Presently there are 5 recognized parties in Maryland.  They are the Republican, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties.

Please take a minute and complete one of these questions, just one, try to keep it short, and let’s be positive.

I am a Republican because …
I am a Democrat because …
I am a Libertarian because …
I am a Constitutionalist because …
I am a Green because …
I am not affiliated because …

I will start this off. 

I am a Republican because I believe in small government, responsible spending, minimal taxation, self determination, personal responsibility and the proper separation of powers between local, state and federal government.

One last thing, let’s just this once not comment on each other’s post.  I think this could be a great learning experience.

OK, I’ll play.

I am a Democrat because I find the older I get and the more I have been exposed to diversity (after being a rolling stone for over 25 years and living in Hawaii, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and now Maryland) the more liberal I have become.  I strongly believe in the separation of church and state (and the rest of the Constitution) and I object to several fundamental tenets espoused by the Republican party.

edit to give a more terse version, per Randy’s gentle nudge:

i am unaffiliated with any party. i have been since the early 90s because no one party meets my needs.

in a more appropriate arena, i’d be happy to tell you about my long journey

Thanks you guys, just a note, I was looking for something like what Lee posted short and positive.

I am not affiliated because I make up my own mind!!!

As an unaffiliated voter you can only vote for the Board of Education during the primary.  So then in the general election you are limited to voting for the candidates chosen by voter that are registered with a party.  By the way, during the 2008 primary that was about 137,000 voters, 43% of the registered Dems and 34% of the registered Republicans.  So you get to make up your own mind, and vote for one of the people that they selected for you.

As I have posted before.

Why would you not affiliate yourself with a recognized party?  You might say that you don’t like any of them.  Well that’s one way to look at it, but what if you turned that around and said they don’t represent your values.  If this is the case then maybe you need to pick the party that most closely aligns with you and work to make it better.  If you never get involved how could you expect them to understand you?  Currently there are 5 recognized parties in Maryland.  They are the Republican, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties.

Take a minute, write down your “I Believe” list.  Research the parties by contacting the Central Committees and choose one.  Stand up, be counted, and make a difference.