Political Party Loyalty: Is it just about supporting your favorite team?

[IdaBriggs]

I'm an Independent. I'm contrary, and have publicly admitted to voting for a woman on the ticket if I don't know enough about a candidate to influence my vote one way or another. My social views are Liberal / Progressive, while my fiscal policy is pretty much "conservative." I fully support Big Government (teachers, police, firemen, meat inspectors, etc.), and support my military, while being horrified at the thought of any member of my family serving in it. (I don't like careers where killing people is part of the job.) I like the idea of unions, but get concerned about the actual implementation of it, probably because of hearing too many family stories about union corruption.

I find the current crop of National Republicans to be despicable worms who should be publicly flogged; there is nothing good to be said about these vile and corrupt degenerates. The National Democrats appear to be one step above useless, as they at least periodically present the illusion they give a damn. The third parties have earned my gratitude, but haven't proven they can govern.

I never got involved politically until 2004; as an Independent, I always believed it was the responsibility of the two parties to find the best candidates, and present them for my viewing pleasure. I did my homework before 2000, and voted for Gore; by 2004, I was a Precinct Captain for Kerry.

But I'm still stuck. I won't blindly support ANYBODY. I don't cheer for someone just because they are a Democrat, or a Republican. I want good ideas from a lot of different sources, and I want to believe that despite differing opinions, all the folks in Washington are looking out for the long term best interests of my country, and by extension, the rest of the world.

Note the key words: WANT TO BELIEVE. Obviously, reality is different from what I want to believe, and I am well enough informed to have figured that out.

But not everyone else has. I think at some level that membership in a political party is almost more of a social event for some people; they pledge their loyalty to the Party, and they don't care if the values of the Party match up with their own. They spout platitudes about "strength and courage" and actually pretend to believe them, because learning differently is too much work.

George W. Bush has far more in common with Charles Manson than Jesus Christ, and yet, the Republicans really don't seem to notice. Perhaps they think this is simply an off year, and their team will get better, so they'd better keep cheering them on.

I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. I know some people who profess to being believers in the ideals spouted by the Republicans, and my respect for them is darn near nil; I consider them ... delusional, and view their ongoing support of their party in a contemptuous fashion.

And I still struggle to understand them. My latest analogy is that of a sports team.

There are teams that win play offs and championships once a century, if they are lucky, and yet they still have both fans, and a sizable profit from their merchandising. The "loyalty" is something to be respected, because heaven knows its not always earned.

Is this the "magical explanation" for Republican AND DEMOCRATIC Party loyalists? A "true fan" will not turn his back on his team no matter what scandals surface; he will simply hope for things to get better.

I'm not a fan of Party Politics; I'm too practical for such blind loyalty. I want results. I'm not going to jump on your bandwagon if I think you are wrong just because someone else says I should. If you don't support the things I want, I'm not going to vote for you, and I'm not going to give you money, either.

Right now I want George W. Bush and his Corrupt Cabal IMPEACHED, IMPRISONED & IMPALED. I'll settle for two out of three, but if I'm not hearing someone promise to do everything they can to make those things happen, I'm not going to play along "just because putting Democrats in charge is good." If I can't tell the difference between the two parties, then why bother?

But then again, I've never been a sports fan, so perhaps I'm missing something.

Comments?