4.3.09

To be, or not to be, that is the question.

To be or not to be a registered Republican, that is the question.  And it is a difficult one.   Growing up I was taught about the two parties (Democratic and Republican).  I also learned about other parties, but thought they were just out there and I was too mainstream for that.  
Or am I?

I must admit I wasn't much for primary politics before I moved to Colorado, but I voted now and then in the primaries because I could.  Now I live in a caucus state and the whole activity has been made into a night out with like-minded people instead of 5 minutes in a booth.  When I lived in Michigan you could vote in the primary elections regardless of your registered party status.  You just picked up one ballot for whichever party you wanted to vote for.  In Colorado there are primary elections for some seats (instead of caucuses) and you must have a registered party affiliation to vote in the primaries, and you must vote in that party's primary elections.  Sounds reasonable, right?

Well, not if you are me.  I am quite sure that the bulk of the Republicans in the United States are conservatives, and that many are even very conservative.  I just feel that many who are elected are not.  They make choices that show me that they are Socialists, Entitlists, Elitists, and Democrats with an "R" next to their name.  They make me feel like the Republican party has left me (double-speak intended).  

Here is where my quandary is: I want to change my party affiliation to one that more consistantly reflects my views. I realize that rarely will someone from that party be running for all the offices to which I elect representatives.  I know that in my swing state many of the races in which I have a vote, it could go either way.  If I vote for someone from my new party does that give the Dem an edge?  Did I just throw my vote away by not voting for someone more likely to get elected?  And what of primary politics.  There would be few, if any, offices in which I would get to vote.  I would have little say over who was on the ballot when it came down to November and my choices were limited to nobody I could have voted for in July.

Primary politics and a say in who is on the ballot, or the need to align myself with people who believe as I do and further the cause of the conservative.  To be or not to be?  That is the question.

3 comments:

John and Kathy said...

I listened to a talk by one of the Gen. Authorities who said, paraphrasing of course, if you could not align your views with one of two parties then you were being selfish or something along those lines.

According to him, the two party system has worked, still works, and will continue to work.

That was a long time ago, at least 20-30 years, I think.

I understand your frustration, though.

Jewelz said...

regarding above stated comment, many erroneous statements have been made by many people saying "I heard a general authority say..." If you go here: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/political-neutrality you can read the LDS Church's stand on political parties. The LDS Church does not endorse any political party and from the official statements it would seem less than likely that the above statement would be made.

That aside, Art and I have often pondered the same question along with how to vote in the general elections when the person we feel will do the best job has no hope of being elected and yet you don't want to give the "Dem" an edge. What's a conservative to do??

John and Kathy said...

I have the talk on tape and I used to listen to it all the time.

I just have not listened to it in a long time.

I think it was Hugh B. Brown. He actually said it himself. I think it was on the flip side of his "God is the Gardener" talk.

Really good talk, if you ever get a chance to listen to it.