Our Political Parties & Presidental Race

Tonight is our next Presidental debate! I'm not anticipating it too much, but wanted to share where I stand right now on the election......

During the Primary Season for the Democratic Party, I was actually rooting for Hillary Clinton. Then I liked Obama, then back to Hillary....then Obama, then back to Hillary...finally settling on Hillary. I was slightly disappointed when she didn't get the nomination. I followed this Primary race more, because of the historical aspects of it being a African American and a Woman being the front runners. The Republican primaries seemed like every other year. So it didn't peak my interest much. But now this General Election cycle gets me going!

So now we have Obama and McCain. I not registered Democrat or Republican. I am a registered "Independent" or "Unaffiliated". I am not a big believer in voting along party lines or belonging to one party and one party only. I believe in voting for the candidate who at that election time is best representing my views and is aligned with my opinions/beliefs/thoughts/visions at that moment. It can be a democrat or a republican. Just whomever I believe is sided with me on a majority of the issues.

I like to keep an open mind throughout the entire election process. I love to read up on everything. I like to walk into my voting booth on election day, pause for moment and think deeply whom at that moment I feel most aligned with. I never will regret a vote I make as long as I was informed, studied the issues and the candidates, listened intently and didn't allow the media to have any impression on me.

As of today, I am annoyed at the way this election has turned. It's becoming mean spirited, smearing, more accusations, spinning of the facts and truth, leaving out important details when making a point, all that harsh stuff.

I don't understand how people can align with a candidate simply because they are registered that political party. I believe we have had both successful Republican and Democratic Presidents throughout our history.

I heard someone had said we should support Obama because he is for the "middle class"...I think that is funny....There are more issues out there than being middle class.....also, I don't strive to stay middle class....Obama is also against the Rich and believes in taxing the rich higher. I ask...don't we all strive to get rich or make more money in our lives? If we keep taxing people more because they worked hard and got rich or made more money, won't that mean we all would be middle class always? I don't get this thought process of some people.

I wonder how many people know what both parties stand for or beliefs are? Let me share:

Democratic Party: They believe in a strong federal government. They believe in the federal government having strong powers to regulate business and industry. They believe in the federal social services and benefits for the poor, the unemployed, the aged and other groups. They support strongly the separation of church and state. The democratic party supports affirmative action. They support organized labor unions. They support civil and individual rights. The democratic party is also the party that advocated and passed the Income Tax law. They believe in Internationalism for foreign polices by international institutions such as the United Nations. They believe that through the United Nations and other international organizations that we be policed or get approvals by as opposed to the U.S. interests always first. They support gun control.

Republican Party: They believe in individual States Rights. They believe the federal government should give more power to each State to govern. They believe in minimum federal government interference. They believe in reduced taxes as a means of stimulating the economy and advancing individual economic freedoms. They opposed alot of government and tax payer funded social programs. They oppose affirmative action. They support business owners rights to regulate their business as opposed to strengthening the rights of workers (labor unions) The Republican Party supports a strong national defense and pursuit of U.S. National security interests first even if it is in opposition to the views of the international community. They oppose gun control.

Now, with this understand of what each political party stands for let me share my thoughts:

I think both parties have great views and policies.

With the democratic support of a strong federal government in our lives, I oppose this. I believe some of the social programs that the democratic party created is very good, however with all these government social programs to help the poor, unemployed, etc., it created higher taxes for us. The democratic party is great at saying the Republicans raise taxes, but they fail to mention that with all the created social programs it takes money to run and thus it comes from the people through taxes.

I say, why should my next door neighbor get a year or 6 months worth of unemployment checks because he got fired from a job, or quit a job or got layed off? Many people take advantage of this benefit. The same with the welfare system. This program, created by the democratic party had great intentions and I believe it is important to have, however there are not enough tight regulations on this social program and it ends up costing every American tax payer..you and me! We have to keep paying for this program so others can take advantage of it. We all know people become too dependent on welfare, food stamps, etc. It creates dishonesty in people because naturally we all like "free" stuff...but should free stuff be your existence or way of life? The Republican Party believes in individual economic freedom, which means you should get to a point to be economically self sufficient and free of any government assistance. Can we be with all these taxes paying all these social programs that don't have enough regulations on them? Interesting...lets all take the Democratic view:

No need to work hard or go to school. The Government will feed & house us by stealing from the successful who worked hard, studier hard to make their own money and way. So we can mooch off the government & we will all live happily ever after


I support the democratic parties views on civil rights....everyone should have the same rights and not be discriminated against because of race, gender, sex, or handicap.

The democratic party supports Affirmative Action. I don't period. I don't believe there should be preference given to anyone because of their race or gender. Every job or college acceptance should be based on qualifications. PERIOD!! Affirmative Action is about people becoming quotas and percentages. The Republican Party strongly opposes affirmative action..like me, they believe you being hired at job, or accepted into any college or program should only be based on your qualifications.

The Republican party opposes organized labor unions and limited employees' rights. They believe in the business owners rights first. This issue I am almost on the fence with, but lean slightly to opposing labor unions. First off I, as a small business owner, do believe that I should be able to have my business and employees run my way. I don't believe in some union telling me when I need to give my employees a raise or more benefits. I do believe though that employees should also have their rights to fair wage increases and benefits and not allow some business owners to take advantage of employees. So with this, I see pros and cons to it. But labor unions themselves tend to take advantage of their members/employees as well.

The Republican party believes in a strong national defense with a belief our nation comes first and we don't have to have the support of other nations to go to war or to attack if there is ample evidence we are in danger. The democratic party believes these issues should first go before the international community known as the United Nations and we should get their approval first. Well, I think this speaks for itself...Our Security first not what some countries leaders or representatives think!

Oh on gun control, I side with the Democrats. I support strong gun control laws.

Sarcastically I say:

Im saving up for a nuclear proof-bunker in case McCain gets elected.

And

I'm quitting my job and going on welfare, food stamps & free health care if Obama gets elected.

So, even though I support more Republican views, I still support some democratic views and this is why I call myself an Independent! So vote for the one who most represents your views. Remember you will never find a candidate you will agree with 100% of the time. Study the candidates and ALL the issues not one or two!

Hope you got some insight here!