Just registered as a Democrat!

We'd all be better off if the republicans picked the democratic primary winners and vice versa. We'd be able to get rid of the extremes on both sides.

Quote from 124nic8 : Is your purpose to pick the best candidate? Or to sabotage the Party with which you disagree?

My purpose would be to elect the candidate that most closely represents my views.

I don't mind casting my third party votes in the big races. For the house of representatives, I will game the shit out of my vote to maximize my impact. You are a pragmatist, right?

If I have the choice of either voting in the primary of the presumptive winning party and getting a guy with one more opinion on a major closer to mine, not voting in that primary (and others like me don't vote) and getting a guy with one less opinion on a major that I agree with representing me I'll vote in the primary of whatever party I think is going to win.

Quote from skiman : If you don't actually self-identify as X, it's dishonest to claim to be X. Whether or not someone has to be dishonest to gain access to a primary depends upon how the primary is structured. If it's strictly a closed primary, it would be dishonest for a non party member to claim to affiliate with the party solely for the purpose of accessing the primary. At the same time, I appreciate that this action is not malicious. It's a person voting for the candidate that he or she prefers rather than trying to sabotage some other party's primary process and actually reduce the availability of good candidates.

I don't think political party labels are extremely meaningful. Unfortunately, our system often requires us to pick one or the other (and not some third party) to have our voice heard in government.

Quote from dealgate : You glaringly point out what is wrong with our government; there is more then Ds and Rs! Where did I ever say that I was R? I am not. I also suggested that the Ds do the same as I am doing should the shoe be on the other foot. The only hope this country has is to break the 2 party system. In other words, we have no hope. So at least I can make a difference at a local level. Why should I, a part of the 1%ers who actually contributes to this country's income pool, not have a voice?

Then take your money and support third party candidates. That's what is missing - the financial backing. Corporations and people throw their money towards a candidate they think can win. You can start with local elections where you have the best chance of success. I've voted for democrats, republicans, independents, and one guy from the green party (he was local, I knew him and supported most of his platform).

Messing with a party's platform and primaries for your own agenda only gives weaker candidates in the long run.

Quote from StarNova : Then take your money and support third party candidates. That's what is missing - the financial backing. Corporations and people throw their money towards a candidate they think can win. You can start with local elections where you have the best chance of success. I've voted for democrats, republicans, independents, and one guy from the green party (he was local, I knew him and supported most of his platform). Messing with a party's platform and primaries for your own agenda only gives weaker candidates in the long run.

I support the Libertarian party. Both financially and with my vote. This will not affect that. The Libertarian party does not hold a primary.

Quote from dealgate : You glaringly point out what is wrong with our government; there is more then Ds and Rs! Where did I ever say that I was R? I am not.

Where did I say you are an R? I did not.

But you did say you have no voice cause the D always wins, so unless your district is very unusual, you won't have voice when the R wins either.

Quote : I also suggested that the Ds do the same as I am doing should the shoe be on the other foot. The only hope this country has is to break the 2 party system. In other words, we have no hope.

You have no hope as long as your actions subvert the system rather than convince others to agree with and vote for your policies.

Quote : So at least I can make a difference at a local level. Why should I, a part of the 1%ers who actually contributes to this country's income pool, not have a voice?

If you're part of the 1%, you actually have much more of voice, if you choose to use your excess wealth to influence your fellow voters. As it is now, your voice is just not the majorities'.

Nothing wrong with voting in the other guy's primary. Some states have a jungle primary in any case.

Indeed, California just set up a top 2 system that simply shuts the Republican party out of many congressional districts, and 2 Democrats appear on the November ballot.

As a result, those 2 Democrats have to compete for the 40% of the electorate that is Republican by distancing themselves from San Francisco extremists like Pelosi.

Quote from 124nic8 : Where did I say you are an R? I did not. But you did say you have no voice cause the D always wins, so unless your district is very unusual, you won't have voice when the R wins either. You have no hope as long as your actions subvert the system rather than convince others to agree with and vote for your policies.

"When the R wins"? I think you entirely are missing the point as to why this is an effective way to be heard. And with it being explained a dozen different ways in this thread and you still break it down into "D vs R" I fear you will never understand. This is unfortunate since you could also take advantage of this tactic.

