I registered as an Independant when I moved, simply to avoid getting all of the annoying political calls at election time. I vote as a Democrat, though.

My wife is an Independent. She loses some choice. But as an independent she builds a constituency in the center, which both parties have to fight to please.

If Independents did not exist, then the parties would have to spend most of their time energizing the craziest factions of their own party in order to generate the highest turnout. This is mostly what the Republicans are doing right now and it's going to kill them in the election.

OP again.

To 13:51 -- Of course I am pro-choice on this. Exercising my right to say I disagree with your choice in no way denies your right to make that choice. Actually, all I meant to do was ask for an explanation of a choice I don't understand.

To 14:20 -- You are right that I'm inside the beltway, and in fact in DC. So in my case the primary is usually the real election and I'd be especially foolish not to register in some party. But then I often vote Independent in November, and make my statement when it counts.

If I were outside the beltway, say in Iowa, I would sure as hell have been a registered Republican intent on attending the Caucuses.

BTW, I suspect that your 20% hypothetical may be what has driven the GOP off the right-wing edge of the earth.

Anonymous wrote:In another thread, someone just wrote about dropping his/her party registration because of unhappiness with the both parties. I find this incomprehensible since registering with a party commits you neither to work for nor vote for that party. But it does entitle you to vote in that party's primary to help determine who will run. I just don't see a downside to registering, whereas not registering gives up half of your right to vote (in most states).

The most contradictory thing about it is complaining about the parties, and then dropping out of the elections that could help remedy the problems. Unless you are a journalist, or have some other reason why you do not want public identification with a party, what is gained by dropping registration?

terrifically inside-beltway thinking here. hypothetical--if 20% of a party left to go independent, wouldn't that send a powerful message? I'm the one who bolted, only when I got to a point where I actually read the platform and it reinforced that I disagree with more than 1/2 the party's philosophy. If we had a parliamentary system I'd have a home, and I may rejoin when either Republicans come to their senses or Dems stop their demagoguing. In the meantime I've in a small way made a statement. You get it or you don't--no matter.

Anonymous wrote:In another thread, someone just wrote about dropping his/her party registration because of unhappiness with the both parties. I find this incomprehensible since registering with a party commits you neither to work for nor vote for that party. But it does entitle you to vote in that party's primary to help determine who will run. I just don't see a downside to registering, whereas not registering gives up half of your right to vote (in most states).

The most contradictory thing about it is complaining about the parties, and then dropping out of the elections that could help remedy the problems. Unless you are a journalist, or have some other reason why you do not want public identification with a party, what is gained by dropping registration?

So on this issue, you're saying you're not pro-choice?

If a party generally doesn't represent or fight for your values, I can see the desire to drop the registration. I would have to be "very" uncomfortable with the party, mostly for the reason you describe (ability to vote in primary).

I did change parties in the late 80s for this reason. The party I used to belong to was drifting into territory I didn't recognize, and I didn't want to be a part of it. Fortunately the other main party's platform matched my beliefs in many (not all) ways, so I never had to give up a party. But I can see how dropping all affiliation may be possible for others.

In another thread, someone just wrote about dropping his/her party registration because of unhappiness with the both parties. I find this incomprehensible since registering with a party commits you neither to work for nor vote for that party. But it does entitle you to vote in that party's primary to help determine who will run. I just don't see a downside to registering, whereas not registering gives up half of your right to vote (in most states).

The most contradictory thing about it is complaining about the parties, and then dropping out of the elections that could help remedy the problems. Unless you are a journalist, or have some other reason why you do not want public identification with a party, what is gained by dropping registration?