[SMARTY]

I maintain that the political situation in America no longer permits of ‘independent’ status for voters.

Things are SO extermely polarized that I don’t know how any thinking individual can continue to regard him/herself as ‘independent’ ... unless they are just TOO lazy or TOO stupid to make a choice

Actually, it’s been like this for a while. The “Democrat? or Republican?” question practically answers itself, given the stakes involved.

[NoExpectations]

"I maintain that the political situation in America no longer permits of ‘independent’ status for voters.

I totally agree. I believe Independents are the result of political correctness. People want to seem "above the fray". Baloney. They wait to see where the winds are blowing and just follow the popular crowd. They want to be lauded at the next cocktail/bbq party. They want to always win and that means sticking their finger in the air to make decisions.

[wayoverontheright]

I maintain that the political situation in America no longer permits of ‘independent’ status for voters.

Precisely, I believe that independents today are composed of two factions-public sector workers who have an understanding of how capitalism works, and those who work in the private sector who don't.