Quote from 124nic8 : If you're part of the 1%, you actually have much more of voice, if you choose to use your excess wealth to influence your fellow voters. As it is now, your voice is just not the majorities'.

"Excess wealth" - HA! Good one! I am part of the 1% due to income, not due to wealth. You are equating wealth with income. I live in one of the "richest" counties in the country. That doesn't mean I live any better then anyone else does. We have 4 people living on my income. Try living on slightly over $100k with a close to $600k mortgage and all the other usual household and family expense. I guess I could move to a cheaper part of the nation with lower salaries but it is all relative.

Without MSM support, there is NO chance of ever becoming anything more then a 2 party nation headed towards the sewer. Do you have any idea at all what it costs to advertise? Ron Paul had a very good chance of getting the Republican nomination accept the media chose to minimize him. He had more support then any other candidate but was ignored and minimized to the point where in the end he was marginalized and forgotten.

And if Ross Perot could not form a viable 3rd party with his billions, how does anyone else stand a chance? You need to be a bit more realistic.

Im so confused.. Only 1.4 million americans make up the top 1% in terms of yearly income. AGI for top 1% is $376,000. adjusted gross income is after all regular deductions (basically head of household, children, and IRA). So your income is closer to like $400,000 at least if youre in the top 1%.

those with $400,000 typically have a lot of stock options and people doing investments for them, so their wealth is not limited strictly to a paycheck type "income" either.

Sorry to burst your bubble but youre nowhere near the top 1% unfortunately, top 10%?.... possibly.

Quote from Gotchaforce : Im so confused.. Only 1.4 million americans make up the top 1% in terms of yearly income. AGI for top 1% is $376,000. adjusted gross income is after all regular deductions (basically head of household, children, and IRA). So your income is closer to like $400,000 at least if youre in the top 1%. those with $400,000 typically have a lot of stock options and people doing investments for them, so their wealth is not limited strictly to a paycheck type "income" either. Sorry to burst your bubble but youre nowhere near the top 1% unfortunately, top 10%?.... possibly.

lol - you are correct I just looked it up. I thought the Democrats referred to anyone that paid a positive amount of taxes as the "top 1%". According to what I found, I am actually in the "top 5%".

Quote from dealgate : "When the R wins"? I think you entirely are missing the point as to why this is an effective way to be heard. And with it being explained a dozen different ways in this thread and you still break it down into "D vs R" I fear you will never understand. This is unfortunate since you could also take advantage of this tactic.

Did you read what I wrote? "Unless you live in a very unusual district...." either the D or the R will win.

If you think subverting the Dem Party will advance the cause of Libertarians, I highly doubt that.

Quote : "Excess wealth" - HA! Good one! I am part of the 1% due to income, not due to wealth. You are equating wealth with income. I live in one of the "richest" counties in the country. That doesn't mean I live any better then anyone else does. We have 4 people living on my income. Try living on slightly over $100k with a close to $600k mortgage and all the other usual household and family expense. I guess I could move to a cheaper part of the nation with lower salaries but it is all relative. Without MSM support, there is NO chance of ever becoming anything more then a 2 party nation headed towards the sewer. Do you have any idea at all what it costs to advertise? Ron Paul had a very good chance of getting the Republican nomination accept the media chose to minimize him. He had more support then any other candidate but was ignored and minimized to the point where in the end he was marginalized and forgotten. And if Ross Perot could not form a viable 3rd party with his billions, how does anyone else stand a chance? You need to be a bit more realistic.

If you're only making $100K, you're not 1%. That takes more than $300K.

Quote from dealgate : lol - you are correct I just looked it up. I thought the Democrats referred to anyone that paid a positive amount of taxes as the "top 1%". According to what I found, I am actually in the "top 5%".

http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/who...taxes.html

Chances are you are barely in the top 10%

I live in Baltimore City AND I am a registered Republican. I figure it's the easiest way to get out of jury duty, or can I register Democrat and still be (essentially) exempt from jury duty because I am white?

Quote from zzyzzx : I live in Baltimore City AND I am a registered Republican. I figure it's the easiest way to get out of jury duty, or can I register Democrat and still be (essentially) exempt from jury duty because I am white?

Oh we definitely need you to register Democrat! Make sure you are on mdshooters.com.