Why are Americans so divided on political parties.?
968493
I used to be a moderate but now I'm a flaming liberal. I used to be a moderate but how did I become such a liberal? When I saw that the conservative christian republicans are taking away my rights. My rights as a woman (freedom of choice), as a citizen (patriot act), as a free-thinking person. \n\nWhen Bush came to office he promised "I'm a uniter not a divider" but since then, he has alienized half of the country already. \n\nWhy are Americans so divided? When they feel their opinions don't count and their rights are being chipped away slowly.\n\nOh and reading "The Boot"'s entry, I highly doubt he has an advanced degree considering he couldn't spell the world "liberal".
765561
I voted Straight democratic ticket for the first time in my life, because I am fed up with the soaring national debt, the focus on the war on terror, focus on tax cuts instead of providing incentives for lower income Americans, the scandals in the Republican party, and the sad state of the American family values. I also feel that it is dangerous to have no checks and balances between the two political parties when one party dominates the legislative and executive branches of government. My primary source of information is the Internet. We do not have TV and I very seldom read newspapers.
1008151
this is mostly an answer from another question but very relevent here:\n\nit's not so much people opposed to people as it is politics vs. politics. thruthfully, there is a way to end this bullshit entirely...abolish all political parties and set term limits. let a person who is willing to take no salary hold office in the goverment...and most of all, take religon out of the goverment.\n\nit's a game meant to make u ask why "the other side disagrees and defend your own political views" that have been "indoctrinated into you" from the very people that you elect. we don't have the choice in this country to put a real honest concerned person in the white house. what we do have is a "filtered canidate from both partys" that will keep the status quo humming. think about this: if we all agreed there would be no need for this "form of goverment" and certainly no reason for Profit Politicians that us americans have been deluded into perceiving as "leaders". neither side has produced a REAL LEADER in decades and i mean decades...\n\nwe need to do away with politicians for hire, lobbyist's, and professional politicians. then we MAY have a chance to communicate with one another as equals\n\nif there's a war, it's internal and we're in and it's with the Party Politics and Politicians. problem is we're just the foot soldiers gunning for the other side...everyone of us!\n\nIn realting this to the World and Peoples of the World, it still boils down to inbred fighting that sidetracks us from the real issues, some of those listed here, but many more.\n\nthe deal is we could solve the majority of the worlds problems if we would shed the "failure to deliver" forms of government that we let control us into scurmish with eact other while the leaders pick our pockets.\n\nnow trun around and shoot your neighbor if he is not the same as you... keep being part of the problem   [i kid all mankind]
728844
Aren't something like 38% of Americans self-proclaimed independents who just align themselves with whatever party they agree with the most come election time?  So to answer your question, no, I do not think you are the only one unhappy with our wide open field of two party choices.
830204
because we're stupid. i hate the idea of 2 major political parties. part of divide and conquer ideology.\nsad sad sad
255720
because it simplifies the process.  We rarely get to know the two candidates ( actually there are more party affiliations) so we vote more on the group they represent.  It would be wise for us to pay more attention to the other options available: Libertarian, Independent, etc.  However, many of them do not even present a united standard.
507326
The only way I see americans voting someone other than the two leading parties is if a third party were to break away from one of the major parties. It's happened before. The Republican party was started from the Whig party. I could see \nAmericans voting for a third party who had a platform of ridding the government of rampant corruption and getting us out of Iraq.
705162
Both parties are the same and neither care about your interests. It's the unfortunate truth. Both parties run on the same platforms, socially and economically. The Republicans are in bed with big business and hurt the country for their gain, the Democrats are in bed with unions and special interests. Vote Nationalist.
807663
Good question!   I've been trying to figure that out for 50 years!  Each thinks they are the only one who is right about an issue.  And the "conservative" and "liberal" tags ?  Everyone has a little of each in them, depending on the issue.\n\nVoting a straight ticket (all one Party) is idiotic! (unless you know what each candidate in that Party stands for & you agree -- but I don't think anyone in this country EVER spends that much time debating the questions for themselves, personally)\n\nGOD  BLESS  AMERICA  (we need it!)
688953
No its your brain. Its the belief systems that create the divisiveness. Americans have always taken sides based on what they believe. Their party affiliation is a result of those beliefs not the other way around.
