Can You Be Both a Democrat and a Republican?

[Percivale]

I voted for four parties in the last election. I'm a member of the American Solidarity party, and there are other parties that are a mix of left and right, like the Alliance party and the Serve America movement.

 

[Hank77]

I've recently decided to embrace both parties simultaneously, and now consider myself bi-political (Democrat and Republican). I'm not centrist, I hold some far left beliefs and some far right ones... But I feel like the system is designed in a way that discourages this kind of thinking, and I am aware that there are even insulting terms used to describe such behavior, including "flip-flopper", "RINO", and "DINO".

But isn't it true that following the party line to a "T" just makes one a follower and pretty much a political tool? Hasn't this country been steadily growing more and more partisan? Haven't we been looking at the "other" in increasingly hostile ways? Hasn't radicalism seemed to manifest society in almost every facet lately..?

...So why not work toward ending this downward spiral of a trend, and as an exercise, pick out a topic or two from the party you're generally not, and see if you can embrace it. Or if there is already a topic that you've always kept undercover that the other party seems to hold..? Do you think it might be worth going ahead and breaking the mold for the good of the country..?

Many unaffiliated/independent (small I) fit this description. Overwhelmingly, voters from both parties that have left their long time party have reregistered as independent.

 

[Landon Caeli]

I voted for four parties in the last election. I'm a member of the American Solidarity party, and there are other parties that are a mix of left and right, like the Alliance party and the Serve America movement.

Variety is the spice of life... I think the members of these parties would be doing the country a service if they would use some of their financial contributions to create media platforms, whether it be cable news stations or media websites.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Many unaffiliated/independent (small I) fit this description. Overwhelmingly, voters from both parties that have left their long time party have reregistered as independent.

Posts #12 and 18 addresses this. Do you agree with the sentiment of posts 12 and 18..? Or do you disagree?

 

[Sophrosyne]

Surely only a fraction of ideals are polar opposite between the two parties. It doesn't necessarily mean that polar opposition must exist in a two party system. There can be different ideas altogether, and there can be shared opinions between the party's.

...In fact, the idea that Dems and Repubs are supposed to be polar opposite, is the very root of the problem we're facing..! It simply doesn't have to be so.

The problem is the party leaders WANT it to be that way, it makes it easier to control things when everything is black and white and when you have a huge advantage in the media you can "punish" those who don't toe the line in the sand that they conclude is there. If you vote for a party you vote for what they are almost guaranteed to vote for it has less to do with what ideas are in the heads of members but what ideas the leaders support that matters.
It isn't going to be more and more cooperative in Washington etc but rather less and less.
If you look at social media you will see how they scorn any idea of sharing opinions.

 

[Magnanimity]

Do you think it might be worth going ahead and breaking the mold for the good of the country..?

Our first two presidents very much feared and tried to warn the people against a two-party system. It would seem that they had good reasons to. Many Western countries have parliamentary systems of governments where multiple viable parties exist and coalitions have to be formed for the government's prime minister to lead. That seems to me a wiser system than this entrenched dualistic one that we have here in the U.S.

Indeed... I see myself as an *American*, and since Democrat and Republican are both American party's, I see myself as both.

...When I envision an Independent, I see someone who is 'neither'.

So the difference between being "Independent" and being "bi-political" is like the difference between positive and negative polarity in a political sense.

I have a few thoughts on the above. First, I'm not sure there is really a distinction that makes a difference between being independent and being bi-political. Maybe you should flesh it out a little more. I don't see a difference between the concepts as you've discussed them above.

In some important respects, the distinctions between the two U.S. parties are minimal. Republicans/Democrats clearly don't care much about deficit spending or increasing debt. It's been the order of business for a long while now. (President Clinton was the last US pres to have a balanced budget, I believe, and even then it took strong pressure from the GOP in Congress to pull that off.) Also, both parties are committed philosophically to neoliberalism. As in, capitalism has won over both parties--it's just a question of being "Keynesian" or more laissez-faire in one's capitalism. Both parties are massively funded by wealthy corporations and individuals. Both seem very unconcerned with reducing the vast wealth inequality in this country...and on and on it goes.

