I'm announcing I'm an independent again. First time since 2016.

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I am now identifying as an independent again and not a Republican. First time since 2016. I no longer identify with either party. Neither party shares my values of what I want. I will vote based on the quality of the candidate not party ID. Not ruling out voting 3rd party as well in some cases.

I was a democrat 2004-2012
Independent 2012-2016
Republican 2016-2022

Now independent 2022-
again

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Did Rs do something to turn you off?

Yes actually a few.

[SN2903]

Did Rs do something to turn you off?

Yes actually a few.

I'm going to guess it was J6-related, but I don't have a high amount of confidence in this guess.

Honestly it's a lot of things . J6 isn't really high on the list. It's mostly how I see both the parties getting more and more partisan and extreme and becoming about a "team" rather than actually standing for something. I could still vote for a dem or republican in a particular race but it' really about the individual more to me now and who they are, what they stand for

[SN2903]

Not gonna lie, seems kinda crazy to imagine now being the point you jump ship given events of the past few years, but hey, all power to ya! Welcome to the politically homeless gang.

It makes sense honestly because I've always been more about message then party.

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It takes a lot of guts to admit something like this, props to you.

thanks

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Are you voting in the upcoming midterms?

Yep

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You're not alone. The GOP failed to abandon Reaganomics, have made xenophobic dog whistles, and are now anti-democratic (something I really began to notice after the Maricopa recount and subsequent reaction), the Dems are out of touch on cultural issues, have embraced some of the biggest war hawks/violators of civil liberties, embraced globalism, and are too enriched in power to advocate for direct democracy, the only way to get rid of the corporate stronghold that has invaded politics. It's like neither party is willing to learn or solve the problems of this country. And that's without mentioning the elephant in the room which was implied, that both are authoritarian and willing to use authoritarian means to get what they want.

Yeah it's like they both have embraced their biggest weaknesses.

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A reminder that the average Atlas user is 1000x more politically conscious than your average voter

thank you and I agree!