Are you a Democrat or a Republican? The importance of external labeling in the realm of politics has pushed me too close to the edge of my bubble not to step out. So, I figured I would wash my hands of these meaningless labels.

There is no possible way any American could fit themselves fully into a narrow box of “Democrat” or “Republican,” unless purposefully labeling themselves as such and then super-gluing their brain to every idea. These mindless, glue-freaks are irrelevant. Most people’s ideals span over so much more than the set of standards given by either party.

By becoming an active member on a political side, we tend to feel obligated to conform to their values, even if our intuition tells us not to. I feel that this tendency to give up a few beliefs in order to maintain the title of “loyal party member” is detrimental to our curiosity as citizens. The day we stop asking questions is the day democracy withers.

A lack of concern is the last thing we need right now. Politicians are getting more out of hand each year, slinging mud like 6-year-olds on the playground. Political advertisements are getting more ridiculous every year, with each candidate spending huge amounts of money trying to smear the other candidate instead of promoting themselves. The center for responsive politics put the cost of the 2004 presidential and congressional elections at around $4 billion. I don’t know about you, but I could think of a few better things that $4 billion dollars could go to.

If we lose our ability to question politics, then we overlook the fact that the government’s power is only maintained by its economic stability or strength. The more funding, the more power – the more power, the better it is, in the eyes of politicians, because then they have more to do, or reform, as they would put it. When a government has economic stability behind it, there is a happy median of consumer-producer relationships, which minimizes all chances of revolt. By getting caught up in this system, we create a nation of complacency that doesn’t care about what’s going on as long as Grey’s Anatomy is still on at nine.

What better way to keep the government in check than stepping outside the structure and looking at everything objectively?

The economy only furthers the displacement of America’s minds. By creating a system in which hundreds of companies compete for our money, we have perpetuated our never-ending search for happiness. This is because Americans are now chasing advertisements, trying to find the best shoes, the softest sheets and the most luxurious cars. Big businesses make us feel like nothing without all of these ‘necessities’, and in return, we begin to judge each other based on them. Then we start to scrutinize based on appearance, and few realize the lack of meaning in all of this.

We have created a society that searches endlessly for happiness, but because of the constant pressure consumers face to have the best or the newest product, we have also created our own Catch-22, running in circles around dollar signs. Everything just seems too media-friendly. Bush smiles triumphantly each time he uses a word of over two syllables as Kerry assures everyone it’s all in good fun to poke fun at the troops. It’s ridiculous how much emphasis is put on appearance, furthering our quest for price tags. Politicians should care more about what they’re saying than what they look like. All of it fades too quickly like fog on a glossy window, and I honestly think there are far more important things to obsess over than which puppet is going to make speeches in the next four years. If we started to focus on our internal gravitations instead of tripping over the wires in the political framework, a more united nation could easily appear. There are more important things worth chasing than fleeting power positions, an ever-changing economy and an influx of consumer-friendly products. Elements of life such as religion, family and self-expression too often take a backseat to political fixations. So, I’m giving up my bumper stickers and pins and waiting for an epiphany.

E-mail Amy at viewpoint@technicianonline.com.