(538) Americans are shifting the rest of their identity to match their politics

[Konnstann]

I think that sipping either party's kool-aid and participating in identity politics is the opposite of what the general populace need to do to maintain any sort of reasonable government. When both parties are advocating for strong off-center policies and shoving divisive rhetoric down the throats of the constituents, the losers are not only the party out of power, but the people who don't participate in identity politics, the moderates.

I am a straight, white, middle class man, but also a first-generation immigrant, with vested interests in the United States' foreign policy decisions. I have historically voted democrat, but I would just as likely voted republican, and have voted republican, depending on the position and candidate. The idea that I should vote for the party of the straight white man, as opposed to the candidate that advocates for policies affecting every demographic in ways I consider useful, or even voting for candidates I consider willing to compromise, is stupid and foreign to me.

As far as the federal government goes, if I could forsee the makeup of one branch of government, be it congress or the white house, I would always vote to keep the other party in power in the other branch. We are no longer in an era where representatives vote according to their constituents' needs, rather along party lines, and I prefer gridlock in the government to one party pushing through their agenda, as is happening with this administration. During the Obama presidency, the republican party controlled Congress, but even then the differences amongst their representatives allowed bipartisan measures to pass. There needs to be discord in the parties, and identity needs to stay out of politics.

[Peachy]

Fuck off, the gay mafia killed my wife and son and strapped me to a twink during reeducation. It's a serious problem.