• int_not_found@feddit.org
    10·
    2 days ago

    It is so wild to me that in the US it is phrased as party identification. That implies, that who you are voting for is a deep part of your identity.

    In my country it is the ‘Sunday Question’, because people are asked ‘If an election would be happening on this sunday, who would you vote for?’ If you would ask people what party they identify with, the vastly majority would say ‘none of them’

    If I want to identify with a party, I would join them as a member. I am voting for the guy/party, that would be the best fit in my opinion. That can be vastly different in federal, state or local elections. My election choice is not my identity. I don’t identify with a party.

    • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 days ago

      I think it’s a sign of a healthy democracy if most people view politicians as servants of the people, rather than viewing themselves as serving the politicians. I have 20 choices, not 2, and I can certainly find candidates more closely aligned ideologically than most Americans can. Yet I would never say I “am” party such-and-such.

  • theherk@lemmy.world
    181·
    2 days ago

    Makes it pretty clear how badly the democrats have alienated the people with constant misstep after misstep. If only there were a left party for many of those independents to call home, rather than a right party and a further right, authoritarian party.

    • chuckleslord@lemmy.world
      9·
      2 days ago

      Democrats: Man, that’s a whole lot of words my corporate donors aren’t paying me to read. Guess I better move more right to capture those moderate Republicans.

  • CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world
    163·
    2 days ago

    That green line is labeled “independent,” but I can tell you for a fact there’s no 45% of Americans voting independent. I’m guessing a more accurate label for that line would be “doesn’t vote.”

  • ineedmorecoffee@lemmy.cafeBanned from communityEnglish
    413·
    2 days ago

    Regardless, 1/3 will still vote hard right, 1/3 hard left, and the middle will stay home.

        • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
          13·
          2 days ago

          It is indeed, but I think the point is that the right has been able to move the window so far to the right because there is no functioning left.

          • CannonFodder@lemmy.world
            53·
            2 days ago

            The left can’t afford to alienate the center because they can’t count on the votes of the left.

            • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
              2·
              2 days ago

              And that’s the difference between leadership and pandering. Telling people in the center what they want to hear because you’re afraid to lose is precisely how you lose.

          • ineedmorecoffee@lemmy.cafeBanned from communityEnglish
            25·
            2 days ago

            Ok then hard right and the other 2/3 just complain and never agree what’s left enough so nothing happens but tears and losing.

            • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
              21·
              2 days ago

              Honestly, that’s bullshit. The left shows up to vote consistently for the Democrats. All polling data confirms that the people who stay home are the disengaged and the moderates. It’s not that people can’t agree on what is left enough, it’s that the center tries to win votes from the right by demonizing the left, and it doesn’t work. Successful campaigns across the political spectrum are persuasive and idealogical. The voters are never going to be more enthusiastic than the candidate.