Why are people Democrats or Republicans?

Basically it is the "Wizard of Oz" syndrome: Some people are Democrats because they have no Brain. Some people are Republicans because they have no Heart. Some people are Independents because they have no Courage. But whatever you do ... "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"!!!

It would be great to have a more accurate representation of the populace in Congress and in the White House. The US is not truly all Red or Blue. We're really mostly kinda Purplish. The problem is that too many of us think a third-party vote is a wasted vote, and what makes that even more sad is that as long as most people think this is true, it will be true. If the more moderate and less corruptible parties can't get some serious turnout at the voting booth, the parties who currently have all the power will keep that power. The two major parties also take action to make things harder for anyone else to get a real voice.

Below is your question: Why do people vote for someone because of their political party?Shouldn't we vote for the best person no matter what party they're in? Both parties are so alike now,you can only tell the difference in them by which lie they told. Instead of voting for someone that might come closest to what we want,why don't we find someone that wants what the majority of the people want? Right now,our President and Congress don't seem to care about the American people,so why do we keep electing them to office? So why are you Democrat or Republican?Why aren't we all Independents? Below is my answer: maybe you want to consider socialism or communism too..

Because Democrats are mostly liberals and Republicans stand for conservatism. Liberalism becomes libertine, conservatism goes to the right. It is two different values with the extreme democrats saying everything goes, the rich give their money to the poor, with the extreme republicans saying that the rich keep their money. The Republicans favor that all men are created equal, the Democrats that some need to be more equal that others because of their race, religion, or gender preference. The Republicans Believe in God and Jesus Christ, Democrats believe that man is greater than God. These are extremes so it depends on what side you stand for.

I am a Republican - why? Mt late husband had problems with his military pension that he was entitled to. He was eligible for a disability pension due to a service connected disability. No matter what we did it we couldn't get it straightened out. I was in the process of becoming a US citizen at the time. A friend recommended that we contact our congressman to see if he could help us. We did - it was Paul Findley, Republican Congressman from Illinois. He worked tirelessly on my husbands problem and got it sorted. When I got my citizenship and had the right to vote in a Primary Election and they asked me what party ballot I wanted I said REPUBLICAN. In the General Elections though I look at the person and usually vote a mixed ballot - both Democrat and Repulican. Paul Findley was a great Congressman and he is a dear dear Gentleman. He can be classed as being solely responsible for me declaring myself as a Republican. Thank you Paul

I wish I can hear a little bit about Nader. But I think it is all about Republican or Democrats.

The second question is just too simplistic. You see, that's the problem. We all have different views on who the 'best person' is. We all have different beliefs. Different ideals. It seems that the majority are getting what they want, since the candidate with the majority of votes always wins. However, we can't just leave out the minorities and pretend they don't exist. That's just insensitive. After all a minority can be a 48.3%, like the ones who voted against Bush in 2004. I'll agree that you can partially judge a candidate based on the lies he told, but also on the actions he has taken. Whether or not it was effective. Whether or not it stands by my beliefs. That's what's truly important.

I've always considered myself an Independent and want to be able to vote for whoever I feel is the right person for the job.

I'm 100% with you on this one. I can't stand that people blindly vote for their parties and not for the person. I'd love to have a 3 or 4 party system but I doubt it will happen in our lifetime as the system is so structured to favor a 2 party system. I think most Dem's and Rep's stick with their party because of core issues though. It is really refreshing to see people like Sen. Chuck Hagel who have an opinion different than their party and aren't afraid of that.

I was a lifelong Republican, till the Republican Party left me back in the early '90's. I got so angry with them that I switched over to the Democratic Party and voted for Clinton/Gore first time around. Two weeks after they took office I felt like I should get a big tube of KY out and bend over. They broke every campaign promise they had made. I actually steamed over this to the point of sitting out the '96 election. But eventually my own conscience wouldn't let me continue to sit out elections. So I began searching for a Party to affiliate myself with. Since the Democrats and the Republicans are now pretty much alike that you can't tell the difference, they might as well be Demopublicans and Rebublicrats. Eventually I did find a party that I felt comfortable with, The Libertarian Party. They hold to the vision for America that the Founding Fathers held. I've been a Libertarian for over a decade now and when I do vote I try to vote for the person that is the best candidate, no matter what affiliation they have.

I've always tried to look out for the little guy and I think that's what most Democrats do. I have a friend who has gone to the far right wing and he's become an arrogant , smug self rightoeous boor. I think the two party system is neccesary. It keeps things in balance.