# What does your political party stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 8, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820 "2006-08-08T05:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/1 "2006-08-08T05:07:21Z")
1. What is your political party? 2. What does it stand for? 3. Prove number 2. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/2 "2006-08-08T05:28:12Z")
The Canadian Libertarian Socialist Conservatives? I’ll tell what they _don’t_ stand for - indecisiveness! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/3 "2006-08-08T18:33:45Z")
I am a Democrat. They are owned by the money interests. Less so than the Republicans though. I have to settle for that. Actually the Dems have been historically more for the poor and middle classes. The last 6 years have shown the difference clearly. We have a 2 tier system and the gap is getting bigger. The dems permit more diversity in their ranks. The repubs are in control of theier party.They are like a military group that trains and gives orders to their minions who do not dare to act on their own. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/4 "2006-08-08T18:41:40Z")
I used to be a Republican. I thought they stood for Christian values, self-determination, self-reliance, creating jobs and a strong defense. I realized they actually stand for enriching large companies, supporting wars against brownish people, sending soldiers to die for indeterminate causes, and I realized they don’t have a whole lot of love or compassion - so Jesus probably is not their role model, no matter what they say… ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/5 "2006-08-08T18:46:29Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. What is your political party? The Party of Moderate Progress Within the Bounds of the Law. I initially signed up for the free pocket aquarium. > [@](#): > > 1. What does it stand for? Moderate Progress (within the bounds of the law). > [@](#): > > 1. Prove number 2. It says so right there in the slogan: “To arms! To arms! Moderate progress is our aim!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/6 "2006-08-08T18:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] I am a Democrat. They are owned by the money interests. Less so than the Republicans though. I have to settle for that. Actually the Dems have been historically more for the poor and middle classes. The last 6 years have shown the difference clearly. We have a 2 tier system and the gap is getting bigger. The dems permit more diversity in their ranks. The repubs are in control of theier party.They are like a military group that trains and gives orders to their minions who do not dare to act on their own. [/QUOTE] What **gonzomax** said. I’m also a member of the [Socialist Party USA,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_USA) whose platform you can read [here,](http://sp-usa.org/platform/) but I’m a registered Dem and I always vote Dem because, well, what else are you gonna do? Our electoral system **(quite apart** from our unfair ballot-access laws) is set up to make sure a third-party vote is either a wasted vote or, worse yet, a “spoiler” vote that only helps the opposition. [If you don’t like that, do something about it.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269169) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/7 "2006-08-08T18:55:04Z")
BTW, I used to be active in the [New Party,](http://www.newparty.org/) which was really closer to my actual (democratic-socialist but by no means Marxist) political views; but it no longer exists as such at the national level. If the [Working Families Party](http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/) or the [Vermont Progressive Party](http://www.progressiveparty.org/) had a Florida chapter, I’d support that. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/8 "2006-08-08T19:05:09Z")
1. Democrat. 2. They stand for nothing. 3. This is a classic case of trying to prove a negative. How to go about it? Just look at any issue. On the Iraq War, it’s plain that most Democrats knew Saddam had no serious WMD capability and knew that the occupation of Iraq would become a quagmire. Yet they voted for it anyway, because they thought it would help them win the election. Likewise with annual spending bills, they load up the budget with pork and earmarks (though not nearly as many as the Repubs) because … they think it will help them win. Meanwhile the Democrats won’t try to spend any money on the poor because they think that’s a losing tactic. (Still better than the Repubs, who constantly cut spending on the poor so that they can afford more bridges to nowhere.) And so forth. So in short, the Democrats are now a low-fat version of the Republicans. Of course it’s been said that the Repubs are a low-fat version of the Democrats, so it’s becoming a chicken-and-egg type situation. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/9 "2006-08-08T19:47:33Z")
1. Independent – (Libertarian) – Registered Republican because I can’t affect primaries unless I’m registered to one of the two controlling parties. 2. ([Platform](http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml)) we defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power. 3. Will unlikely ever get to test this ideal because the Republicrats have so bogarted the election process that anything outside Democrians is unlikely ever to be allowed into the national debate (Please don’t bring up Perot – he was only allowed because they believed he was too rich to ignore and too much of a fruitcake to make a difference – However I’m pretty sure he pulled from the disenfranchised Republicans and in essence threw those two elections to Clinton – and I’m not saying that was a bad thing, but that that’s likely what happened). While you’re thinking about it, see where you fall on the political scale of things: Take the world’s [smallest political quiz](http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/10 "2006-08-08T19:49:47Z")
Come to think of it, this thread probably belongs in IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/11 "2006-08-08T21:41:38Z")
1. I refuse to associate with any organized political party for the same reason I refuse to associate with any organized religion: none of them get it right for me. So I’m registered as nonpartisan, which blows because you can’t really vote for anything important in the primaries. 2. I stand for upholding my own personal morals, which basically means, you can do what you want, but when it starts affecting other people’s rights to life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness, you will be held accountable. 3. I can’t really prove that, now, can I? 😃 ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/12 "2006-08-08T22:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=tashabot] 3. I can’t really prove that, now, can I? 😃 [/QUOTE] You can – through trial by ordeal! (Give us a little while to think of a good one. You don’t have any heart problems, do you?) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/13 "2006-08-08T23:01:52Z")
