What makes you Dem/Repub/Indep?

[Platypus]

I could never be in a party with far right or far left people, so i'm an independent.

[Platypus]

In australia, being an independent has no real net benefit or cost, besides not having to be dictated to by a party machine. Also, here we don't register as a member of a party to vote, we're all registered without status. So, I am and independent because I dislike the ALP and I hate the coalition, and there is no real reason to be in a minor party. If I had to join a party it'd be the democrats, because with preferential voting it wouldn't be as much a waste as it would be in the US to join a socially liberal economically center-right party.

I know that was all babble

[Platypus]

yeah, basically. they are small-l liberals. Socially they are very pro-individual rights, and economically they are more centrist but lean right. Basically on the compass they'd be -5 +1.

[Platypus]

Also, the aussie version of pro-individual rights is different from the american. In america, it means pro-bill of rights, here it means pro-healthcare, education, etc., and also has a helluva lot less of a thorn stuck up it's bum on taxation

Maybe because Australia has lower tax then the USA anyway, but has better social justice programmes.