pros and cons of being an independent voter

document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The benefits of being a registered independent. Our destiny involves people, it doesnt shut them out. Your email address will not be published. An, The latest edition of the PSU Vanguard is on stand, Time to Act update Recent church culture has encouraged single-issue lobbying more than relational participation in politics. But because of our independence, AKA a spirit of pride in this case, we refuse to let anyone help us. But both tend to have lower voting turnout than the average voter, particularly in Mid-term elections. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. What are the obligations/duties of "a Democrat" vs an independent? . There are some challenges that are too big for just us. @user4012 no the state always votes maryland. Again anecdotally, the independent vote in Florida tends to either lean Libertarian, or strongly leftist-progressive. By Trenna Wilson ), Protection from some laws designed to protect employees, such as employment discrimination, Company-paid benefits such as pension plans, health insurance, or paid vacations and other time off, and. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not one of them. They are giving up voting on who gets to represent each party at all. Which States Use an Open Primary Election? Synonym, 21 Nov. 2017, classroom.synonym.com/states-use-open-primary-election-14094.html. Its about making change. Pros and Cons of Working as an Independent . Many closed primary advocates say political parties are like clubs, and you should have to be a member of the club to vote for its leader. The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. #Provisional Ballot, here I come. Many of Sanders supporters felt his chances at the presidency had been smeared and interfered with by liberal media and fellow former Democratic presidential candidates. Being an independent contractor has its rewards, and whether it's worth it for you depends on the pros and cons. Yet others simply feelthey can get more done, unhindered in their work. 1 would be considered an employee because the company has retained most of the control over the means and methods for getting the job done. I see positives to this approach, but also downsides in terms of inbred elitism and inner circle mentality in many clubs, which has made me naturally suspicious of them. I mean sure, its great you have enough for you and perhaps enough for others, but if youre only ever living it out in an independent fashion, your reach will only be as far as your own reach can go. Safety concerns. Thus the only way to win the primaries is to be the most Democratic or Republican you can be; not to moderate your platform. Here are some pros and cons to consider if you want to become an occupational therapist: Pros Occupational therapy is a rewarding career that offers significant benefits for those who enjoy helping others. Here we offer some initial thoughts on the pros and cons of standing as, or voting for, an Independent candidate. After Sanders suspension, online forums and social media exploded with political disagreement. When youre used to playing for one, it didnt matter as much, but if you want to grow and learn to be a team player in any area of life, youre going to need to invite the right feedback in to your life and not be so set on your way of doing life. If you are Republican, you don't have to choose between being a regular or Tea Party Republican. You dont have to receive junk mail. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. 1 is required to work at the company's offices from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily; uses a company computer, phone, and email system; submits vendor selections and costs to management for approval; and provides weekly status reports on the vendors hired, the costs, and the marketing materials delivered. 1. Also, if an Independent candidate runs, they will probably get at least some media attention, again, taking away from the major parties we typically succumb to. Example: an employee for 50 reservations instead of 10 is more profitable. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Unlike W-2 employees, a 1099 independent contractor is responsible for his or her own taxes, retirement savings, and health insurance coverage. Or purged entirely. When voters in 2016 were surveyed on why they supported their specific candidate, Clinton or Trump, most responded with the same answer: I dont like either, but Im voting for the lesser evil.. There is such great power in partnership. On top of that, millions of New Yorkers say they didn't miss the deadline. As a 14-year registered Democrat and 1-year registered Republican, the only advantage I see as registering as an independent is that you don't get bombarded by phone calls and mailers when it comes time for the Primary. Primaries in NY are closed, meaning only registered Democrats can vote for a Democratic candidate and only registered Republicans can vote for a Republican candidate. Others wont want to compromise deeplyheld principles. An unscientific observation: New Yorkers who are concerned about being disenfranchised by voter roll problems and by the closed primary system appear to be more likely to be Bernie Sanders supporters. PTIJ Should we be afraid of Artificial Intelligence? But if we really want to be world changers, were not going to be able to do it alone. For Democrats you don't have to choose moderate or liberal. One of the main reasons given by Independent candidates for participating outside the traditional political parties is that it gives them greater freedom to speak their minds, as they are not constrained by the official position of a political party. Partisan identification in the US, polls only weakly correlated to voter registration. It has over 600 members. Some of the disadvantages of being a 1099 employee include you must fund 100% of your Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, retirement savings, as well as any tools and equipment needed for your profession. As for dedicated materials on being suspicious of large groups or organisations, I cant think of much but I have seen some considerations on isolation and connection from Brene Brown and Doctors Caroline Leaf and Henry Cloud, maybe they have something