Post 3

Some people think that voter registration laws lead to disenfranchisement. Yeah, it does prevent some people from voting. The registration process is simple, though, and those too lazy to register to vote probably aren't going to vote anyway. Voter Registration laws also prevent voter fraud. One could easily walk into the voting booth and ask for a ballot, but without registration, how would we know whether or not they're underage, have already voted, a felon, a resident of another state, or using the identity of a deceased person. All in all- voter registration is a good idea.

Two-party system

The two party system in America- the Republicans and the Democrats. It's been this way for a while, so what's the problem? Some people claim it causes too many divisions between the people, and, in a way, I agree. Labels like goth, emo, punk, etc. are useless and don't focus on who the person is as an individual. why isn't the same true for what we believe in politically. I think we can stop people from electing incompetent officials if people concentrated on what each individual person believes in without pigeonholing them. If people just check whatever person belongs to their party without really listening, well then, they won't really know what's going on, and that's a voter's responsibility, to choose who is best for the country, not who has the right letter by their name

Post 1

Q: What has had the greatest effect on your political attitudes: The place where you live, your family's party affiliation, or your cultural background?
A: Honestly, my... party identity has really been shaped by the fact that my parents are pretty darn conservative. So, my parents are Republicans, not super-hardcore Republicans, but pretty far to the right, and you know teenagers, never hesitant to rebel. Okay, so that was a bit general...but it's true for the most part. The funny thing is, my mom gave me a little quiz when I was...I think six, and I was declared a Republican. Now that I look back on it, I think mommy dearest might have given a biased quiz. The only question I remember was whether I thought abortion was okay. I responded, "Yeah. Wait, mommy, what's abortion?" Well, that's a wonderful question to be hearing from a six-year-old, now, isn't it? (I'm a Democrat and against abortion, so maybe mom...I don't know, let's not go there.) So yes, throughout my childhood I had a Republican identity, and admittedly, that lasted through the first part of my teen years. Then came the 2008 elections, and I started joking...well...complaining ...that I almost wished the Dems would win the next election so they'd quit complaining. Ironic, I know. But then I started listening to their arguments, and, wonder of wonders, they made sense. I took a few online quizzes to see where I really stood, and sure enough, I came out on the left (just barely, but still) and oddly enough, I wasn't surprised. Almost relieved. So now I knew I was a Democrat, and I didn't exactly flaunt it, but my oh-so-observant parents knew it anyway. (Note to self: Parents might be psychic aliens from a distant galaxy. That would explain a lot.) Apparently when I turn 18, my only options are to register as Republican or Independant. Because, obviously, if I'm a Democrat, I eat puppies as a hobby. (That was sarcasm, calm down.)