Through the eyes of an Indy

[Eyes_wide_ open]

It's been interesting and informative for me, watching this campaign through the eyes of the members here at DU. I've never been a political person, nor have I been around political junkies much, so it's very much been a learning experience for me here.

Until a few years ago I was what most of you would call a Low Information Voter. I did vote, always in presidential elections, because I believed it was my responsibility ... not because I believed it did much good. I've lived in many places ... MI, CA, KY, FL, and now in SC ... in the suburbs, the city, and in the country, so I've been exposed to diverse regional attitudes.

I always chose to register as an Independent in those places that required you to claim an affiliation to register, because nothing made less sense to me than to think that all issues and ideologies fell neatly into one or the other of two polar opposite parties, or that anyone could agree totally with either one. To be honest, I still think it is insane to pull the lever based on whether there is a D or and R (or any other party designation) after a name without regard to the person the name belongs to, and probably always will.

Come election time I would watch the debates, and then scramble to find out all I could about the candidates, and let me tell you, that can be damned difficult when the MSM and the people you come in contact with are your only sources of information. I made the best decision I could based on the information I could gather, choosing the person that best represented what I thought was right for my country and myself, regardless of party. I looked for honesty (while despairing of finding that in any politician), and character, for someone that stood up for their principals. Issues were also important, but often had to be prioritized. I often voted for Independents, knowing they probably didn't have a shot the way the system is set up, but insisting on voting my conscious because yes, principle IS important to me ... if it weren't I wouldn't have bothered.

Things changed for me the first time I didn't vote in an election year. My personal life was horrendously chaotic that year and I didn't have time to do my usual amount of research. And to be honest, I really just didn't see the difference between the Republican and the Democrat, and I don't remember their being a reasonable Independent choice. That year a madman was appointed to our highest office, and too late, I learned the difference. That was also the year I was introduced to the internet, and my world became a different place, a much larger place.

These days I try to keep myself informed, particularly about those issues that concern me most. I write my congressman regularly, although a fat lot of good it does me as my congressman belong to the party of the madman and blindly follows his lead. Still I make sure that my voice is heard. One of my Senators is playing lapdog to the senile old man that wants to replace the madman and continue his policies of chaos. I have to do my part to see to it that doesn't happen. That Senator also is up for reelection this year, and I'll do what I can to replace him also. This year, if all the Democratic Party had to offer was a trained monkey I would vote for him. That doesn't make me a Democrat, but it DOES make us on the same side.

As it happens, you chose Barack Obama to represent you this time ( as an Independent I didn't participate in the primary because it just wouldn't have been right, although it is allowed here) and that makes me very happy because I can still vote my conscious. This man impresses me more than any politician has in my memory. He's not perfect, of course, but nobody is. With him we will at least be able to begin to make the radical changes that are necessary if we are to survive.

I've told you my story because I think it's important to see things from another's perspective. I see many blanket statements made here that show a tremendous lack of understanding of the motivations of both LIV's and Independents. Many of you seem to want to write them off as a lost cause, but has it occurred to you that maybe the reason they do seem to vote Republican more often than not is because more often than not it is that very attitude they get from Democrats?

Things like LIV = racist = stupid = fundie ... take your pick, any combination, I've seen them all represented here. Many times they're just poor, working two jobs or one with incredible OT just to make ends meet. No, they probably haven't gone to collage, but that isn't necessarily because they weren't smart enough. Many of them had to go to work straight out of high school, because there was family to support, or health issues, or there just wasn't enough time or money for more education. Some of them simply made bad choices but because they don't have degrees, they don't earn as much money at their jobs, and have to work more hours and simply don't have the TIME to be a political junkie or a news hound. When they do get some time on the net they want to use it doing something fun, can you really blame them?

To assume, or insinuate someone is racist based on nothing more than where they live or what their politics are (or the lack of them) is every bit as stupid as racism itself. In fact it's the very same mindset with a different target.

All religious people are not fundies, nor are all fundies racist. And although you may feel it is foolish to blindly follow whatever faith, it is hardly any different than to blindly pull a lever based on what political party one may belong to.

Some of you seem to think that Independent Voters are scatterbrained, fence sitters, can't make up their minds and have no principals because they choose not to give anyone a free pass because of the letter after the name on the ballot. It doesn't seem to occur to you that maybe it's more important to them to believe that the person they're voting for will actually DO the things they say they believe in rather than just talk about them.

