I do that also. I have never voted a straight party ticket even when I was an official. That is one reason they didn't like me. But to get re-elected on the ticket a Candidate has to be a somewhat of a party man in the first place. There is little independent thought allowed once you are elected either you support thee party or you are out as far as the party is concernned.
That is the problem. The Party loyality has superceeded and replaced the American idea. What we need is a grassroots independent American party. I had hopes for the Reform party, but every independent party makes the mistake of trying to elect a President. A President is a useless figurehead in todays politics. It is the state repersenatives to the U.S. House which can effect the most power with the fewest people. As I said about 40 to 50 true American Conservatives would make passing any legislation pretty difficult for Democrats, or the Republicans, if those Conservatives were to set their foot down on their principals. The way to kill big government is to cut of the funding. That happens in the House of Repersentatives.
That is also why I said we need a national RECALL LAW. Where if our local Repersentative and Senator does not govern as the people wish, the people of that district can recall them and kick them out of Office without having to wait until the next election. You do that a couple of times and the rest will get the message if they want to keep their jobs they had better listen to the people they are suppose to repersent. None of this "one King, 545 Princes and 9 Judges" business ruling 300,000,000 people.
This is the only way I know of to get these people to listen to the will of the people is to threaten them with Unemployment and in some cases fire them. They work for us. If the people in my district don't like how Repersentative "X" voted on a issue and they recall him that OK. And if the people of Repersentative "Y" district likes it because he voted the same way as Repersentative "X" and Don't recall him, that is OK too. But that is the will of the people in action.
But I am tired of these elected officials who make the Statement that they are going to vote their conscience no matter what the people in their district feel. When that happens the people of that repersentatives district have just lost their repersentation in our government. He is not expressing their will, but substituting his will for theirs.