To me, the two parties feel like flip sides of the same coin, much closer to each other than they are far apart. True, there are individuals who are far right within the Republican caucus (e.g., Rand Paul who leans libertarian), and there are far left within the Democratic caucus (e.g., Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez). But the huge majority seem to me much closer to the center and seem to mirror each other, being either a bit left of center or a bit right of center. But, if you are in Congress, you must decide to caucus with one of the two parties or you won't be able to have much influence. (Sanders, though an Independent and a Democratic-Socialist, still caucuses with Democrats.)

Additionally, any free-thinking person will be "bi-political" because on any broad issue-area, that person will follow the evidence and arguments wherever they might lead. If you simply tow a party line, you're not a free-thinker. I think this becomes evident on the "life" issues. Neither party in the U.S. is consistent on life issues. The below is a list of some life issues that greatly affect both a right to life and one's quality of life.

Abortion
Childcare
Education
Healthcare
Taxation
Prison-system
End of life issues (capital punishment, natural death, euthanasia, assisted-suicide, nursing homes, hospice)

Depending on the particular life issue from the list above, I align more with the Democratic party. And if considering a different one, I align more with the Republican party. And then on some of these issues, neither party seems to care very much (e.g., neither party makes the rich/corporations pay a "fair share" in taxes).

 

[Hank77]

But being independent is to exist outside the parties... Kind of like being in limbo, which seems disengaged, and has kind of an empty feeling to it, if you know what I mean.

...But to be bi-political, if it is possible, would be equivalent to being "everything"... Being 'whole' with 'all' of politics... But you're right about the opposing views, that is an obstacle I'm trying to work out.

This is your opinion and feelings, I don't feel that way at all.

Indeed... I see myself as an *American*, and since Democrat and Republican are both American party's, I see myself as both.

...When I envision an Independent, I see someone who is 'neither'.

So the difference between being "Independent" and being "bi-political" is like the difference between positive and negative polarity in a political sense.

You see an independent as neither what? Neither D or R?
What do you mean by + and - polarity?

 

[Albion]

I've recently decided to embrace both parties simultaneously, and now consider myself bi-political (Democrat and Republican)...So why not work toward ending this downward spiral of a trend, and as an exercise, pick out a topic or two from the party you're generally not, and see if you can embrace it.

So...you've become an Independent. There's nothing unusual in that.

As for your question about being flexible, yes, that makes sense. However, it makes just as much sense to vote straight D or R, so long as you agree with the platform and past performance of one or the other of those parties.

What isn't as defensible IMHO is voting straight party without paying much attention to what those people will do if elected to office. Unfortunately, that does describe too many of our voters.

 

[Landon Caeli]

So...you've become an Independent. There's nothing unusual in that.

As for your question about being flexible, yes, that makes sense. However, it makes just as much sense to vote straight D or R, so long as you agree with the platform and past performance of one or the other of those parties.

What isn't as defensible IMHO is voting straight party without paying much attention to what those people will do if elected to office. Unfortunately, that does describe too many of our voters.

But by definition, the very term "independent", in politics, means "to not be affiliated with" a particular party... But I am affiliated with the Democratic and Republican party's. I am both, Democrat and Republican, so I cannot be considered independent from those party's. Therefore, I am not an independent.

 

[Sophrosyne]

So...you've become an Independent. There's nothing unusual in that.

As for your question about being flexible, yes, that makes sense. However, it makes just as much sense to vote straight D or R, so long as you agree with the platform and past performance of one or the other of those parties.

What isn't as defensible IMHO is voting straight party without paying much attention to what those people will do if elected to office. Unfortunately, that does describe too many of our voters.

I agree that for one party it has become almost mandatory to "toe the line" and the other is having to also pressure that too as defecting votes have favored one party too much over the other. In other words someone that has spoken certain beliefs even if you agree with them, voting for them based upon their beliefs may be a waste of time if they are afraid to stand behind them once they get in office. In that thinking voting party lines is more becoming the truth these days than individuals due to there is little to no difference in the result.

 

[Landon Caeli]

This is your opinion and feelings, I don't feel that way at all.

But that's exactly what independent means... To be separated from the party's.... Whereas to be "bi-political", means to be an actual member of both party's, and not independent.

You see an independent as neither what? Neither D or R?
What do you mean by + and - polarity?

