If I pull out my voter registration card and read it, it says, “Republican.” Hmmmmm. This was a compromise decision I made when I first got my drivers’ license, some twelve years ago. I disagree sternly with how prevalent religion plays a deciding factor within the Republican party, but I made that concession in order to gain the political clout that the Republican party has. I agree with them more than I disagree.
Shorty after that, I was introduced to the Libertarian party. What a breath of fresh air! I started to research all I could about their stances on certain issues. The more I learned, the more I agreed with, and liked about, the Libertarian party. But I just kept the Republican registration riding all this time. I have never voted for a Libertarian.
Now my driver’s license is about to expire again, and I’ve toyed the last two times with changing my voter registration over to Libertarian. I’m ready to do it, but this forum will be the deciding factor for me. I need as much real world information from informed and experienced Libertarian’s out there as I can get. So I’m asking for raw unadulterated information and experiences on about as many varied topics that Libertarians have stances on.
It’s obvious what stances the Libertarians take on simple issues like gun control and taxes. But how would a front running Libertarian candidate, who is running for President, answer the tough questions that a candidate today would have to answer? I’m speaking specifically about Terrorism, War, Foreign Issues (including the UN), Stem Cell Research, and the Economy.
Hastening to add that there are differences within the party on many of these issues (just like Dems and Pubs). I, for instance am more centrist/moderate Libertarian than many in the party. But those essays should give you some idea.
The vast majority of LP candidates run for local offices, and that’s where they have historically been the most successful. If you have any local candidates running in your area, simply write or call them asking about their positions. Remember also that being a third party, the LP does attract it’s share of loonies.
By the way. Whatever happened to that movement where thousands of registered Libertarians take up residence in Vermont, trying to get a foothold on national politics?
Does it matter what party you affiliate yourself with in Pennsylvania when you register to vote?
Here in OK, we have exactly three options on when we register:
1.) Repub
2.) Dem
3.) “Other” (I prefer the term “miscellaneous”)
Which party you choose determines which primary you’re allowed to vote in, and that’s all. Well, I guess they probably send your name to the local party headquarters… The “other” people don’t get to vote in any primaries, and for this reason there’s not really any point in choosing it, other than maybe “moral reasons.”
Does the Libertarian Party even hold primaries in other states? I’m pretty sure they don’t hold them here, although they usually get their candidates on national ballots in this state, which is more than I can say for those filthy Communists
Uh, Moderator? Maybe we can change the subject of this thread to, “I Need Information On The Libertarian Party”?
It doesn’t matter what political affiliation you are when you renew your drivers’ license, that is just the most convenient time to change your affiliation. You can simply write to your local municipal building, and they will send you the forms to change parties.
What does your driver’s license have to do with how you’re registered to vote? In your state you can only change political parties when your D.L. expires ???
Even though you now consider yourself a libertarian you might consider remaining registered as a republican. That way you can vote AGAINST republicans in the primaries. There are so few good politicians I feel my vote is better spent making it hard for the really bad ones to get into office.
Why do you need to tell anyone what party, if any, you plan to vote for? What the heck does your DL have to do with any of this?
Around here, if you register with a particular party, you can vote in their internal stuff, but AFAIK I can join them all if I want, and it certainly doesn’t have anything to do with my licence. Is this what the OP is about? Does this have anything to do with having an essentially 2-party system?
( again, for good measure).
Wow! I thought Indiana had an incredibly backwards and socialistic political party system since we have closed primaries. But even we’re not so bad as to put political affiliation on a driver’s license.
I think there is some confusion between voter registration card and driver’s license. I assume the OP is using the need to renew the driver’s license as a simple reminder to change party affiliation. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t imagine a state court that would allow party affiliation to be listed on a DL.
Your political affiliation does not appear on the Pennsylvania drivers’ license. You can switch parties whenever you want to. But it is a question you are asked when you go to renew your drivers’ license in Pennsylvania. You are then issued a separate voters’ registration card. Since mine is coming up, it crossed my mind to start this thread.
By the way, Pennsylvania is officially not a “State”. It is a “Commonwealth”. I believe are only two others in the Union: Kentucky and Virgina. But someone correct me if I am wrong.
What’s the difference between a State and a Commonwealth? I don’t know the formal difference, however I do know that it has to do with the architecture of our government and laws dating back to Quaker/Puritan times. Pennsylvania is named after William Penn (Penn’s woods) who was a devout Quaker.
Right below “Organ Donor” is listed “Libertarian”.
“I’m sorry, sir. The heart that you needed to stay alive came in, all right, but it came from a damn Libertarian. You don’t want one of those in you, do you? We should probably wait until the next Republican convention comes to town.”
as RufusLeaking is, if not moreso…