Chapter 9

1. Which political party do you most identify with?  Why?  Are there things in the party platform with which you disagree? I do not completely identify myself with just any one party. I agree and disagree with certain beliefs and ideas from each party. Like Democrats, I believe in  minimum wages and higher tax rates for those with higher income. I think Government should help monitor economics. But like Republicans, I favor a limited role for government in society.  I could not just pick just one party to support.

2. Does America need political parties?  The founders originally hoped that American politics would operate without need of parties?  Would that work today?  Why?
Even though not everyone can pick and support just one political party, I think they are still important. Political parties keep people informed of current events. They also encourage other citizens to become involved and vote. Political parties act as both informers and gates/gateways to political involvement. Without them, elections would not run as smoothly. Citizens would be less likely to understand who or what they were voting for.

3. Please research lesser known political parties - which one do you most identify with?  Why?
There are many lesser known political parties out there that I was unaware of. One of them is the Constitution Party. It was formed in 1991 by Howard Philips. Their goal   is "to restore our government to its Constitutional limits and our law to its Bibical foundations." It calls for stricter penalties on illegal immigrants, are anti-abortion, want to reduce spending, and supports the death penalty.
Another party I found was The Green Party of the United States. They officially formed in 2001 and support environmentalism, social justice, peace, and nonviolence. They also supported Ralph Nader.