(03-06-2025, 08:28 PM)mikesez Wrote:

(03-06-2025, 03:34 PM)Jag149 Wrote: Well said. I talked at length to a Democrat running for election last year before the election. He was a nice guy, not unlike any other person I have met. My basic question to him was given a choice between following the Democratic opinion or representing his constituents which would he choose. This topic took the majority of our time. Eventually he broke down and told me he would have no choice but to follow the Democratic party's decision.  Going against it was political suicide and would be remembered forever and not be forgiven. He would be replaced first chance they got. Maybe not the next term but when they could be sure they held his seat. We saw the effects of this during Trump's last speech.

I prefer to vote for candidates that represent my area. I know there is give and take but the rigidity of the Democratic party has become off putting in my opinion. By default the other party has been getting my independent vote. Please do not confuse that with the party called "independent" as I am not a member of any party.

Most Republican officials are exactly the same way though.  They are also scared of getting primaried, scared of getting replaced as soon as they step out of line.  

A lot goes on behind closed doors, and lately, leadership in both parties has also been scared to make their members take difficult votes.  Things rarely come to the floor if they aren't sure they have the votes for it to pass.  All the actual "voting no" takes place in private and you never actually know which members are being brave and principled and which are just peons.

The reason I have never registered for a political party. People like this are color coded Green on the rolls. Well according to one candidate, he didn't actually show me. They seam to focus a bit more on greenies, but that it just how it seems to me. I get 2-4 visits each election cycle from either candidates or their supporters to talk.

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