wife and I did pull the "Because I said so!" card when our kids were teens, but we'd always come to some sort of understanding later. Thus our kids escaped some of the trouble we ourselves experienced as teens.

I personally support Democrats because that's the way our stupid political system works. The Republican Party is rotten. Mitt Romney would have been another nightmarish president along the lines of Nixon, Reagan, or the Bush family zombies. Obama is a competent executive for the twisted Republic I happened to be born in.

Personally I'm a socialist environmentalist, and a fairly radical sort at that, but I'm never going to split the Democratic vote if there is some possibility of some authoritarian or otherwise twisted Republican being elected.