441201
We have a two party political system that has developed in our country.  In what we call our primary election, the two parties put up candidates that want to run for the presidency. Each party holds an election to see who will be the candidate for their party. Each party could have as many candidates as people that want to run. In the last election there were at least 6-8 democrats that ran to see if they could get elected from their party to fun against the republican party.\n\nNormally the party that is in office don't run anyone against the person that is occupying the office of president because they want to show unity. It is not to say that at sometimes others don't run it just that on a norm others don't run against a candidate that is already in the office.\n\nOnce the two parties have selected their candidates the two then run against each other to see who will be the president of the United States.\n\nEvery now and then you might find a third party candidate that have met a majority of the states requirements to run a third party candidate. This does happen a few times as we have several small parties that put up candidates like the Green party and Independent Party are the two most outstanding ones I know.\n\nThis is basically why we normally have two people running for the office of the presidency.\n\nOther countries such as England and France have a different system with lots of parties.\n\nI hope this will be of help to you, good luck
351183
Mainly nowadays political party is more accompanied to the political theory one believes in.  Democrats usually relate to liberalism - socialistic, focus on individualism, and freedom to do what you want so long as you don't hold back anyone from doing what they want.  Republicans usuually relate to conservatism - capitalistic, focus on conformitiy, and a strong national government.  Of course they can be switched up, but often not.  The main reason nowadays for political parties is to simply seperate yourself from the other side in order to present a solid political platform.
73572
Voting is a privelege. The United States of America is a nation Of The People, For The People, By The People. It all starts with elections. We elect the politicians who make the laws of the land. Democrats are a party who believe in big government and believe you don't have the capacity to think for yourselves. They put out big government programs that cost tons of money to cure societal problems "because you can't handle it". Republicans are a party who believe in small government. They believe in rewards for accomplishments. They want you to succeed on your own and be self sufficient. There ya go. If you don't vote then someone will be put in office that goes against your beliefs.
28444
In a brief nutshell, today's Republicans (the Good Old Party, GOP) are characterised by a want for 'smaller' government, a more agile (not necissarily bigger) military, and a connection with (usually religious) blue-color 'everyman' workers.  They believe in a government that is reflective of overarching, 'home grown' family values, as can be best seen in their "Contract With America". Democrats are more for creating a social welfare society, and believe that goverment should play a more active role in daily life (though not necissarily intrusive).  Many people brand this party as being 'liberal', which is actually a fairly new designation considering many Democrats (also known then as Dixiecrats) were opposed to 'liberal' civil rights reforms in the 1960s.  Further, whereas Republicans target typically older citizens, Democrats tend to lean towards younger, educated professionals (for example yuppies) and are a favorite on college campuses.  Unfortunately, in today's America politics has become frieghteningly divisive.  We can't even have a hurricane (I cite Katrina) without people pulling out 'Repbulican this' or 'Democrat that'.  Further, the two parties aren't helping the matter either.  Whenever someone does something wrong (For example a Republican President or Democratic governor), it is suddenly the fault of the entire party, and not just that one person.  You seem educated enough to visit each party's website and read their platform.  Skip over anything with the word 'Iraq' or 'terror' in it (because these are in the spotlight, and are likely to be uselessly full of propogand) and instead read your opinions on issues that effect your daily life, such as public education, health care and taxes.  I think you (and many other people) would be surprised at how much the two parties actually agree on, but with different routes.
815713
That's part of the problem for both sides. To try and convey a platform, they have both become too extremist. Most Americans are NOT extremists... but more moderate. I would love for there to be a third party with legitimate candidates and real strength. I think we would have a better government.
1163455
People that think for themselves, and don't blindly follow the platform positions of ANY political party are "best."  While much of one's thoughts may line up with a particular party, it's not very likely that any one party will agree with everything a particular individual cares about...\n\nMore people who actually think about their stands on issues and less sheep following the herd would be a good thing for America!
1178868
Potentially, there would be NO restrictions that would limit or refuse the coming of a 3rd political party. In fact, the history of the United States has actually had 3 political parties yet one of them seemed to always fail. (This was easily seen in the 1800's while Americans continued to establish their democracy).\n\nToday, we know this "3rd" political party as the "Independents." Independents claim they do not pick and choose which party they want to belong to. Instead, they "supposedly" agree with neither the Democrats or the Republicans. They are a party of themselves and create new ideas that do no lean to one side or the other. Some might even consider the Independents as the "middle" man.\n\nHowever, because the U.S. is so politically divided, the Independents rarely make it into office due to their scattered infrastructure and organization. Because in a political system that either goes one way or not, a majority of citizens find it hard to "come between." This isn't to say that this cannot exist, but it's difficult. It's like the ole saying, "You're either with us, or against us."