Exploring a theory about age and party loyalty

[scarletwoman]

33. Disllusioned/Proud seems like an odd dichotomy to me.

I'm 64 years old, and I've voted in every election (local, midterm, presidential) since I was old enough to vote. And I've always voted for whichever Democrat was on offer, on the basis that no matter how much the Democrat might suck, the Republican will always suck worse.

I can't say it's so much a matter of pride, as it is a matter of practicality. It's very much a matter of mitigating potential harm. I suppose I could be "proud" about desiring a mitigation of harm, but it seems to me that's rather thin sauce.

I can say that I'm proud to have voted for McGovern over Nixon, Mondale over Reagan, Wellstone over his two different Repug opponents, Mark Dayton for MN governor, Al Franken over that despicable weasel Coleman, Jim Oberstar repeatedly until that asshole Cravack defeated him in 2010, then Nolan over Cravack.

Other than those, I've always simply voted Dem because I would never, ever vote for a Republican. I don't see it as "pride" so much as principle.

The fact is, I AM quite disillusioned in general, and definitely cynical.

So, "disillusioned"? "Proud"? Both. My loyalty isn't to a party, it's to my personal principle of mitigating harm. So I'll be proud to vote for someone who supports the same principle, and disillusioned when I have to vote for someone who, at best, just isn't as awful as the alternative.

However, I WILL vote, and I will always vote for the Democrat.