The elitist label may be a RW talking point, but these are the reasons it sticks to Democrats with low information voters. They are not so stupid that they don't know YOU think you are soo much smarter than they are. Republicans may think it, they may even use it, but they are never heard saying it. Insulting people is no way to convince them of anything other than you think you are better than they are. If we want to win their votes, we're going to have to lose the attitudes.

I believe it's going to take all of us, Democrats, Indies, LIV's, and even some crossover Republicans, to insure that the Thugs can't steal yet another election. Obama will win them if we don't chase them away before they get a chance to hear him. They really aren't paying attention to politics yet. They're paying attention to trying to keep their homes and their jobs, to the price of gas and groceries, to tying to make that road trip to Grandma's before school starts, to Nascar and baseball, and looking forward to the Olympics.

They know exactly how bad our situation is. They just don't believe that their government has any answers. They don't believe that politicians are trustworthy. It's been a long time since they've had any hope. They are ready for change. We need to be ready for them when they start asking questions. We need to be able to share the hope we've been given. We need to speak up and say YES WE CAN.

Barack Obama IS change we can believe in.

[writes3000]

1. Wonderful post. You share many truth, I suspect. Thank you. n/t

[laugle]

2. You might want to

spell the name correctly: Barack

[Eyes_wide_ open]

6. oops ... Thank you very much

:blush:

[laugle]

7. Your quite welcome dear. Enjoyed your post!

[FrenchieCat]

3. Kick!

And Rec! :)

[pnorman]

4. "Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts"

I really LIKE your comment line!

pnorman

[DFLforever]

5. This is how we'll win the election -

They are ready for change. We need to be ready for them when they start asking questions. We need to be able to share the hope we've been given. We need to speak up and say YES WE CAN.


A thoughtful and insighful post!

[On the Road]

8. That is More Meaningful

than a lot of testimonies coming from lifelong Democrats. And I do think it's how this election is going to be won.

[Number23]

9. I'm an independent too

And I love what you've said here.

I've read DU and Free Republic for over five years. I started reading FR first and it was the constant referencing to DU on FR that got me to read DU in the first place.

So after years of reading and lurking, I created accounts BOTH on FR and on DU this year. Now, when I created my account on FR, I FULLY expected to be fighting my @ss off damn near every day that I was on the site, and I have not been disappointed. But I have been absolutely shocked by some of the stuff I've read here on DU and by a few DUers who appear to be every bit as judgmental and fanatical as some of our Freeper friends.

Lately, I've read posts from DUers declaring that the governor of Alaska should have aborted her son who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome even though she obviously wanted and adores her child. I've read where people have referred to religion as a "made up fantasy," and declared that people who have more than three kids are "immoral." And I've seen a fair share of racist comments here as well.

The main difference, I think, between a fanatical DUer and fanatical Freeper is that the DUer's fanaticism is at least grounded in a deep-rooted desire to improve things for multiple groups of people, and not just maintain the status quo or whatever benefits them most as I think Freepers do. But I tell you, with the heat that comes out of both sides sometimes, I don't blame the average American who watches his 30 minutes of news every day and then turns it off for whatever reason. Life is too damn short. And I can completely understand why every four years, I find more and more people who identify themselves as independents.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

10. I think the thing I've found most shocking

is the prevalence of the end justifies the means mentality I've seen here. I expect that attitude from Neo-cons, it's so very typical of the things I find most repugnant about them, but it surprises me time and time again to see as much of it as I do among people that pride themselves on their intelligence and tolerance.

Principals DO matter, our candidate understands that and has made it quite clear in my eyes, and earned him my respect. I just wish so many of his supporters didn't see that as just so much rhetoric :shrug:

[Number23]

11. You're exactly right

it surprises me time and time again to see as much of it as I do among people that pride themselves on their intelligence and tolerance.

It's like that episode of "The Simpsons" where Lisa and the other members of the Springfield chapter of Mensa were able to control the town. By the time it was all over, the townspeople were clamoring for their heads because they'd screwed everything up so much.

Fanatics of any sort have diminished their ability to THINK correctly. Often why people naturally gravitate towards the center...or at least pretend to. :) The good news is that for every "OH MY GOD!! CALL CONGRESS RIGHT NOW!!1" person on DU, there are at least 4 others who seem to have at least some semblance of sanity. And the loonies provide some DAMN good entertainment. :toast:

[KharmaTrain]

12. Thank You For Sharing...

I think it's very important for many of us to step outside the box a little to see a bigger picture and dynamic at play. While Democratic registration is up this year, it's still a fairly even split with the independents usually making the difference. I contend that many of the previous independent voters (2000, 2004) were more frustrated with the Democratic party and thus went with the other side. This year I see the reverse...the GOOP has let down many...and that most of today's indendents voted for that party in the past but are keeping their options open now (such as the Paulbots).

