Are "independent voters" ignorant or egotistical or liars?

[stavka]

Maybe there are people who don't have any issues in their lives and just be-bop through life and every election is like a new experience...I doubt it.

I can't put into my frame of mind how anybody can be an independent or undecided voter on the national issues?

I get frustrated when people say they are independents, and yet our national elections suggest really almost nobody like that exists - and nobody questions people in public media situations about it.

I mean - if you have voted Republican all your life, and can provide an explanation as to why you have - you aren't an independent, nor are you undecided this time.

I think it is a notion that exists to reinforce the illusion of some democratic color to our process.

I have never met an independent in my life.

[GreenArrow]

1. deleted

.

[IronLionZion]

2. Hey!

I'm independent but not undecided nor ignorant. I'm voting straight ticket Dem but that's just for this election since the Repubs running are so damn evil. Every election is a new experience, especially at the local level. Do you hate me for supporting a good honest Republican in this year's congressional primaries who lost to a rich drugged out buffoon?

I have supported Republicans and Democrats. and many people have crossed party lines especially this year. There are loads of Republicans and Independents for Kerry.

And there are more of us than you think.

[stavka]

5. I can agree on the local level...

I can see myself voting for just about anybody on a local issue, but we are getting "The independent voter is going to decide this election." shoved down our throats.

If somebody is going to decide an election for me, I'd like some real proof they exist.

[IronLionZion]

8. Diebold exists

so does Jeb Bush

[Robbien]

9. I believe you are confusing Independents with undecideds

Undecideds are those people who are just not paying attention to politics because they are either too self-involved or believe politics do not make a difference.

These are the people who on Jay Leno's Man on the Street interviews couldn't guess Bush's first name nor guess who the Vice President is.

[stavka]

11. Hence my be-bopping through life possibility....

[Robbien]

3. I turned Independent when both parties turned corporate

My leanings are progressive, but the Democratic party is not progressive and has not been for years and years. So for about twenty five years or so, there has not really been a party which represents my views.

[stavka]

7. I'm with you on that....

This election is the first I will be voting for a Candidate I don't like, trust, or have any real respect for.

He's still got my vote (and some of my money - but frankly, I backed pretty much all the other guys, and a gal before him)

[librechik]

4. power trippers--they like the attention n/t

[bluestateguy]

6. Suggested reading

http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/4996.html



The authors here essentially argue that self-identifed "independents" are usually Democratic or Rrepublican partisans. There are very few true independents.

[goju]

10. Pretty harsh language

"ignorant or egotistical or liars"?

How bout, they just dont find one party that represents them?

Im not one, but I know a few. They are none of those things you describe. A couple I know remain unaffiliated and never donate to any party. They dont take part in polls, dont preach their issues, but probably know more about all candidates local, state, and national than I know about 1 candidate. They are the essence of what I think a truly informed citizen should be.

Dont diss independents. They are, after all, open minded enough to keep their options open.

[Krasnaya Lastochka]

12. "independent" and "undecided" are not the same thing

and I think most independents are just really disgusted with the pandering and partisan politicking of our parties. So am I, in fact. I am a devoted leftist, but not a *quote* "Democrat". The name of my party affiliation changes based on my mood...right now it's something like "the People's Socialist-Democratic Party of Peace and Justice."
BTW I am not "registered" to any party yet because...well....I'm not 18 yet. When I do register I will probably become a *quote* "Democrat".

[Carolina]

13. they're narcissists

who like the attention!

[AmyDeLune]

14. I registered

as an Independant because at that time, the behavior of both parties disgusted me. I had been going to register as a Dem, but then a huge mudslinging campaign started, one party just as bad as the other, and at age 18 I said, "Forget it! I don't want to be associated officially with either party!"

I generally vote Democrat though. ;)

(edited for heat-stroke induced spelling error.)

[stray cat]

15. Hi, You have now met an independent.

I am very proudly an independent voter for Kerry. I am a fiscal conservative and socially moderate. Where do I belong? However, the republican party no longer believes in preventing deficits and the democrats such as Clinton do so I will probably register as a democrat. I apologize for not voting in the last election because I believed the smear campaign against Al Gore and I liked Bush's compassionate conservative and humble foreign policy (so I admit he played me for a fool). However, the idea of voting for either made me sick.

This year everything has changed. An independent is just another voter who can be persuaded to vote for Kerry this year. This year independents need to unite with democrats and together maybe we can take back this nation. Welcome me. I love this nation and hate this president and am as motivated as any democrat to get rid of this president and defeat his social programs that promote only the top 2% income bracket.

[Lost147]

16. Independents are just those that could go either way

I just vote for who ever I agree with the most, the party names mean little to me. My scale use to be tipped over to the republicans how ever now after seeing what the Bush administration has done it will take quite a bit to win back my trust. Unless bush pulls some kind of miracle 180 and suddenely we're back in a time like the late 90's in the next few months Kerry has my vote.

Its also nice to be part of that 20% of the population that actually makes the real decision when it comes to elections.

[Eurobabe]

17. Now you've met another.

I left one of the parties in 1992. Don't like ideologies, therefore am happy to be an independent. I consider myself progressive on social and environmental issues, but fiscally conservative.

This is the first year I have ever donated $$ to Dem party, yet I do not 'label' myself as a Democrat. Just bought some buttons 'Independents For Kerry' -- category is real, believe me.

Plus in VA, we don't register by party, so we truly are all 'Indies.'

[stavka]

18. Aren't you really Democrat with fiscally conservative notions?

I am that way (oh - and anti-gun control - as that issue has been framed by either party)