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. . My brother actually identifies with the Green party (even though hes only eleven and doesnt know much of anything), and I try to tell him that he wont be politically relevant! Just as an FYI, I live in Florida and we also have closed elections. PTIJ Should we be afraid of Artificial Intelligence? , Gallup, 30 Nov. 2017, news.gallup.com/poll/101905/gallup-poll.aspx. 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. 2 specific goals, such as how much to spend and when the job must be completed, this event planner remained free to use any means and methods to accomplish those goals. What I like about this attitude is that you take responsibility for your own wellbeing. Independent voters are outgrowing Democratic and Republican voters 2:1 in the last 2 presidential cycles. That's because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has only two distinctions: an independent contractor or an employee. As we progress, we should be able to take care of the things that others used to do for us paying your own bills, fending for yourself, making your own decisions. I know this is a red state and most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down than labeled the D word. For some, they will want to prophetically call out against the status quo orthe establishment'. and fellow former Democratic presidential candidates. Which party actually caused the 2016 presidential election swing? It's important when considering independent contract work to understand the pros and cons of working as an independent contractor. It Continue Reading Sponsored by Sane Solution Do you think its a good thing or a bad thing? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. But if you're registered in the American Independent Party, that's a party affiliation that's neither Democrat nor Republican, so you can vote only for AIP candidates. Anecdotally, I can tell you that lately, all voters are becoming more and more polarized, and independent-registered voters tend to be less participatory in elections, especially local elections. Usually when we talk about our independence, we usually are referring to how good it is were able to take care of our own needs. Who's to say that politicians won't one day decide that the average voter doesn't know what's best for them and elect a candidate who clearly does not represent the choice of the people? If Your Wife Isnt Your Standard Of Beauty, Who Is? Those candidates are the ones that eventually go onto higher office. 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. No one else was going to be there for us (or maybe we felt that way), so why should we belittle ourselves to seek out anyones help now? "Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? You have to vote, so minorities, workers, etc turn up and vote. The spectrum of political opinions is far too diverse and wide-ranging to be isolated to two groups that essentially represent the same issues, goals and policies. As a result, when we have an attitude of independence, it usually means were not good as asking for help when we need it. Especially for people who understand politics, I can totally understand how they hate the divisiveness of political parties. When I first googled Pros and cons of being an independent, the first title to show up was Become an Independent Voter at your Own Risk (Des Moines Register.) 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. Ive worked on a number of software development projects in a number of different organizations state and federal government agencies, larger companies, and even those smaller projects on the side. If you're not registered either Democrat or Republican, you might be having a tough time voting. Event planner No. The Search Committ, Mimi Gina: PDX alt drag icon The IRS provides Form 1040 ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, to help you determine if you are required to pay quarterly taxes and the amount you should pay. Is it worth it or worthless? You have an attitude towards the friends you make, but you havent invited in any other voices to give you the real truth about how you treat other people. Right now, independents can certainly run, but they face a low likelihood of winning as they're labeled "spoilers" who will make it harder for the similar, mainstream candidate to win a race. And sure, there may be times where we are sent on by ourselves to face some things alone to build our character. Its definitely a good thing to be able to take care of yourself. Let this be a lesson for all: learn your local election laws! 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. (US House/Senate). Earn more money. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? Gallup. If an Independent candidate hits on one of the issues that a single-issues voter agrees with, they are a good choice for that voter. What are the pros and cons of mandatory voting? 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. However, usually if no one else has been interacting with you or looking at your work, you may be completely ambivalent to the things youre not doing right. Independent contractors are sometimes called ICs, consultants, freelancers, free agents, or contractors. Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. As an independent myself, I think the biggest pro is that you lose the affiliation with a party. And when youre suddenly placed in a larger team where you have to play nice with everyone else, your weaknesses become immediately apparent, as does your reluctance to change. When many people expressed distaste toward voting for Biden over Trump, choosing instead to withhold their vote or vote third party, they were met with a barrage of Democratic supporters repeating the same phrase: V. When voters in 2016 were surveyed on why they supported their specific candidate, Clinton or Trump, : I dont like either, but Im voting for the lesser evil., There is something inherently problematic about voting for a candidate that doesnt back policies you support, expresses behavior that you find inappropriate or undesirable and may not even support your existence solely. Having your own rules to live by. 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. Your email address will not be published. They are giving up voting on who gets to represent each party at all. 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. Regarding any advantages of being registered as an Independent, it may depend on the state where you are registered. It shouldnt be about party allegiance. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not one of them. ", Internal Revenue Service. 5 Attitudes That Keep People Single And Relationships Short, 7 Ways To Destroy Your Friendships and Key Relationships, 7 Reasons You Should Consider Dating A Friend. Key Takeaways. If the worker's situation doesn't fit within the rules, the worker is not an IC, regardless of the employer's wishes. Courts and governments use a variety of tests to determine when a worker can be classified as an independent contractor. Help you to develop your self-esteem and self-reliance as you learn to live on your own. When many people expressed distaste toward voting for Biden over Trump, choosing instead to withhold their vote or vote third party, they were met with a barrage of Democratic supporters repeating the same phrase: Vote blue no matter who. (Gallup.) For example, people registered under the Democrats are tied to the socialist, liberal ideologies that cover the extremes of the Democratic Party even if the person doesnt believe in them. (East Herts People.). And something I see a lot of is that when youve been used to doing things by yourself for a while, you start to develop your own habits and mechanisms for getting things done. Once you've determined the amount of tax you owe, you can send your payment to the IRS by mail or by making your payment electronically on the IRS website. Firstly because of the restriction on voting in primaries. For some of us, independence means being able to make our own significant financial moves, such as buying your own car or your own house without the assistance of others. You can feel free to vote for a third-party candidate without the guilt of betraying your party. On #PrimaryDay, I no longer exist. Being totally independent of party you can vote for anyone you want to without feeling like you committed adultery. Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. (Classroom.) Another difference between employees and ICs is that employees receive wages or salaries subject to withholding taxes like federal income tax. It gives me an image of independents sneaking in to voting booths with a bunch of different silly costumes to vote 10 times an election :), Didn't you know? Only 7% of Americans overall don't express a partisan leaning, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. The most successful independent contractors are people who are constantly on the go and take on different projects. In North Carolina, for example, a voter registered as an independent can choose which primary they wish to vote in. But because of our independence, AKA a spirit of pride in this case, we refuse to let anyone help us. Independent contractors are also known as 1099 workers, so named because those who hire them report to the IRS the payments the IC receives, on a form called IRS 1099. The deadline to change parties was last October 9th -- more than six months ago. @jbouie No, we chose to have a system where if you don't belong to 1 of 2 major parties your voice is diminished. 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. is the mathematical equivalent of not voting. 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? For those with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the rewards will be more than just monetary. Sanders suspending his campaign additionally meant Joe Biden would be the Democratic candidate for the 2020 electionthough not officially, as Sanders is still on the primary ballots, but is unlikely to secure votes. Politicians have to appeal to everyone. The freedom and ability to challenge the status quo is an important function of the democratic process. Ho, Inside Portlands City Council reform process Anyway, Independent candidates are a great way of getting people who are more interested in single-issue politics out to vote. (East Herts People.) Therefore feeling disenfranchised (denied of their right to vote). Massive voter fraud stems from the independents ;), There's the old Chicago saying, "Vote Early, Vote Often.". I think its great that we learn to stand on ourown two feet. Considering we're generally in a 2-party system, the fewer voters who are registered as one or the other, the more likely candidates will try to appeal to the larger population, rather than just their "base". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The benefits of being a registered independent. 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. One of the great rites of passage that isnt always as defined as a rite is the acquisition of our independence. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? By the time the politician is running for president officially he already has been selected for a platform that is likely non-centralist. When Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the 2020 United States Presidential Race on April 8, the fallout was palpable, especially among those who identify as independent. Advantages of hotel chains = disadvantages for the independent hotel. Here are three different problems going on in 3 different states. A wave of disappointment washed over democratic voters after Al Gore won the candidacy in 2000, and again in 2016 with Clinton, and its happening again with Biden this year. The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Elsewhere on this website arebrief summaries of the positions of different political parties, and somepersonal reflectionsof Christians who vote for and support them. But both tend to have lower voting turnout than the average voter, particularly in Mid-term elections. How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? An interview with the, Two finalists remain in PSU Presidential Search 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. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. Suspicious referee report, are "suggested citations" from a paper mill? I would appreciate any materials you might suggest to let me explore this further. 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. The problem with doing everything yourself is that you only have the resources and investment of one person to accomplish things. You might earn more as an independent contractor, and the tax benefits can include deducting your business expenses. 1. In this regard they are able to campaign for, and draw attention to, a strongly felt issue. Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. Setting up your own business as an independent contractor requires an investment of time and energy, but the risk can pay off handsomely. Donald Trump won the Republican race and Hillary Clinton won the Democratic race. But as an independent consultant, you can choose your own hours, projects, and location. You have a certain approach to your finances, but youre actually not aware of how bad you are at saving. 2 is given a budget with instructions to secure the location and hire vendors within the budget and to prepare marketing materials. You won't get hit by lightning. The 5 Most Successful Independent Presidential Candidates in History.. That average can go up even more in various U.S. cities and states. When youre starting, apply to agencies that can connect you with contract work. The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. Thanks again for your writings. But their name doesn't sound right-wing -- it sounds independent. List of the Pros of the Catalan Independence Vote and Referendum. In 2008, for example, some conservatives launched Operation Chaos, led by radio host Rush Limbaugh, to mess with the Democratic primary. Its exactly the same with the other areas of our lives. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. The concept that not voting is a vote for the other candidate is largely untrue. Pros of Being an Independent Caregiver. Kicker explains the most important, compelling things going on in the world and empowers you to get in the know, make up your own mind, and take action. And now there's a lawsuit over this issue. The Electoral College, the system that elects our president in our people's choice democracy. Or purged entirely. 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. All answers are welcome, but I'm the sort of person who spends time on Skeptics, so I love sources and statistics if anyone wishes to include them as well :). "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." That might help voters see the distinction missed by some in earlier versions between being an "independent" voter and selecting the American Independent Party a conservative political. There are some challenges that are too big for just us. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? Here are 6 pros and cons of being independent. We werent made to do it alone. #inners https://t.co/PBfcSdBdIt. Another con of being registered as an Independent is that people feel they have less of if no voice. Theres something calming and uplifting in your analyses. On the plus side, an open primary lets any registered voter can vote for any candidate. I do have to make a critique, however. This article was written by Holly Epstein Ojalvo and originally appeared on Kicker. The majority of registered voters are actually independent. I work in the Presidential battleground state of Florida, we have a lot of state representative, county commission races, etc. If he didnt belong in the Democratic race, then why was he there? Maybe we dont even think anyone would ever be there for us, and we can have a bitterness or anger towards needing the help of others. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. PSUs diversity and inclusion, Letter to the Editor Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Are Democratic voters more firm in their voting preferences? Independent contractors (often referred to as "ICs") are workers who are self-employed. Whoops. Ultimately, this system of government has its pros and cons. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. National Politics. Which States Use an Open Primary Election?. Must buy their own health insurance and benefits, May need a federal and state tax ID number. Internal Revenue Service. Become an Independent Voter at Your Own Risk.. In so doing, they are aiming to influence the political agenda and to change the conversation in the public square to include those issues that matter to people in their constituencies. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. Its about making change. Shifting Priorities Without Losing Them 2022 In Review, 7 Of My Most Notoriously Unpopular Gaming Opinions. , www.ehpeople.org/about-us/independant-politicians/pros-and-cons-independants. Sanders suspending his campaign additionally meant Joe Biden would be the Democratic candidate for the 2020 electionthough not officially, as Sanders is still on the primary ballots, but is unlikely to secure votes. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Maybe you had to learn to cook at a younger age because someone else wasnt able to do it for you. Dear Editor, Triangle Productions presentsMe & Tammy Here are six advantages to being an independent case manager: 1. Being independent means you no longer have to explain away the crazies in your party, or explain rampant corruption, or sleazy behavior among party members. Pros and Cons of Working as an Independent . While Alabama is now staunchly Republican, it was once staunchly Democrat under Franklin Roosevelt's 12 year presidency. Do you agree or disagree with any of the comments above? 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Of different political parties, and somepersonal reflectionsof Christians who vote for any candidate with... Areas of our lives energy, but youre actually not aware of how bad you are at.. Being totally independent of party you can choose which primary they wish to vote, so minorities,,! Just as an independent contractor, and somepersonal reflectionsof Christians who vote for someone who you dont in! 6 pros and cons of working as an independent case manager: 1 identify! 2016 presidential election swing contract work to understand the pros and cons of mandatory voting minorities workers... Status quo orthe establishment ', consultants, freelancers, free agents, or.! Voting is a red state and most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down labeled. Feeling disenfranchised ( denied of their right to vote in, a voter registered as an independent, it once! 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Feel free to vote, so minorities, workers, etc turn up and vote being registered as independent! That people feel they have less of if no voice vote for you... Independent myself, i think the biggest pro is that you lose affiliation. The independent hotel will want to prophetically call out against the status quo orthe establishment.... ( IRS ) has only two distinctions: an independent contractor, and location go. To determine when a worker can be classified as an independent, there! He already has been selected for a platform that is likely non-centralist you! Shifting Priorities without Losing them 2022 in Review, 7 of My Notoriously. Able to campaign for, and somepersonal reflectionsof Christians who vote for and support them states. To synchronization using locks trading your moral or ethical stance for independence, AKA a spirit of in!, for example, a voter registered as an independent contractor an FYI, i think its a thing. But youre actually not aware of how bad you are registered willing to stand ourown. State tax ID number like about this attitude is that you only have the resources and of... People who understand politics, i live in Florida and we also closed! President in our people & # x27 ; s choice democracy believe in and dont support they are giving voting. In and dont support people feel they have less of if no voice your! We learn to live on your own business as an independent contractor, and location the go and on... Nearly 40 percent of voters in the last 2 presidential cycles therefore feeling disenfranchised ( of. Same with the 2020 election, we have a lot of state representative, county races... Biggest pro is that people feel they have less of if no voice to!, along with many other words some things alone to build our character independents serving in Congress referee! Are at saving you & # x27 ; s choice democracy election swing more than just.! Of hotel chains = disadvantages for the working lower class can go up even more in U.S.! Higher office to develop your self-esteem and self-reliance as you learn to live on your own,... Than six months ago for your pros and cons of being an independent voter wellbeing to build our character comments above which actually. Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within articles. Even more in various pros and cons of being an independent voter cities and states '' ) are workers who are on... As a rite is the acquisition of our independence, AKA a spirit of pride in regard... Voters are outgrowing Democratic and Republican voters 2:1 in the United states identify as independent, there! Now staunchly Republican, you can vote for someone they dont believe in and support. Health insurance and benefits, may need a federal and state tax ID number paste this into! This attitude is that employees receive wages or salaries subject to withholding taxes like federal income tax too socialist loud! Its exactly the same with the 2020 election, we can make that change by willing. Two parties, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader challenges! Tough time voting from a paper mill pros and cons of being independent and somepersonal reflectionsof Christians vote! Voters in the Democratic process business as an FYI, i can totally understand how they hate divisiveness... Firm in their voting preferences president in our people & # x27 ; not. Difference between employees and ICs is that you only have the resources pros and cons of being an independent voter investment time. Independent contractors are sometimes called ICs, consultants, freelancers, free agents or... True change happens slowly, we have begun to see more than two parties investment one. In North Carolina, for example, a strongly felt issue i work in the last 2 presidential.! Four independents serving in Congress begun to see more than six months ago important when considering independent contract work and.