DU is like a water cooler...a place where people come to blow off steam and share the latest news and gossip. There's a far different world out there when you knock on doors and talk to possible voters. Many are like you...not thinking any one party neatly covers all issues and the more you take the time to listen to them and share thoughts and idea, the more you find a lot of misiformation (corporate media) and common ground. That's why I've strongly encouraged members here to get involved with campaigns and to see how the process really works...not the teevee show.

The real election doesn't really get underway until after Labor Day and the last 10 days are generally when those who are undecided make up their minds. I've long felt that a person votes the way their pocketbook feels. If they feel bad, the incument party will lose.

Thank you very much for your story and insight...and hopefully others here will read what your saying as something both constructive and positive.

Cheers...

[Eyes_wide_ open]

17. I quite agree that

especially in 2000, many were frustrated with the Democratic Party. The Monica thing particularly was a big deal to many people, it wasn't all media hype. And it was just the religious folks that had moral issues about it. A few people I talked to were upset not so much about 'the act' as they were that it was done in the oval office :shrug: go figure.

But throw Whitewater on top of that and the impeachment process and what you had was people who were EMBARRASSED by the President. One of the very things that is in our favor now. I would contend they should have been embarrassed by the madman in 2004 also, but with people that don't watch much news except at election time, I guess they really don't see the idiot mistakes on the world stage.

I believe you're right about people voting their pocketbook, I think the economy is the biggest issue this year, although there are several that are demanding attention and we are on the right side of all of them.

[AllentownJake]

13. One small problem

Most Fundies are idiots. I had a fundie aquantaince lecture me on welfare for a half an hour till I asked her about her parents "refund" check every year. Well thanks to various tax credits for loopholes and her parents having 12 children under 18 the check was rather large....I pointed out to her that was welfare since her parents were actually paying no taxes and getting money back from the government for no labor and she refused to talk to me ever again.

No problem with Independents...but most fundies are idiots.

[bklyncowgirl]

14. Thank you, good post.

Also a good point about low information voters. Many people are just too busy with thier own lives to keep up with the news.

Here's an example. My daughter works for a successful horse trainer and riding instructor. One day her boss was outraged about the cost of the corn oil that she puts in her horse's feed. My daughter told her about how much of that crop was now being used to produce ethanol and that, along with rising fuel prices, is why it costs more for her gallon of store brand corn oil. Apparently the woman had never heard that before.

This is an intelligent woman who is successful in her field. She devotes long hours to her business. She goes home, she's tired. I don't know whether having an 19 year old stall mucker lecture her on corn oil prices has shamed her into paying more attention to the larger world around her. Hopefully, like more and more people, she's beginning to realize that larger forces are at work that could disrupt her personal world.

[OnionPatch]

15. Good post, thanks.

I saw myself in your post. I was fairly apolitical until the 2000 election and felt very much the same as you. I couldn't see how one side would be 100% right and the other wrong. But each time I investigated closely, the GOP stance on each issue disgusted me. Finally I realized that there is an underlying philosophy for each party and it is reflected in each and every issue. It's either "I got mine" or "we're in this boat together." I naturally gravitate to the latter.

I think the other key factor here is that the Republicans actually DON'T want you to vote and prefer that you stay uninformed. It's much better for them that you don't look too closely and understand what they're up to. This is why you'll never hear them complaining that you're uninformed and complacent. For us, on the other hand, it's very frustrating to see people voting on surface issues like who you'd prefer to have a beer with instead of the real issues.

But you're right, of course and we need to try harder on this. Thanks.

[barack the house]

16. Yep, a message I've promoted strongly this elections cycle keep everyone happy. Elections are a ->>

humble process.

[GardeningGal]

18. I'd recommend this more than once if I could.

Good information for DU'ers to think about.

[dionysus]

19. thats a nice essay

:thumbsup:

[AwakeAtLast]

20. OMG! You are me, just 4 years later.

I've learned so many important things on DU and I am sure you will, too. I used to call myself an Independent in my early postings. Luckily these great DUers were awesome towards me. After a few meetups I came to see I had always been a Dem, I just didn't know it, LOL!

Great post, and here's to many more! :toast:

:hi: