Reflections on the political journey of this independent:

[LWolf]

disclaimer: These are my thoughts, my thoughts alone, and I'm sharing them. They are what they are, and I don't need anyone to try to correct them for me, and I don't need you to agree with them or change them. They are mine. My thoughts, and I'm sharing them, for any who have an interest. If you don't, move on.

Until 2000, I was an independent. Never, in my 40 years, registered with a political party, and I liked it that way. A firm distrust of politics, and a belief that political parties are corrupt beyond redemption, and the simple fact that I am a "loner:" personally, professionally, spiritually, politically, socially. Some of that comes from the way I was raised, some is just who I am, at the core.

Still, I generally voted for Democrats. I never voted for republicans, if I could help it. There were times, living in a republican stronghold, that there were no other choices on the ballot for local races.

I figured that Democrats were a lot closer to where I stood politically, so they were my best choice. Along the line I heard about 3rd parties; I found them intriguing, and hoped that they would become strong enough to break the stranglehold the 2-party system holds our nation in. I cast a vote their way, when I felt they offered up a superior candidate. It wasn't about "winning." It was about expressing my political desires in our democratic republic, rather than allowing them to be muffled by the majority.

In 2000 I voted for Gore. I liked Gore. He wasn't the "lesser of 2 evils" for me. My vote was for Gore, not against Bush. We all know what happened. That single event catapulted me off the sidelines and into party politics. I truly believed, all the way until the moment the Supreme Court selected GWB, that Gore would be President. I was wrong. Then came Bush. Iraq. NCLB. I can say that those 3 things: the selection, the use of 9/11 to promote war in Iraq, and NCLB, moved me to register as a Democrat. I did so in January of '03, in the lead-up to war.

For two years, '03, '04, I did "meetups." I wrote letters, campaigned, demonstrated, donated, and did everything I could to be politically active. I felt the stirrings of disquiet at the '04 convention. I really disliked what I discerned to be a pro-war mood. Between the speeches and the "free speech cage," and the eviction of Medea Benjamin, I began to doubt. Still, even though I didn't really want Kerry in the WH, I cast my vote. This time, not for Kerry per se, but against GWB. We all know what happened.

In the 2 years since, I've become more and more disenchanted with party politics. The constant excuses about why mainstream democrats couldn't, wouldn't, or shouldn't, openly oppose the bush administration. The mounting votes; after IWR and patriot act, there was torture, bankruptcy, and so many more. The refusal of the party to stand against NCLB, which is destroying public education, and the reluctance to stand decisively against the war.

In November, the Dems won a majority. Woo hoo. Now we'll see them take it to the Bush admin; rebuild the civil liberties lost, hold the Bush administration legally accountable for their crimes, end the mess in Iraq and bring our people home.

Except I keep hearing more prevarications. When there are democratic reps who actually do the things I became a democrat to support, they are patronized, marginalized, ignored, and opposed. By their own party. In my opinion, the Democratic Party works hard to keep their best out of power.

So what's the point? Being a democrat has not changed anything for the better. I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I don't particularly appreciate being the wing of the party that is patronized, marginalized, ignored, ridiculed, and taken for granted. When I say so, I'm somehow a traitor. If I keep quiet, my votes are taken for granted as if I "owe" them regardless. I will continue to speak up. I'm just concerned. My voice seems to be valued more outside the party than from within.

I'm obviously a better independent than I am a democrat. I liked the party better when I stood on the outside. I'm still a registered Democrat, but I don't feel any enthusiasm or energy for the political process at this point. :shrug:

[caseycoon]

1. Personally...

I'm waiting til January to see if/when some good things will start happening.
I'm hoping, but not holding my breath. For me it's become difficult to have faith in politicians.
:shrug:

[LWolf]

2. Check back in at the end of January,

and let me know how you think things are going!

I don't have faith in the political process, let alone the politicians, at this point. I haven't lost faith in people, but I don't think we're going to move forward as long as our systems and processes are corrupt.

We're constipated, lol.

[Pithy Cherub]

3. You love

Harry Potter - that makes you A-ok in my book!

Maybe, use it this way Harry hated the Ministry of Magic, but worked within the system to the points that he could and improvised when he had to while watching a flawed Dumbledore work within the system and using his intellect to do so. Be a participant the Potter Way, I didn't say Dumbledore, because, well, you know what, um, happened at his own discretion.

Be not discouraged - we probably won't like the same candidates, but our lives are determined by our choices. You are a Gryffindor, right?
:)

[LWolf]

5. Heh.

Gryffindor or Raven; the sorting hat won't choose, lol.

I thought Dumbledore worked the system pretty cleverly. His final choice will be judged at the end, I'm sure. ;)

I don't mind working within the system when I think there's a real chance to make a difference. When the system is broken or rigged, though, that's another story. I see the political process as both. I'm here to oppose what I see as dysfunction. I'm just one person, though. If enough people opposed that dysfunction, things might begin to shift. :D

[welshTerrier2]

4. great post ...

i think you speak for many of us LWolf ... i think the Dems return to power will likely result in many good changes but, overall, there is still far too much weakness on the big issues ... if a majority of Congressional Dems back sending more troops to Iraq and give bush tens of billions of dollars more to keep the occupation going, i'm not sure how much longer I'll remain in the Party either ... i keep hoping the Dems will stop acting out of fear and defensiveness but they never seem to ... maybe they just haven't fully realized we're in the majority now ...

great post ... K&R !!

on edit: oops ... too late to "R" ... have to just "K" ....

[LWolf]

6. This is an opportunity to show us

that when we "win" we actually "win" on issues. Since Iraq is the issue that drove the November shift, I'd expect some positive action, wouldn't you?