Independent Voters Fed Up With Entire Political System

Moderates of all stripes and centrist independents are beginning to come to the end of our leashes. The GOP got our support because of liberal overreach, not because we are any more conservative. Split government is the best option we have right now, and until we have more moderate and centrist options, the swinging back and forth is the best either party can expect from now on. Solomon Kleinsmith Rise of the Center

I'll tell you what I am fed up with. I am fed up with lawyers who cost the American people MILLIONS of dollars every year by prolonging court cases for the likes of the Eliz Smart abductor, the two men in CT who tortured and killed one mans' entire family, and similar cases. Everyone is entitled to a defense, but when the obvious is known by the entire country, the manipulations and machinations of courts and lawyers simply bleed us dry, for no reason other than notoriety and an attempt to get their names in lights for a short while.

It would be interesting to find out those who claim to be a independent voter did they vote for a different party during this election than previous elections? What would be actual percentage change?

As Federal headcount and economic influence have grown metastatically since 1932, the parties on both sides of the aisle have learned to operate government as a huge shakedown machine harvesting influence bucks form unions, banksters, lobbiests, corporate and Big Pharma, to the highest bidder to assure a handsome return from the hapless taxpayer. Big Government has led to huge inefficiencies and deep, structural corruption.

For all of you saying "Voting 3rd party is a throw-away vote". We the independents are greater in number than either major party. If ALL of us voted 3rd party, all the time, it would be incredibly effective, especially considering how many people usually don't vote at all. If 100% of independents vote 3rd party vs 75% of democrats voting democrat, we'd win elections by a landslide every time. This individual defeatism is stupid. We are all "just one person", but together we are more than 8 MILLION STRONG. I'll say that again - EIGHT MILLION of us, according to the latest eligible voter counts. If we all gave a dollar to an independent candidate, they would have enough campaign money to spend like the big guys. If we all turned out and voted, what kinds of change could we create? Voters don't get much media attention these days. Elections aren't focused on how many of us are eligible to participate, and I think that's for a reason: if we knew exactly how many other people like us were out there, willing to vote, wanting to make change, do you think the incumbents would ever get back into office? We can benefit from knowing we're part of a bigger movement. There are a lot of us here, and if we really want change hard enough we'll make it happen. Your vote is never thrown away. If you believe that, you may as well take out your voice box, shut down your computer and go sit in a bunker for the rest of your life because by choosing not to participate in what little democracy this country has left, you're throwing away your rights and helping the rest of us throw away ours as well. Your right to free speech is only assured as long as you vote in someone who will protect it; if you want to keep complaining you'd better start voting.

I agree we need an independent party. I had a difficult time making voting decisions this time because I did not like what the candidates on either side represented. In fact, it was difficult to find out what they represented because of all the mudslinging back and forth. Also, I would like to see open primaries so all the people have a chance to choose who runs for election. I do not consider myself democrat or republican so I did not vote in the primaries as you have to declare yourself as one or the other. Independent candidates should have a chance in the primaries as well. The lack of open primaries disenfrancises a large segments of voters who do not like the extremism of either party. I also believe there should be a time limit on campaigning and there should be free radio and TV time for all candidates so they are not beholding to big doners. If the campaign time was more limited maybe those elected would actually have time to get something done besides run for the next election. The campaigns have become too long and too costly.

Tonight is no doubt a win for republicans, but it's not any consensus yet. We need you to go to Washington with the goal of solving our problems, not to sit on your hands and wait for the next election. Independent voters clearly put you where you are, and we can just as easily remove you.

These people make some good points. I'm a Democrat, but there are issues, important to me, that they are not addressing, partly because it's not their accepted stance to take...it's like there can be little moving toward the 'other side's' stance, even if it's the right thing to do. And visa versa.

Interesting way to slant a story. Who do they think makes up the tea party voters? I realize the author and editor of this story wants to diminish the influence of the tea party, but we independent voters are a major force among the independent voting block.

Some really sound intelligent comments here, that for the most part are not party affilaited or clouded by the "cool aid" of either party. It gives me faith and restores belief in the USofA to read these. Particulaly cptmunson et al.