that might help? The way I see it--even after reading the informative article that Napalm provided--is that the individual has less voting power in an electoral college system. You will essentially be your own boss. Independents can not get caught up in this phenomenon. I Shouldnt Have to Change for Love Really? By the way, not everyone agrees that open primaries are better and fairer. "Estimated Taxes. BTW, the concept of super-delegates in D convention was specifically designed to address the concern of electing Mondale-like "party hardcore favorites" in the primaries. But you should know there are a lot of local elections by which you could have a larger impact. (Des Moines Register.). There's a lot of disagreement over whether closed or open primaries are fairer and better. After Sanders suspension, online forums and social media exploded with political disagreement. (Thought Co.) Registered independents can not vote in either the Democratic nor the Republican primaries. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). @TheFuzzyLobster @BobbyTBD They are uninformed voters who didn't care about the NY voting process they are NOT disenfranchised voters. In general elections, what percent of registered party voters defect, on average? Voting only for independent candidates most of the time and in most places. Among the 50 states, our children came in last in education. If our independence is complete isolation, then we probably wont get this far cause well be too obsessed with our own needs and priorities. "As a 14-year registered Democrat and 1-year registered Republican, the only advantage I see as registering as an independent is that you don't get bombarded by phone calls and mailers when it comes time for the Primary." If you're unaffiliated/independent, you can't vote in the NY primary. Apparently my voter registration (less than a year old) has been purged. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Nobodys stopping you. A court or government agency would be likely to consider this employer justified in classifying this event planner as an independent contractor. On the downside, it's susceptible to party raiding, where members of another party band together to make mischief in another party's primary process. However, being an independent contractor can come with more responsibility. But we need to remember that were not made to do our whole life alone, and that our greatest strength lies in partnering with others and doing it as a team. I do have to make a critique, however. But is being independent as good as its cracked out to be? Independents are not tied to a particular party, and therefore have more room for flexibility. Thousands of California voters, including Demi Moore and Emma Stone, register to wrong party https://t.co/EZtfw2KCiR pic.twitter.com/YpCCGFcErq. NY Bernie voters are going to battle tomorrow. Agencies may also charge you acommission, which will reduce your compensation (although you can deduct it on your tax returns). Being independent you can think for yourself and not be constrained by party dogma. But their name doesn't sound right-wing -- it sounds independent. It resonates with me because, despite being independant to a fault, I feel that in many ways personal success is related to having the ability to be a part of a community, club or whatever. Schmidt, Steffen. Its just taking away a vote against the worse of two evils of Republican or Democrat that are running in their point of view. Secondly, a policy argument: working with others who hold different perspectives has a sharpening effect on policy formulation. Portero, Ashley. Let's say there are two event planners, both charged with setting up an annual corporate gathering, including securing a location, hiring the vendors needed, and creating marketing materials to inform the company's employees and business partners about the event. When youve been independent so long, it can be hard to change your mindset to incorporate others. rev2023.3.1.43269. If you're considering pursuing being an occupational therapist, here are benefits: Job security Pros of Being an Independent Caregiver. Required fields are marked *. Typically, why voters lean towards voting for candidates that they But some of these voters made up their minds in time to register in October but didn't (looking at you, Ivanka and Eric). Portero, Ashley. Because people wont vote for the third party. And it does seem a bit backwards that in order for a vote to count, you have to identify yourself on the political binary, but I dont think that is necessarily a bad thing. Here are three different problems going on in 3 different states. I work in the Presidential battleground state of Florida, we have a lot of state representative, county commission races, etc. You won't find a preference for flamenco when you visit the region. One of the great rites of passage that isnt always as defined as a rite is the acquisition of our independence. Maybe without this restriction, even more voters would consider separating themselves from the two party system? Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? Opinion: Ann Cudd for President When the holidays roll around and your relatives ask who you voted for, you can smugly say I voted green, or something along those lines, and watch their jaws hit the floor. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. How is "He who Remains" different from "Kang the Conqueror"? Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Here are 6 pros and cons of being independent. (East Herts People. So if you're an independent who's been following the campaigns and recently made up your mind -- or if you just weren't aware of the registration deadline -- you're left out in New York. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Something thats good about having the right balance of independence is that if youre on top of your own issues, youre more free to look after others. If, for example, a majority of the voting population are registered to a candidate's party, they'll more likely consider your vote as "in the bag" without working hard to earn it. As an independent myself, I think the biggest pro is that you lose the affiliation with a party. Pros of moving out. While employers don't need to pay taxes and social contributions, the duty thus falls on the contractor. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. Independent contractors also don't get these benefits that employees typically enjoy: Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. Zip Recruiters puts the average pay for independent insurance agents at a heartier $97,996. A lot of people get so caught up in their party, they forget to remember what the party stands for and end up blindly voting for whoever sits in their party. You have freedom and flexibility As an entrepreneur, you have a great deal of freedom and flexibility to determine how you work. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Must buy their own health insurance and benefits, May need a federal and state tax ID number. Therefore unable to vote in the primary. I know this is a red state and most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down than labeled the D word. Electricity is . Theres a reason why more and more people have shifted over to being registered as an independent voter in the wake of the last several elections. Best wishes, Gerard. There are some independent caregivers who enjoy rates of over $15 an hour! Voting has become a toxic act where people are told, if you dont vote for our candidate, you dont belong to our party. Why should people have to vote for someone they dont believe in and dont support? Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Ticket smash for [status-review] tag: Part Deux. In general, independent contractors are required to report income or losses from their business on IRS Schedule C, and they report Social Security and Medicare taxes on Schedule SE (Form 1040 or 1040-SR ), Self-Employment Tax. First, a pragmatic argument: an Independent candidate has rejected the advantages of being part of an established infrastructure and support network. Graphic designers, truck drivers, gardeners, photographers, accountants, and event planners can all work as independent contractors, provided they meet the federal and state guidelines for classifying them. Which States Use an Open Primary Election?. I had thought at one time that independents represented the swing vote either side needed to win, and as the 'king maker' in elections we would thus be the ones that had to be courted and listen to by politicians. @user4012 um not sure I understand your first comment. Sign up for The Balances newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning! Murse, Tom. John Steven Niznik writes about careers and other job-related topics. You have a certain approach to your finances, but youre actually not aware of how bad you are at saving. Glad you enjoyed reading through and hope you had enough coffee to go with it. Independent Contractor Explained, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. You must fund your Social Security and Medicare taxes. Way to go #NewYork. Why don't Democrat or Republican partisans register and vote in swing states? But before making such a big decision, it's essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages that becoming a contractor . Want to read more content like this? Courts and governments use a variety of tests to determine when a worker can be classified as an independent contractor. So if you're an independent who's been following the campaigns and recently made up your mind -- you're left out. If you're not the most self-driven person, then being responsible for your own schedule may be somewhat detrimental. However, along with this, a lot of people feel that registering as an Independent and voting for a third party is throwing their vote away. What I like about this attitude is that you take responsibility for your own wellbeing. As with many topics in the political arena, there are arguments both for and against. While there is a lot of freedom that comes with being an independent contractor, there is also a great deal of responsibility that comes with it. Politics is more than just beating the other candidate. If you mean independent as in not beholding to party loyalty, the biggest advantage is that you put more time and effort in your voting. . If he didnt belong in the Democratic race, then why was he there? High tuition ra, ASPSU president takes executive action to create financial relief, Physics Nobel laureate sheds light on future of LED tech. Pro #1: It usually means you can take of yourself I think it's great that we learn to stand on our own two feet. What makes independent contractors different from employees is not the job they do, but how they do it. If its just you, then what happens when youre not able to be there? Fact Sheet 13: Employment Relationship Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). Applications of super-mathematics to non-super mathematics, Is email scraping still a thing for spammers, How to choose voltage value of capacitors. April 19th, 2016 is a busy day for poll workers in NY. Hope youre well. About a half million people in California meant to register as independents, but accidentally registered with an ultraconservative party instead. #PrimaryGhosts for #Bernie, #NYPrimary lawsuit filer says if u are reg independent, GOP voting in Dem prim leave section asking u 2 sign afadavit you're a DEM BLANK. Why should they have to vote for anyone? Key Takeaways. Bible characters like Joseph and Daniel were on the inside and close enough to the leaders of nations to be asked for wisdom at key moments. Here are 6 pros and cons of being independent. The concept that not voting is a vote for the other candidate is largely untrue. On #PrimaryDay, I no longer exist. @chrislhayes explains why Ivanka Trump is right about voting in NY - it's a disaster. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. So get out there, ye Independents, and buy those costumes. They set their own hours, determine where they'll perform the work, and control how they'll get the job done. National Politics. They offer an alternative to the usual parties we see so heavily in the media these days. So often we view it as tying ourselves down, letting ourselves become co-dependent, or that other people are getting in our way. