sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade. In North Carolina, for example, a voter registered as an independent can choose which primary they wish to vote in. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Lowering the Voting Age - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org You dont have to receive junk mail. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. The pros and cons of being an independent contractor - YouTube 4. The share of Americans who have a positive view of one party and a negative view of the other has increased since 2015 (from 58%). Also, you might need to pay for your own tools and equipment as well as establish a federal and state tax ID number. While a narrow majority of Republicans (54%) opposed same-sex-marriage in 2017, nearly six-in-ten Republican-leaning independents (58%) favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. And a large majority of Democratic-leaning independents (75%) also favors marijuana legalization. Want to read more content like this? If you're the adventurous, entrepreneurial type, then working as an independent contractor might be a greatcareer choice for you. "Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). Independents also have a negative view of increased tariffs between the U.S. and its trading partners (53% say they will be bad for the U.S., 36% good for the U.S.). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for insurance agents was over $52,000 in 2020. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Nearly a third (31%) are younger than 30, compared with 21% of Republican-leaning independents and just 19% and 14%, respectively, among those who identify as Democrats and Republicans. However, there are some potential drawbacks about being self-employed to consider too. IRV does a better job of electing voters true favorite candidates than our current method and encourages more competition. The party joined Republicans in nominating Donald Trump in 2016. Does anyone have any studies or other sources which may demonstrate any positive effects for registered independent voters (such as encouraging more centralist tendencies), and, if so, does the research show whether this tendency is affected by whether the independent is in a swing state? The differences were comparable between GOP leaners (54% said they voted) and Republicans (61%). Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. In 2000, GOP leaners included almost identical shares of conservatives (42%) and moderates (43%); 11% described their views as liberal. However, being an independent contractor can come with more responsibility. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. . Successful ballot initiatives can create, change or repeal state and local laws . It shouldnt be about party allegiance. What does the power set mean in the construction of Von Neumann universe? Theres multiple benefits to being registered as an independent. Over the same period, there has been growth in the shares of Democrats and Democratic leaners identifying as liberal. We are a nonprofit too. For example, while 34% of independents as a whole said they approved of the way Donald Trump was handling his job as president in a March Pew Research Center survey, the gap between independents who lean to the GOP and those who lean to the Democratic Party (73% vs. 9%) was nearly as wide as the gap between Republicans and Democrats (85% vs. 8%). Independents who lean toward a party are less likely than partisans to view their party favorably. People often ask me what makes a good winner in an election, and theyre surprised when I share that it has nothing to do with the candidate and their platform. There has been a similar trend in how Republican leaners view the Democratic Party; very unfavorable opinions have increased from 15% in 1994 to 39% in 2018. About a quarter of both Republican leaners (24%) and Democratic leaners (27%) view both parties unfavorably, as do 37% of those with no partisan leaning. Over the same period, there has been a decline in the share expressing a negative view of both parties, from 23% in 2015 to 17% currently. Statistically, it doesnt even make sense. There are already many barriers that discourage people from voting, from the complicated process to get registered or just the fact that life can be really busy. Independent contractors are sometimes called ICs, consultants, freelancers, free agents, or contractors. Fewer than half of independents (37%) are ages 50 and older; among those who identify as Democrats, 48% are 50 and older, as are a majority (54%) of those who identify as Republicans. In their political attitudes and views of most issues, independents who lean toward a party are in general agreement with those who affiliate with the same party. Being an independent contractor comes with a variety of benefits, including flexibility, autonomy and tax deductions for business expenses. That's because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has only two distinctions: an independent contractor or an employee. Read parts one and two. You can vote for whoever you want to. Among those who affiliate with the Republican Party, the margin is nearly eight-to-one (87% to 11%). It gives me an image of independents sneaking in to voting booths with a bunch of different silly costumes to vote 10 times an election :), Didn't you know? If you really want to be more independent, and have the opportunity for a lot of . Remember, though, that these agencies may withhold taxes and collect other deductions from your paychecks, depending on your working relationship with the firm. Are there advantages to my being registered as an independent in the US? [ 8][ 15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. Among the 50 states, our children came in last in education. Independent contractors must fund 100% of their Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, and retirement. Trumps early rating among independents is closest to Clintons, whose job approval averaged about 42% during his first two years in office. A 501(c)(3) organization. You might earn more as an independent contractor, and the tax benefits can include deducting your business expenses. But you can also vote for nobody, because, again, nobodys stopping you. A majority of those who identify as Republicans (55%) say immigrants burden the country. There exists an element in a group whose order is at most the number of conjugacy classes, Understanding the probability of measurement w.r.t. