Letting political parties define us

Ken Hamm, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.

It is time to dump all political parties. The parties rule rather than the people.

When you hear people running for the highest office in the land calling themselves “conservative,” you have to wonder if they understand the definition.

This is what the Dictionary.com has to say about conservative, liberal and independent:

Conservative: “Disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc. or to restore traditional ones, and limit change.”

Limit change? Where would this nation be if we were not willing to make changes?

Liberal: “Favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. ... Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.”

Maximum individual freedom possible! Wow what a statement.

Independent: “Not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc., thinking or acting for oneself.”

I do not believe anyone can be truly independent based on this definition. We are influenced by the world we choose to live in, but I like the idea we have the right to make up our own mind based on the input we choose to take in.

I would like to think that the vast majority of us take a little from each definition. If this is correct then maybe we should be called conservative-liberal-independent. Now that makes sense.