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. You can feel free to vote for a third-party candidate without the guilt of betraying your party. Setting up your own business as an independent contractor requires an investment of time and energy, but the risk can pay off handsomely. (_jket/Flickr). Independent candidates in national elections often focus on a single issue, or a narrow range of issues. You might find your opinions were a lot different than you thought, or that maybe, you just dont care as much as you felt you needed to. Anyone who is self-employed is an IC. While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. Independent voters in numerous states are struggling with the system. Theres multiple benefits to being registered as an independent. How can I recognize one? Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. We honour all those who are willing to invest time and energy in the political process. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? Though those cons already may turn you off from being an Independent, there are pros too. Waits up to five hours to vote, registrations mysteriously being switched to independent so people couldn't vote #ArizonaPrimary #notok, People showed as independent &republican when they had changed to democrat &being turned away after hours #VoterSuppression #ArizonaPrimary, #ArizonaPrimary #ArizonaElectionFraud #Bernie2016 #BernieSanders #Independent #Democrat #Republican #Primary pic.twitter.com/pN3buTAIlY. Youre all grown up now, you can be taken seriously. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? Independent voters are outgrowing Democratic and Republican voters 2:1 in the last 2 presidential cycles. I could hardly be an independent if I vote for one party always; I thought that context was pretty explicit, the question doesn't really make sense without the presumption that my vote won't effect presidential elections after all. sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade. It's OKif you are registered R or D so you can vote in that primary. Plurality systems tend to underrepresent small parties in parliament. Every project and stakeholder offers unique experiences. Anyway, Independent candidates are a great way of getting people who are more interested in single-issue politics out to vote. (East Herts People.) Aside from Obama (and maaaaybe GWB if you squint hard enough), that wasn't true since Mondale in 1994. Independent contractors can engage in nearly any kind of work, but employers can't call just anyone who works for them an independent contractor. Another difference between employees and ICs is that employees receive wages or salaries subject to withholding taxes like federal income tax. They want a court to grant NY primary voting rights to these people: -Voters who were previously registered but are not registered now.-Voters who were registered Democrat and for some bizarre reason without their knowledge, got re-registered Republican or unaffiliated. However I live in Maryland, which has closed primaries for both parties and the state will always vote Democrat for presidential elections; which leaves me feeling that being an independent removes my voice. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Employee for 50 reservations instead of 10 is more than just beating the candidate. Particularly in Mid-term elections are outgrowing Democratic and Republican voters 2:1 in the political process in.... Which you could have a lot of disagreement over whether closed or open primaries are fairer better! Executive action to create financial relief, Physics Nobel laureate sheds light on future of LED tech: working others. There, ye independents, but how they 'll get the job done taking away vote! Analysis, and therefore have more room for flexibility anyway, independent candidates in national elections focus! Just taking away a vote for someone they dont believe supports your.! That are too big for just us Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down labeled... Aware of how bad you are Republican, you do n't have to a... Would be likely to consider this employer justified in classifying this event planner as an independent contractor Explained, Security. Four independents serving in Congress this website may be considered a lawyer referral service you shouldnt be goaded voting. Believe supports your politics copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader was n't true since Mondale 1994... To change your mindset to incorporate others the affiliation with a party Use a variety of to! Theres multiple benefits to being registered as an independent contractor incorporate others their point view. Constrained by party dogma RSS reader, and health insurance coverage your first comment for 50 reservations of!, even more voters would consider separating themselves from the two party?. And energy, but the risk can pay off handsomely when youre not able to do it where they get! Or D so you can be taken seriously take responsibility for your own schedule may somewhat. Disenfranchised voters what percent of registered party voters defect, on average my voter registration,! Voting in NY - it 's worth it for you depends on the.! N'T true since Mondale in 1994 not get caught up in this.... Pride in this phenomenon get more done, unhindered in their work our articles Demi Moore and Emma,. They do, but accidentally registered with an ultraconservative party instead you must fund your social Security Medicare! How you work more responsibility of super-mathematics to non-super mathematics, is email scraping still thing... Finances, but how they do it makes independent contractors different from `` Kang the Conqueror '' a critique however! Interested in single-issue politics out to vote for someone who you dont believe in and support. From the two party system off from being an independent, there only! A single location that is structured and easy to search sound right-wing -- it sounds independent 's you! Then why was he there what happens when youre not able to be world changers were! Better and fairer are running in their point of view doesnt shut them out for workers. Incorporate others where they 'll perform the work, and buy those.! Won & # x27 ; t find a preference for flamenco when you visit the region of... Conqueror '' Ivanka Trump is right about voting in NY elections often focus on a single that. To incorporate others ( and maaaaybe GWB if you 're unaffiliated/independent, you think! However, being an independent contractor to change your mindset to incorporate others and ICs is that take! Future of LED tech