1. Enrolled as a declines-to-state (California’s version of Independent), have voted in both major party primaries. 2. Nothing that would inspire any sort of following. 3. It would take much more time than I have to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/14 "2006-08-08T23:10:15Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] 1. What is your political party? [/quote] Democratic. (Note the “ic,” thank you.) > [@](#): > > 1. What does it stand for? They’ll figure it out eventually. > [@](#): > > 1. Prove number 2. They’ve gotten a little better in the last year or two, but I think they’re trying to hold on to a number of constituencies (organized labor comes to mind) that no longer exist. ---
**Author:** ![Generic\_American](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f07891/32.png) [@Generic\_American](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Generic_American)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/15 "2006-08-08T23:57:18Z")
1. Republican (Note the “Re” and the “lican”) 2. See the [platform](http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf) . 3. See number 2, above. Perhaps you meant, what do _I_ stand for, given the context of belonging to the Republican party? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/16 "2006-08-09T00:22:14Z")
I’m formally registered as an Independant, though in the last 2 national elections I voted Libertarian. I can’t say as I deeply believe in the large ‘L’ Libertarian platform…just that its closer to what I do believe in that either the big two parties or any of the other 3rd parties. I even did a bit of volunteer work for Badnarik’s election run in the last national here in New Mexico…though I had no great expectation that he would even get more than 1% of the vote. Here is a [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Libertarian_Party) article on the party history in the US for anyone interested: > [@](#): > > Platform > > Key tenets of the Libertarian Party platform include the following: > > ``` > * Adaptation of laissez-faire principles which will result in the complete separation of state and economics. This will include, among other things, enormous reduction in taxation, privatization of Social Security and welfare (for both individuals and companies), elimination of business regulation, abolition of labor regulations such as minimum wage and the absence of government interference in foreign trade. > * Protection of property rights (which to many libertarians include intellectual rights such as copyrights) > * Minimal government bureaucracy. The Libertarian Party states that the government's responsibilities should be limited to the protection of individual rights from the initiation of force and fraud with a military, police force, and court system. > * Strong civil liberties positions, including privacy protections, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and sexual freedom. > * Opposition to any efforts to restrict gun rights at any level of government. > * Abolition of laws against victimless crimes (prostitution, driving without a seatbelt, etc.) > * Opposition to conscription > * A foreign policy of free trade and non-interventionism > > ``` > > Libertarians state that their platform follows from consistent application of the principle of mutual respect for rights, and the liberty of exercise thereof, and thus are deeply supportive of the concept of individual liberty as a pre-condition for moral and stable societies. In their “Statement of Principles”, they declare: “We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.” To this end, Libertarians want to reduce the size of government (eliminating many of its current functions entirely). > > Libertarians reject the view of politics as a one dimensional spectrum, divided between Democrats representing the left or center-left and Republicans representing the right or center-right. > > To illustrate their view that the one-dimensional view of politics is insufficient to describe the myriad political philosophies held by the public, Libertarians introduced the Nolan chart to communicate their belief that politics is at least two-dimensional. A variation of the Nolan chart is enhanced (via a link from the main website) by a ten-question poll (five questions dealing with economic issues and five questions dealing with personal freedom issues), which it bills as “The World’s Smallest Political Quiz,” allowing respondents to classify their political leanings. > > Among outside political watchers, some consider Libertarians to be conservative (primarily because of their support of the right to bear arms and because of their views on taxes and states rights); while others consider them liberal because of their advocacy of a non-interventionist foreign policy, the repeal of drug prohibition, and the elimination of laws that interfere with private consensual acts (such as prostitution and gambling). > > Within the framework of libertarian politics, the Libertarian Party’s platform falls in the realm of free market minarchism. The party advocates limiting the government as much as possible, within the confines of the United States Constitution. As in any political party, there is some internal debate about the platform, and not all of the party’s supporters advocate its complete or immediate implementation, but most think that the USA would benefit from most of its proposed changes. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/17 "2006-08-09T02:27:07Z")
I’m registered with the Green Party of the United States. I would say what the party stands for most in a _de facto_ sense is opposition to the two-party system. Proof? Their refusal to accede to the Democratic Party’s notion that it has the god-given right to rule the entire American left from its cozy chair in the center. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/18 "2006-08-09T02:59:18Z")
[QUOTE=Lama Pacos] I would say what the party stands for most in a _de facto_ sense is opposition to the two-party system. [/QUOTE] Yes, that’s why they’re absolutely [not fazed at all](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/1/18935/26625) by the fact that their candidate is almost entirely Republican-funded… ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/19 "2006-08-09T03:13:22Z")
I’m having trouble finding my outrage. The reasons this would concern me is if (a) I was particularly interested in the Democrats’ chances in the election, which I’m not, or (b) if it influenced the Green Party candidate’s platform, which I would like to see some proof of in order to get worked up over it. I’m not obtuse-- I understand _why_ the Republicans are doing such things, but the only people that suffer here are the Democrats, and frankly, I don’t care. Unless there’s going to be a test that requires you to score enough green points before you can donate, a small, non-corporate donation is a small, non-corporate donation. The donations were made by individual citizens, and it’s their (long-term) loss if they want to throw it to a party diametrically opposed to them. Don’t get me wrong-- I’m not _comfortable_ with what transpired, but I can’t find anything expressly wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820/20 "2006-08-09T03:30:37Z")
Hey, the Dems could always toss some bucks at the Libertarian party. I know I wouldn’t be greatly unhappy if they did that. 😉 -XT [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-political-party-stand-for/367820.md?page=2)