Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 01/13/2026 3:34:37 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
The U.S. political system is currently experiencing previously unimaginable levels of partisan and ideological polarization. And at the same time, public disaffiliation with both major parties is reaching historic highs. Gallup has been conducting large-sample polls of partisan self-identification since the 1980s and now reports that a record 45 percent of Americans consider themselves political independents. Self-identified Democrats and Republicans each represent a dismal 27 percent.
As recently as 2004, Democrats and Republicans were both at 34 percent of Americans, with 31 percent self-identifying as independent. This seemed normal and sustainable at the time. A long period of ideological “sorting out” between the two major parties (with liberals and conservatives joining their “natural” party and straight-ticket voting on the rise) had left them roughly equal in strength. Relatively high independent self-identification was regarded as more than a bit misleading; as every bit of research showed, most independents were actually reliable voters for one party or the other but liked the idea of “independence” even if it didn’t manifest itself at the polls that often.
But now independent self-identification is reaching levels that suggest something else is going on, and the trends may be intensifying. Gallup shows 54 percent of millennials and 56 percent of Gen-Zers are now calling themselves independents. To some extent, that reflects a perennial phenomenon; younger people typically show lower levels of political and civic engagement, often because they are moving frequently and are focused on completing educations and beginning careers and families. But as Gallup notes, today’s younger folk are disaffiliating from the major parties at higher rates than their predecessors:
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
The majority can’t even define a woman.
I wonder what the numbers would be they asked how many identify as conservatives/liberals/socialists/none of the above?
You mean the youth have finally figured out that the Rats are Communists?
Young voters think that the Democratic Party is not left ENOUGH, unbelievably.
Gen Z women are Communists while Gen Z men are MAGA. They have the advantage because they’ll vote blue no matter who.
The democrats are a bat-shit insane open borders international socialist party. The republicans seem intent on managing decline, and whimper like Al Bundy every time Peggy wanted to go upstairs and make love. The GOPs only real selling points seem to be Trump (when he’s on the ballot), and not being as loony as the democrats.
I’m at the end of Gen-X and I truly despise the parties. Donald J Trump was the only thing I can think of that I really motivated me to vote beyond just voting to try to cancel out a vote for the democrats. I don’t feel represented, but I sure as hell feel taxed.
I’m an old guy and, Trump aside, I am not a fan of the GOP or the DNC
My kid is 23. Most of my kids friends range from 20 to 30. They all hate the Democrats and are OK with Donald Trump. They see the insanity that has unfolded with the tranny community, riots and flat out disrespect for law-enforcement that has manifested during the Joetato reign. They are having none of it. Not saying they’re gonna vote for Republicans, because the pukelicans couldn’t find their balls with bare hands and soap in the shower but these youngsters know where things are better
It’s a start...
That's a perfect example of an anecdotal story. It's based on your personal experience and you spoke of your social circle.
Data is more important if we have a million stories like yours. For all I know, you may be the only person with that story. Everyone else may be a Communist.
Can’t really blame them
I don’t consider Trump as a Republican. So I too reject both parties.
It’s been my experience that when the media starts to spin the “both parties” stories, it’s the dems that are in trouble.
Read between the lines. What they’re saying is the republicans are not appealing to young’uns. It means no change. Believe what you wish.
Parties and ideologies are for suckers.
That is why I love Trump.
In 2016, he said he beat a rigged system when he won the nomination not the general.
Winning the nomination was in effect a hostile takeover of the GOP Elite which was no more that a wing of the the uniparty.
Trump is a Republican not by party but in the TRUEST sense of the word as he puts the Republic established by the framers first and foremost.
Trump puts his love of Our Free Republic over party and ideology.
Hard to argue that Trump is conservative yet he nominated folk to the Supreme Court who over turned Roe v Wade which was the issue which gave the illusion there were two parties in mighty opposition.
Jethro Bodine Bush gave us Harriet Mears and the TRAITOR John Roberts and he gave us Joseph Alito ONLY when those who had been held captive by the Republican wing of the uniparty were in open rebellion of Mears.
Jethro was NO conservative and neither was he a Republican in the truest sense as he was globalist.
Independence in a single word is the dedicated purpose of the United States of America.
George Washington understood that and in his farewell address, “the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.”
I would submit that the spirit of party has not been restrained, a people has not been wise, and the spirit of party has not been restrained.
If young folk are turning away from party affiliation and the spirit of party by identifying as independents, then I’m sure that the GREATEST AMERICAN would be pleased.
I have registered as independent since 1976, but have never voted for any Democrat. If I had ever registered Republican, the fundraisers would have annoyed me to death by now.
I’m not a young voter and I have rejected both parties for years.
There’s only one thing worse than a Republican, and that’s a Democrat.
Lifelong Independent here, Nixon was too left wing for me to sign up for his party.
I can say the same since 1972.
I can't say that I'm proud to have voted for Ford, Daddy Bush, Dole, Jethro Bodine Bush, Juan McCain and Mittens Romney but to have voted for the alternative would have brought me shame.
I was pretty much held hostage by the Republican wing of the uniparty my entire adult life and then Trump came along and set met free.
I am most proud to have voted for him three times.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.