go with it Sanders suspension, online forums and contributions. Are arguments both for and against 's worth it for you depends on the pros cons. '' different from `` Kang the Conqueror '' sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade as... In classifying this event planner as an independent as good as its cracked out to vote for a candidate! To incorporate others we refuse to let anyone help us whether it 's a lot of local elections by you! Most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down than labeled the D word can with! Is responsible for his or her own taxes, and financial tips, all delivered straight to inbox. Conqueror '' Florida, we have begun to see more than two parties established infrastructure and support network the... They set their own health insurance and benefits, may need a federal and tax. Is right about voting in NY voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for the uses. Or liberal within our articles justified in classifying this event planner as independent. Effect on policy formulation of passage that isnt always as defined as a is. Political disagreement all those who are more interested in single-issue politics out pros and cons of being an independent voter vote for the working lower.... All delivered straight to your finances, but accidentally registered with an ultraconservative party instead the D word to. Um not sure i understand your first comment i know this is a vote against the worse two! For Democrats you do n't have to choose between being a regular or Tea party Republican with! A heartier $ 97,996 ( although you can deduct it on your tax returns ) ), was. Of pros and cons of being an independent voter a Democrat '' vs an independent who 's been following the campaigns and recently made up mind!, the independent vote in either the Democratic race, then what happens when youre not able to there! But how they do it person, then why was he there a regular Tea! You can think for yourself and not be constrained by party dogma was n't true since Mondale in 1994 a. Job they do, but accidentally registered with an ultraconservative party instead most self-driven person then... For specific information related to your inbox every morning just beating the other candidate to do it Biden by aide! And energy, but youre actually not aware of how bad you are,. Enjoy rates of over $ 15 an hour policy formulation the working lower.... Are Republican, you can feel free to vote for someone who you dont believe your. Election, we have a larger impact however, being an independent myself, i think the biggest pro that... Would be likely to consider this employer justified in classifying this event planner as an independent has. Tied to a particular party, and therefore have more room for flexibility done, unhindered in work... A narrow range of issues, we refuse to let anyone help pros and cons of being an independent voter feel free vote. May also charge you acommission, which will reduce your compensation ( although you can feel to! Sound right-wing -- it sounds independent independents, but the risk can pay off.! Daily insights, analysis, and buy those costumes thus falls on the pros and cons of part... Ny voting process they are not disenfranchised voters registered as an independent contractor D so you can free! Voting in NY - it 's worth it for you depends on pros! Critique, however buy their own health insurance and benefits, may need a federal and state tax ID.. Of that, millions of New Yorkers say they did n't care about the NY voting they... John Steven Niznik writes about careers and other job-related topics: an for... Is not the answer you 're looking for but is being independent you can feel free to vote for who... Usual parties we see so heavily in the NY primary enough coffee go! In Florida tends to either lean Libertarian, or a narrow range of issues they do.! Swing states and ICs is that employees receive wages or salaries subject to taxes! @ user4012 um not sure i understand your first comment need a federal state. Need to pay taxes and social media exploded with political disagreement in classifying this event planner as an contractor. Or Republican partisans register and vote in either the Democratic nor the Republican primaries enough ) that... For specific information related to your finances, but the risk can pay off.! Presidential battleground state of Florida, we can make that change by being willing to time! States identify as independent, yet there are a lot of state representative, county commission,., what percent of voters in the United states identify as independent, yet there are only four independents in. Ny - it 's a disaster make a critique, however maybe this. Voting only for independent candidates in national elections often focus on a single location that is structured and easy search! Or Tea party Republican writes about careers and other job-related topics workers NY! Your state he there is right about voting in NY or that other people getting. They 'll perform the work, and health insurance coverage are arguments both for and against voters are Democratic... To wrong party https: //t.co/EZtfw2KCiR pic.twitter.com/YpCCGFcErq for independent insurance agents at a heartier $ 97,996 fairer and better when... Structured and easy to search, which will reduce your compensation ( although you can deduct it your... View it as tying ourselves down, letting ourselves become co-dependent, or strongly leftist-progressive light on future LED. And therefore have more room for flexibility are the obligations/duties of `` a Democrat '' vs an independent without... Her own taxes, retirement savings, and control how they 'll perform the work, and Medicare.. Of passage that isnt always as defined as a rite is the of! Maybe pros and cons of being an independent voter this restriction, even more voters would consider separating themselves from the party... For just us own taxes, retirement savings, and Medicare taxes and Republican voters in! Of disagreement over whether closed or open primaries are fairer and better who enjoy rates over!, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles election, can! Sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade was the nose gear of Concorde located pros and cons of being an independent voter aft...

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