Yes, independent means you are not affiliated with either party... That is the polar opposite of being affiliated with both party's... Also, positive and negative poles are naturally attracted to one another, and often "appear" to be the same, which explains why some here might be having difficulty distinguishing the two... But upon deeper reflection, you will come to see that one is all "accepting" while the other is all "rejecting".

 

[Albion]

But by definition, the very term "independent", in politics, means "to not be affiliated with" a particular party... But I am affiliated with the Democratic and Republican party's.

You hold (paid) membership in both parties?

 

[Guinan]

I've recently decided to embrace both parties simultaneously, and now consider myself bi-political (Democrat and Republican). I'm not centrist, I hold some far left beliefs and some far right ones... But I feel like the system is designed in a way that discourages this kind of thinking, and I am aware that there are even insulting terms used to describe such behavior, including "flip-flopper", "RINO", and "DINO".

But isn't it true that following the party line to a "T" just makes one a follower and pretty much a political tool? Hasn't this country been steadily growing more and more partisan? Haven't we been looking at the "other" in increasingly hostile ways? Hasn't radicalism seemed to manifest society in almost every facet lately..?

...So why not work toward ending this downward spiral of a trend, and as an exercise, pick out a topic or two from the party you're generally not, and see if you can embrace it. Or if there is already a topic that you've always kept undercover that the other party seems to hold..? Do you think it might be worth going ahead and breaking the mold for the good of the country..?

I have a similar conundrum as you have, Landon Caeli. I've been seriously considering leaving the Republican Party and registering as an Independent. I registered as a Republican in 1992 and I've voted straight Republican up until the 2016 presidential election. I voted for a third party candidate in that election and I voted for Joe Biden in this election. Personally, I have felt like a lost sheep since Trump hijacked the Republican Party five years ago. I've opposed him with every fiber in me and I'll continue to do so, but that has made me an outsider among many of the conservatives I know in real life and among the majority of the ones I've encountered online. I won't fully support the Republican Party as long as Donald Trump still has his tentacles wrapped its neck, but I don't want to abandon the Republican Party altogether and go full-fledged Democratic liberal. I can't decide if registering as an Independent would be a happy medium for me or not. I seem to be at a loss at the moment.

 

[Albion]

I voted for four parties in the last election.

...which is what normally gets a person termed an "Independent." And if you also are a member of a minor party, the same term is usually used for that.

 

[Sophrosyne]

But by definition, the very term "independent", in politics, means "to not be affiliated with" a particular party... But I am affiliated with the Democratic and Republican party's. I am both, Democrat and Republican, so I cannot be considered independent from those party's. Therefore, I am not an independent.

An independent doesn't mean you reject both parties it just means that you don't align with either party's platforms more than the other and don't want to identify yourself as EITHER one OR the other.
Independents often find themselves almost one party or the other but find a few items in their platform are "deal-breakers".

 

[Landon Caeli]

You hold (paid) membership in both parties?

Next month I will have paid memberships in both parties. Yes.

 

[Albion]

But that's exactly what independent means... To be separated from the party's.... Whereas to be "bi-political", means to be an actual member of both party's, and not independent.

Does anyone but yourself use that term ("Bi-political")?

Next month I will have paid memberships in both parties. Yes.

Well, that is unusual, but possible, I agree. Just don't let either one know it if you want to be personally involved in party activities.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Does anyone but yourself use that term ("Bi-political")?


Well, that is unusual, but possible, I agree. Just don't let either one know it if you want to be active in party doings.

Bi-Political sounds too much like Bi-Polar to me.

 

[Landon Caeli]

An independent doesn't mean you reject both parties it just means that you don't align with either party's platforms more than the other and don't want to identify yourself as EITHER one OR the other.
Independents often find themselves almost one party or the other but find a few items in their platform are "deal-breakers".

Take immigration as an example. What if I want new rules set into place, but I want them to be followed and enforced... That's what both parties want.

Say for example, I want to help ween automobiles off oil, and care for the environment in an economically healthy way that impacts corporations and consumers minimally... That's both Democratic and Republican.

...Can you see how I can accept both Democratic and Republican platforms simultaneously? While saying I align with both party platforms evenly..?

This is how someone can be both Democrat and Republican. I want them both to succeed.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Does anyone but yourself use that term ("Bi-political")?


Well, that is unusual, but possible, I agree. Just don't let either one know it if you want to be personally involved in party activities.

I invented it, as far as I know.