Hey, political people

I would tend to agree. People have become so hyper focused on that stupid letter next to an elected official's name, that they will twist themselves in to pretzels to justify anything thy do, no matter how much they disagree with it deep down. The problem is people become emotionally invested in their choice and can't seem to see past that. I do not really follow either of the two main parties, the last guy I would have voted for in the Republican party (Ron Paul) retired last year. I campaign and vote for Libertarian party candidates, when applicable and worthy. In fact, I haven't voted for a D or an R in almost 10 years in national elections.

People are raised a certain way, and very often their upbringing strongly biases their opinions. they associate with a party based on that, and just follow the party line. Not all. I often find that if you can get past all the finger pointing and biases, you can have a pretty decent discussion, and you often find that the other side and you have a lot in common. Some things are really predictable though. For example, I can almost 100% guarantee that if I'm having a discussion with a Republican, and I mention cutting defense spending, they will immediately get indignant and ask me how I can advocate cutting military salaries. Did I say salaries? Nope, I did not. There is so much waste there. For example, MEADS, an air defense system that has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars, and is apparently never going to be operational. Or the F-35, another couple hundred billion, that is late, over budget, not living up to spec, in short, a failed program. But mention cutting military spending, and the flags go up, people get on the defensive, and watch out. And there is so much propaganda in the media, mainstream liberal, mainstream conservative, and if you only read one or the other you are going to get such a skewed vision of what's going on. Few people are able to think outside the box, and impartially consider other points of view. And even if they try, they may run into my English friend's favorite conundrum, cognitive dissonance, in which, a person's world view is compromised by "the facts" and their brain just won't let them believe it.

What do you mean "let your party think for you"? You KNOW what 'the party' is, yes? A group of other 'people' (presumably just like you ... you did JOIN 'the party' for that reason), yes? If a group of other people just like you finds it convenient to think 'a certain way' about something, isn't it more-convenient to think 'that way' too until extenuating circumstances change your mind?

You know. I never imagined that US and my small country could have the same problems. The politicians wandering around and all of that. Did any day will stop this?