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Being an independent contractor has its advantages over being an employee. However, all are better than our current voting method, which is why organizations around the country are working hard to see these methods adopted. And greater diversity of candidates running means more choice for voters. He said critics are biased if they arent also asking all the other parties about confusion regarding their names. Voting has become a toxic act where people are told, if you dont vote for our candidate, you dont belong to our party. Why should people have to vote for someone they dont believe in and dont support? Those candidates are the ones that eventually go onto higher office. Election Day National Holiday - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org Being independent means you no longer have to explain away the crazies in your party, or explain rampant corruption, or sleazy behavior among party members. I know this is a red state and most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down than labeled the D word. So, how do alternative voting methods stack up against these criteria? I spend a lot of time talking to people across the country about our work at The Center for Election Science to strengthen democracy. Perhaps more important, intense dislike of the opposing party, which has surged over the past two decades among partisans, has followed a similar trajectory among independents who lean toward the Republican and Democratic parties. Again anecdotally, the independent vote in Florida tends to either lean Libertarian, or strongly leftist-progressive. In the next part of our series, well share more about what The Center for Election Science see as the best solution, and how can you help make that a reality. As in the past, more independents describe their political views as moderate (43%) than conservative (29%) or liberal (24%). For those who want to remain unaffiliated, the card now gives them a box to check next to a new selection, No Party/None.. I'm an Independent? | Civic Issues We recommend working with a top FMO like Ritter Insurance Marketing to help you get started on the right path. Independently decide if you really want to continue with Governor Bentley and have your children be last in education among the states. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Trust in Media. These shares have changed only modestly in recent years, but the proportion of independents is higher than it was from 2000-2008, when no more than about a third of the public identified as independents. Lately I feel that isn't the case. And even if the machines software supports a voting method, it may still require added complexities such as counting every ballot at one central location. Obamas average rating was 50% during his first year (2009); it fell to 42% in his second year. Pros You are your own boss Greater control over the work you accept You can earn more money Tax benefits from expense deductions Cons Consider David Davenport's con argument, including that other laws (governing activities such as driving, drinking, and smoking) have increased ages instead of lowering them based on the immaturity of teenagers. Confusion over 'independent' voters in California prompts redesign of The forms are widely distributed in state and local government offices and through volunteer voter registration drives. So get out there, ye Independents, and buy those costumes. In most elections for local, state and national elections the voters must select from only two choices. . Nobodys stopping you. By comparison, 44% of Republican leaners and 33% of Republicans say the same. Ideally, the voting method should consistently elect a candidate who makes the average voter feel satisfied with the outcomenot one who leads to further political polarization. 6Independents are younger and more likely to be male than partisans. When voters changed the rules governing political primaries a ballot measure that emphasized party preference elections officials deleted the reference to party registration. About one-in-five (17%) feel unfavorably toward both parties, while 12% feel favorably toward both. Are there any other pros to being independent? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Independent Contractor: Definition and Examples | Indeed.com Like other professions, being an independent consultant is one great roller coaster ride, with its many highs, lows, twists and turns. It's very empowering to have the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wherewithal to look after yourself. I've also been engaged in Democratic party politics and legislative work for the last decade. For people who wanted to say no party, this design is going to help them make that choice, said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.