╌>
Perrie Halpern

My Thoughts on Politics from an Independent's Perspective.

  
By:  Perrie Halpern R.A.  •   •  13 years ago  •  1 comments

My Thoughts on Politics from an Independent's Perspective.

Being an Independent is an odd seat to be in at the political table. We are wedge between the Democrats and Liberals to the left of us and Republicans and Conservatives to the right. Unlike those sitting at the ends of the table, we want to talk to both sides, but it's very hard to have our voices heard at either end. It's quite a frustrating experience to have to yell to be heard. And like playing the game of "Telephone" by the time our message has been transmitted down the table, it is often twisted and misunderstood.

More often than not, we end up unwittingly playing an odd game of "Devil's Advocate". You see, for us, we want to make other people think outside their comfort zone. And so, we take stances on things that we don't fully buy into, but would like to explore with our fellow Americans. But to those who are loyal to one position or the other, this looks like we have taken a side. More often, instead of exploring the concept it's self, it is mocked and dismissed, just because it doesn't fit in with a specific ideology. The net result is, that it looks like we have picked a side, which ultimately ticks someone off, which in turn just frustrates us more.

This condition, is a sad state of affairs. After all, the majority of Americans are independents. Yet, our voice is seldom heard, much less understood. We are the "Fence Sitters", or "Democrats/Republicans in sheep's clothing" Nothing could be father from the truth. We view politics much like dinner at a ChineseRestaurant. We sit at a round table instead of a long one. We each choose from the menu, one from column A and 2 from column B and then share our plates with each other. We might not like every flavor at the table, but we are all willing to give it a taste before we decide. This is a far different experience from sitting at the long table with folks to the left and right of us and we only get a choice of two dishes. We actually enjoy discussing the food with each other, and the round table is a good way to get our thoughtsacross, even if at the end of the meal, we still hold specific dishes as our favorite.

Recently, I wrote an article about OWS and the 99%. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would have gotten the response that it did. I thought I was exploring the ideas that they presented. Did I write itpassionately? Sure! Who wants to read an Op Ed that is boring? But I never thought that it would have people digging their heals in the way that they did. I am not a member of OWS, and I might hold some sympathies with the 99% ( BTW they are different movements), but the point of the article was to make people think. Instead, what I got, were positions taken, instead of an exchange of ideas. I found that very disappointing. I was hoping to be at the round table and not the long one. Even more frustrating, is that I was told what mypositionwas, which I found odd. I actually have nopositionon this movement, other than to note that there seems to be a growing frustration within the American people and that these movements, just like the Tea Party, are a reflection of this discontentment. Being branded was never my objective, and in fact, I found it beyond annoying. What I wanted were some people from the long table to just join us for a little while at the round one. Hey, maybe you'd like something there? But you see this is the sad state of politics these days. The need topigeonhole a person. There is adiscomfortin not knowing where someone sits, and for those Americans who are part of the party system, it looks like to you, thatindependentsjust want to play musical chairs, when in fact; we just want you to try some different food, even if you don't end up liking it. You can't tell if something is too spicy or too bland without trying it. Yet, we get very few who even want to taste a little.

If we are going to get on as a nation, we are going to have to start to think about the table we are sitting at. It might be easier to find our place card at the long table, but in fact, more folks are sitting at the round one, trying out different foods. We would like you to join us at that round table. It really isn't scary not having a place card. Just pull up a seat and one of us will move over a bit. We'll be glad for the extra company.

Cross posted in the NewsTalkers Forum

Tags

jrBlog - desc
[]
 
Kori
Freshman Silent
link   Kori    13 years ago

Early in life I was a Democrat. My family were all southern Democrats and the Democrats gave you the most 'bang for your buck.' Then as I grew older, started working,paying taxes, started thinkingfor myself, I saw things I didn't like and re-registered as a Republican.

Then, as time progressed and Republican presidents were in position I saw more stuff I didn't like, I decided toregister as an Indpendent who votesfor the candidate that most fits my perspectives on avariety of issues.

CurrentlyI am a registered Independent who leanstowardthe Conservative/GOPtalking points on most issues, but socially leans left.I believe there should be a third party for people who don't fully fit neatly intothe Dem or GOPbox, and Independents should somehow beallowed to vote in the Primaries.That their voices are not allowed to be heard is a shame.

I like being an Independent because I detest labels. If I tell someone I'm a Democrat or a Republican, they either feel an affinity with me or feelnegative toward me depending on the label I wear. Similar to "horrorscopes" - I'm a libra, a sagitarrius, a taurus, an aquarius.... and people think they automatically know everything about mebased on mysign. Bah-humbug. Open your mind and hearts a little more to learn who the person is. Give them a voice to speak for themselves before casting judgment.

We view politics much like dinner at a Chinese Restaurant. We sit at a round table instead of a long one. We each choose from the menu, one from column A and 2 from column B and then share our plates with each other. We might not like every flavor at the table, but we are all willing to give it a taste before we decide.

Very well said, Perrie. I like sharing plates, figuratively and literally while eating. I could never bewithanyone who did not enjoy taste testing from other plates.Okay, back to the discussion.

Being branded was never my objective, and in fact, I found it beyond annoying. What I wanted were some people from the long table to just join us for a little while at the round one. Hey, maybe you'd like something there? But you see this is the sad state of politics these days. The need to pigeon hole a person.

Again, well said.People pigeon-hole others for a variety of reasons and in politics, that's especiallydifficult to overcome because people hold their views very passionately. There's no way to really get around the labels and pigeon-holes except to offer correction whenever it occurs.

I don't like whereour country is headed right now and think that creatingbigger govmt, more government dependency throughmore entitlements are not the answers that will solve our country's problems. Government-run healthcare wouldbe a disaster for a variety of reasons.

I support what I think are the Occupy and TEAParty soundbites of "down with corrupt crony capitalism (altho I support real capitalism and free markets) -down with corporate greed and ripping off the taxpayers by stealing from the government -down with corrupt government practices and allowing lobbyists to run the show in DC-no more bailouts - the taxpayer has had enough!

TEA - Taxed Enough Already! Our shoulders will only bear so much weightbefore our backs start buckling. Butmaybe that's what the government is hoping for -burden the taxpayer to where they simply give up and succumb to our wishes. I do not trust government and politicians.