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Political Alignment of Columbus Underground Readership

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from Mercurius
poll: What political party do you most closely identify with?
Democratic Party : (45 votes)

41 %

Republican Party : (6 votes)

5 %

Libertarian Party : (6 votes)

5 %

Green Party : (8 votes)

7 %

Independent OR Moderate : (43 votes)

39 %

None of the Above : (2 votes)

2 %

110 votes

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I often hear people (both regulars to CU and non-regulars alike) cite that the Columbus Underground readership has a strong left-leaning Democratic following, but for anyone who carefully follows various conversations it's pretty apparent that most opinionated political contributors have a more diverse and non-traditional stance than the regular two-party system.

This isn't something we ask in our annual study on readership demographics, as our potential advertisers never really care about the political stance of our readership... but I thought it might be interesting to start up an anonymous poll to see how everyone here self-identifies when it comes to political party alignments.

I wouldn't bee too surprised to see a majority of the readership identify as democrats, as CU is a very region-specific website, and Franklin County has a larger number of registered Democrats than Republicans... but I'm guessing that we've actually got a larger number of third-party, independent, and moderate thinkers here who just happen to lean more towards the left than the right when it comes to the types of issues discussed on CU on a regular basis.

Thoughts?

Posted 2 years ago #
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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Registered Libertarian here.

ETA:
Realistically that translates to fiscally conservative, socially liberal, with emphasis on personal freedoms such as the right to choose & the right to bear arms. Not in favor of the death penalty either. I haven't been excited about a Dem or Rep candidate in a long time, and I don't see it happening in the near future. The whole two-party thing is too freaking polarizing to me, and just seems to promote bickering rather than finding our common ground as Americans.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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right-leaning moderate. with a dash of common sense.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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fine idea. Data gathering is almost always interesting.

In my own case, I care not for anonymity. I'll freely admit that my political alignment can best be described as "fscking disgusted by both sides".

No party has a monopoly on good ideas, and no party has all the answers, but it seems sometimes the loudest voices on all sides seem to be the ones with the worst ideas and the first to ignore good ideas presented by "the bad guys".

Posted 2 years ago #
ChrisSunami
King-Lincoln District
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I'm completely sick of the Democrats. I've never voted Green, but that's how I've decided to identify myself in the future. But really, I'm not sure there's a label that fits.

PRO
environment
life
social justice
the arts
the humanities
religion
intellectual achievement
equity

ANTI
capitalism/consumerism
death penalty, abortion, euthanasia
fundamentalism
war

There's really not a party for me. I would put myself in the independent category if you hadn't lumped it together with moderate --I hate the mushy middle most of all.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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also, can I just say right now that I would really like to see this thread NOT become a big hairy argument on who is right and who is wrong?

That might screw up the poll by biasing. Please let people state their opinions freely without trying to shoot them down even if you hate what they say.

Posted 2 years ago #
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Hope this is not a derail, but how do I change my party affiliation on my registration?

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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Rockmastermike wrote >>
also, can I just say right now that I would really like to see this thread NOT become a big hairy argument on who is right and who is wrong?

Good luck with that.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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Rockmastermike wrote >>

In my own case, I care not for anonymity. I'll freely admit that my political alignment can best be described as "fscking disgusted by both sides".

Not a bad way to describe how I feel, either.

On the totalitarian / libertarian scale I lean libertarian.

Posted 2 years ago #
The Hegemo
Delusions of Grandview
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KSquared wrote >>
Hope this is not a derail, but how do I change my party affiliation on my registration?

In Ohio you only become "registered" as a party member by voting in a party primary. If you want to change, when the next primary comes around, you would request the ballot of whatever party you wish to support now (or a non-partisan ballot if you just want to vote on issues and not in party primaries).

I believe there is a law that if you've previously voted in one party's primary and are requesting a ballot from another party, they can ask you to sign a statement that says you're asking for the ballot because you legitimately support the other party now, are not just trying to fuck with their primary, etc. I've only ever voted in one party's primaries, though, so I don't know if they follow this in practice and really do make people sign the statement.

Posted 2 years ago #
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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I'm one of those liberal Democratic "Socialist" (lol) bleeding heart tree hugger social worker types.
Although I'd always cross party lines to vote for someone I could really stand behind. A candidate's stance on reproductive rights and healthcare issues are generally dealbreakers though.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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The Hegemo wrote >>
I believe there is a law that if you've previously voted in one party's primary and are requesting a ballot from another party, they can ask you to sign a statement that says you're asking for the ballot because you legitimately support the other party now, are not just trying to fuck with their primary, etc. I've only ever voted in one party's primaries, though, so I don't know if they follow this in practice and really do make people sign the statement.

When I crossed party lines, there was no statement to sign.

Posted 2 years ago #
paktinat
WP
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where is the pro-abortion socialist nazi sodomite option?

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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Independent capitalist

Posted 2 years ago #
dru
IV
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clearly CU is an extension of the Democratic party. i mean look at all the Obama love from Snarf, Von, Hael, Rus, Tenzo, Howatzer, the guy with the Bruno Avatar. I mean, you might as well admit this whole thing is funded by Acorn or something.

Posted 2 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Rockmastermike wrote >>
I'll freely admit that my political alignment can best be described as "fscking disgusted by both sides".

Hear Hear!

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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kitoba wrote >>
There's really not a party for me. I would put myself in the independent category if you hadn't lumped it together with moderate --I hate the mushy middle most of all.

I actually meant that as Independent OR Moderate, and not Independent AND Moderate. At first was was going to call that last option "No Affiliation" but figured that might not be descriptive enough for most people.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I have libetarian tendencies but largely identify as an independent. I was raised Republican to the point that I was campaigning for Bush in '04 my first year in college. I lean right in many cases but have brief moments of almost being a liberal.

I am very strongly for a small, limited government that provides the basic neccesities that can't be produced sucessfully in the private sector-so defense, transportation/infrastructure and the like. I'm not a huge fan of social programs but recognize that there is some need. Would like to see some focus on actually helping people-feed a man a fish vs. teach a man kind of thing. Religion should stay out of politics, period. Strongly in favor of gay rights, against the death penalty, largely pro-life-would like to see more information and support of adoption, but ultimately it is the decision of the individual and not the goverment.

Posted 2 years ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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blammo wrote >>
I haven't been excited about a Dem or Rep candidate in a long time, and I don't see it happening in the near future. The whole two-party thing is too freaking polarizing to me, and just seems to promote bickering rather than finding our common ground as Americans.

I recommend proportional representation as an antidote to the two-party system.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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von wrote >>
right-leaning moderate. with a dash of common sense.

Interesting choice of words ;)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/sarah-palin-tells-rush-li_b_361337.html

Posted 2 years ago #