I'm a Republican, definitely. I'll vote this way when I'm 18 because Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. They stand for better things, they're against a lot of the things I don't agree with. I personally think that homosexuality is immoral, and I'm pro-life. It's not right to kill babies, what if your mom had decided to have an abortion? You wouldn't even be here to feel differently about abortion. So there. Plz post

wow i had no idea that there were so many young people with such amazing views of politics. ya'll are so smart! i feel kind of stupid bc i'm in 10th grade and in citizenship just learning about all this stuff. i think i could do pretty good on a jeopardy category about politics but some of ya'll just take the cake!

I don't like to put labels on myself. I think it's really binding...I believe what I believe and that's the way I've always been. I don't like to go along with a certain party just because I'm supposed to be "one of them". I vote for who I think would be the better leader. It's really simple that way .

a reason to reform the electoral system.

This looks like something of an old topic, but the question has actually been weighing on my mind recently .. I'm new to this politics thing, so I don't know much about Libertarians and things like that. I've never before really paid a lot of attention to political parties or the people who run my country. However, I find myself agreeing with a lot of things Democrats stand for - pro-choice, environmental preservation, higher taxes based on income, health care, all that stuff. But I've got a question. You're all talking about third parties; I've always understood that it's not a good idea to vote for the third party candidate, at least as far as the presidency is concerned, because it takes your vote away from the large party candidate you most closely associate with. Isn't that partly the reason Gore lost out to Bush? I know a lot of people who voted for Nader, but would rather have seen Gore in office than Bush. Aren't you defeating yourself if you vote for a third party?

Besides being a major part of the government, the Senate is a loarge part of the burocracy and inequity in the system. It's relatively small, powerful, and easy to bribe.
Historically they were appointed by teh State legislatures and just that much more removed from the actually people of the country and their desires.
In fact, while sates still have State Senates and they are smaller than their counterparts it has been ruled unconstitutional for them to be selected or operate in the same way as their federal counterpart and to represent an unequal amount of the people, based on the maxim of "one person one vote". The Senate is historically the place of the rich and privledged, a step up from the plebian House. Of course, this makes a lot of the power hereditary and possibly undeserved. Think Hillary Clinton, all the Kennedys, two Bush's, etc. - while obviously some have grown to deserve it based on distinguised service, they got there based less on political prowess and more on money, power and name regocnition.
It runs counter to democratic and even republican principles of representation in government.
They sit in lofty, almost tenured positions where it is difficult to change two faces in any given election barring retirement or death. They're old and removed from the people far too much to be responsive to even the most consistent and un-whimsical demands of their constituents.
Kick out the bums.

Acer, please name me one federal agency that has made government run more smoothly.


Actually I'll name a few if you don't mind:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FDA
US postal service
Treasury Department/Federal Reserve
Department of Transportation
Department of Agriculture


Secondly: Look at the Fed, the ideal example of government policy working. The Fed regulates the economy and adjusts accordingly.

Oh well...thats life

Pete

Republicans are hypocritical Jack @$$'s. I'm democrat all the way. If it was up to the republicans there would be more racism and more poverty. Call me a liberal or whatever! I really don't care so come 2004 Bush won't be getting my vote.

Democrates all the way!!!!!!

"Well then you obviously haven't noticed the desire to get rid of the Senate..." Wow, what a great party. They want to do away with a major part of our government. I think I should register as a green party.

By the way, I am being sarcastic. Any organization that wants to eliminate the senate is hell-bound.

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They have nothing in their platform that I have seen that makes them want to make government smaller.

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Well then you obviously haven't noticed the desire to get rid of the Senate...
Or ending the 'War on (Some) Drugs' (but you have seen that.
Or any of the other numerous social freedoms that the libertarians ask for (with the exception of gun control).
What you might not like is the fact that not only are Greens a party in the US but they organize in many countries worldwide as well. It's always local issues and grassroots politics, but the same themes can be found. They're even part of the ruling government in Germany (the world's second largest economy).
There are 173 Greens in elected office around the US.
More info at http://www.greenpartyus.org/

in theory, dauben, the "green" ideology is to move toward a "grassroots democracy". but it's to much to ask for all citizens to actually think about diplomacy. or education, poverty, environment, economics, that are in thier very own communities. or form an oppinion; and then actually be heard and considered seriously and thoughtfully? who cares? right?

that's why i love debate. i have a friend that came up with this idea: the presedent visits each state capitol once in his term, and then he debates with the public. asking questions maybe. get a feel for where this guy really stands. who is he really? scripted? written? INTELIGENT? does he have thoughts of his own? who is my president?

or for all candidates even. there's just not enough debates man. WE (people on this site right now) could debate all night and day untill we're blue in the face.

those in power don't have to listen to us. especially when so few speak.

I'll end up registering as a democrat, but I'm a democratic socialist...kind of in the Chomsky/Nader/Wellstone vein.

I've seen the Green Party platform;

Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes is a good plank, but abortion? Nuh uh.

Not only that, but Greens want to regulate the fire out of businesses and industries.

They have nothing in their platform that I have seen that makes them want to make government smaller.

Acer, please name me one federal agency that has made government run more smoothly.


In fact, if you don't mind, name me one government-regulated program that actually works.


Besides theft.

hey everyone

help change the world. no literaly.

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The Republicans no longer stand for limited government and couldn't care less about the Constitution.

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If I recall correctly, it is the Supreme Court's job to care about the Constitution (judicial review, having the final say on the Constitution).

Sure, Congress proposes laws, but the Sup. Court can strike them down as unconstitutional.

Now, if you made that statement in reference to the founder's intent, I might be able to understand where you are coming from.

Secondly: The government has been obnoxiously large and centralized since " The New Deal" back in the days of the Great Depression. However, the bureaucracies that resulted because of the expansion of the Cabinet departments and such have actually proven to be helpful in making things run a lot smoother in this country.

Acer
"Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

the greens are cool as s**** dude. so radical!!! yet pragmatic. i don't see republicans OR democrats actually doing anything!!!! they take the reigns, fight for more power and pass the buck to the next republican\democrat chumpard!!i urge people to check out the green party and look at some of thier views. change and reform baby. if something isn't working, then you fix it. that's just plain practical.

Don't vote, it just encourages them.

mmm. Neither. Can't say that I'll vote when I'm 18, because I'm not there yet. Unless there's a drastic change in the corruptivity, I probably won't vote though.

There are certain aspects I like about Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians. Still I think it should more be about who's the best candidate rather than which part.

I can't see the computer screen (took out my contact) so I have nothing further to say.