I'd really like people to tell me what makes them a democrat or republican. Does it define who you are? Does it determine the decisions you make? What does being a democrat or republican mean to you? Please post honestly because this is a topic that concerns a lot of people these days.

I'm Libertarian.

it combines views of both republicans and democrates. And makes a lot more sense to me.

www.lp.org

I vote for whoever has the ideals that are closest to my own. More often than not, that means I vote Democrat, but I'm not registered with either major party.

I'm an independent. I independently think what I want on issues. lol Sometimes my views may be left winged other times right winged so I try no to label myself honestly.

I'm a democrat because they are the only party that makes sense to me. The last couple years have led me to be unable to even respect republicans (at least I understand and respect conservatives). The problem is, the republican party as a whole is corrupt, ignorant and narrow-minded. Although I'll admit that the democratic party is not perfect, and I do disagree with them on some issues such as gay marriage, for the most part I identify with them much more.

I live in the most liberal area in America (the SF Bay Area). Berkeley, a city 20 minutes from my house, voted 90% Kerry, 6% Bush, and 4% other. San Francisco and Oakland were not much different. Anyway, I suppose my views may reflect my liberal upbringing, although I do disagree with my parents on some issues. However, I cannot honestly imagine me being any other way. I have always thought that I would be the white person marching in the civil rights parade, had I been alive in the '60s. I hope that even if I had been raised conservatively, I would have the same views I do now.

I don't think your party identification defines who you are or the choices you make unless you let it. And frankly, letting it seems like a pretty stupid thing to do. If we start letting our party control our views rather than our views determine the way we vote, the die-hard independents were right all along, and parties are just a bad idea.

I guess the reason I registered Democrat is because, sorta like Khary said, I view them as the best reasonable option out there. I only agree with ever-fluctuating party platform about half the time, but that beats the Republicans I agree with 10% of the time. Like every other person out there who's given this more than two seconds of thought, my views are a bit of a mish-mash.

I don't identify with either party, but I consider democrats the lesser of two evils. The Democratic party is a bit too conservative for my tastes sometimes, but at least they're not balls out social conservatives.

*raises eyebrows in a disgusted manner*

I hate both. That defines part of who I am.