“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.” -George Washington, First POTUS.
I do not like labels. Then again, there are few things in life that I've found to actually enjoy, but that's beside the point. For as long as I can remember, I've been a label-peeler; any label that can be removed in my presence generally is. In the literal sense (i.e., my habit of peeling the labels off water and coke bottles), it's nothing more than exactly that, a habit. When it comes to figurative language, I attribute my disdain for labels, cliques, and "scenes" to the fact that I've never really felt that I belonged in just one category. My qualities can't be boiled down and handed out, like some kind of product.
Because of that, it simply makes sense that I would abhor the system that forces you to pledge loyalty to one ideology versus another. Two years ago, I had zero interest in politics at all (honestly, I still only care a minimal amount. Don't ask me about my opinion on any candidate's policies, because I don't have one), due to the remnants of a high school career filled with angst. One year ago, as I paid my car registration downtown, I decided to register to vote (the 2016 election will be my first time voting). Unfortunately, I registered as a Republican without realizing how trapped it would make me feel.
Being part of a political party scares me; many people, be they Democrat or Republican, are not very educated when it comes down to election time. In fact, more often than not, it seems that people will vote straight down the line according to their own parties (I once saw a person on Twitter pushing votes for Clinton in case Sanders didn't get the nomination, because "she's still a better candidate than any of the GOP guys," and quite frankly, that's just not true. No matter how many times she "dabs" or assures us that she's a woman, Hillary Clinton will never be trustworthy. Not that any politician actually is, but come on.
Such blind loyalty to particular parties could arguably be the reason the nation is in such disarray (or, probably other reasons too. I'm not really paying that much attention, because I don't have to). And to be quite honest, I'm not voting to show my loyalty for some stupid party (if you actually boil them down, they're not all that different, anyway. You all are just label-crazy.); I'm voting because of a loyalty and duty to my country to help pick a leader I believe in (even though the elections are probably rigged anyway). I don't want to be tied down and expected to stick to the status quo of my elected party, and that's why I'm a soon-to-be-registered Independent (message to the rest of America: Stop acting like the word "Independent" is a dirty word and read this fantastic article instead).
In the words of our great first president, "A two party system will ruin this nation." (I'm paraphrasing, of course.)
