Give Me Liberty – Tribalism

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Give me Liberty
Rodger Williamson

Tribalism

trib•al•ism (trī′bə-lĭz″əm)

1. The organization, culture, or beliefs of a tribe.
2. A strong feeling of identity with and loyalty to one’s tribe or group.
3. The state of existing in separate tribes; tribal relation or feeling.
   
   Nowhere in our Constitution does it account for either Political Parties or a limitation to just two Parties. Historically, in these United States, we have had the Federalist Party, the Democratic-Republican Party, the National Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Whig Party, the Republican Party, and the National Union Party. Yet, for the last 157 years, Americans have repeatedly elected ONLY Republicans OR Democrats to High Political Office.
   
   In addition to the “Big Two”, there are multiple other political options, yet most people are completely unaware that there are other options. The largest of what are called “Third Parties” is the Libertarian Party, but to be honest, there are more than even three options, and voters should be aware that there is also currently active in U.S. politics the Alliance Party, the Green Party, the Working Families Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the American Independent Party, the Constitution Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, the American Solidarity Party, the Legal Marijuana Now Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Unity Party, the Reform Party, the Prohibition Party, the Natural Law Party, the Approval Voting Party, the Socialist Equality Party, the Liberty Union Party, the Socialist Party USA, the Socialist Alternative Party, the Women’s Equality Party, the Serve America Movement Party, the Workers World Party, the Transhumanist Party, the Christian Liberty Party, the American Freedom Party, the Citizens Party of the United States, the Freedom Socialist Party, the Labor Party, the Humane Party, the Justice Party, the Socialist Action Party, the U.S. Marijuana Party, the United States Pirate Party, the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party, the Rent Is Too Damn High Party, the Charter Party, the Sovereign Union Movement Party, the United Citizens Party, the Independent Citizens Movement Party, the Working Class Party, and the American Party.
   
   So why do voters repeat the same mistakes of every election cycle of voting for the same two parties that have caused all of the problems that we have today in our Nation? – The answer is “Tribalism.” … It is the same mentality where a large number of people who never even attended a University are die-hard fans of this school or that school’s athletic team. People like to associate into groups of other like-minded people, and they like the feeling of being a part of a Tribe with a winning track record. And every two years, concerned citizens line up to go vote for their team, without actually considering what their team really represents. They want to celebrate the victory and then hate the opponent’s team. This is the essence of what drives most voters when they vote for a person with either a “D” or an “R” next to their name.
   
   As I see it, there are two types of people. There are those that want to control others, and then there are those that do not want to be controlled. I stand in that second group. I care not who is in control, – I do not want to be controlled. We were all born free. We are free to do as we deem best for our personal circumstances, up until our actions may infringe upon the rights of others to do what they deem best for their personal circumstances. It is the sole duty of our Government to protect these rights, and our government has neglected to do their duty, as those in charge attempt to control everything the people do, and then make them pay for that privilege. When it comes time to vote for a candidate of any given Office, I will look at the individual. I almost always vote for a Libertarian when they are a candidate, as Libertarians also defer to individual personal liberty, but I choose to vote for principle – regardless of the Party affiliation of any candidate. I prefer to follow the advice of former U.S. President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), who said: “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
   
   I believe that in our hearts, we are ALL more or less Libertarians, – but unfortunately, most people do not yet know it! … To see where you actually fall in the political spectrum, take The World’s Smallest Political Quiz at www.theadvocates.org/quiz