It can be, but it kind of should be the other way around. Your identity and your values should inform what political party you should belong to. Your political party shouldn't inform your identity.

There should be things you disagree with your party about.

I mean, being a proud Democrat or Republican doesn't mean you agree with your party in 100% of issues.

It very much can be, you're right, but I think grandparent is taking it for granted (and I agree that it should be) that this is a smallish, petty identity, unworthy of containing a human soul.

That seems awfully judgy. If you think a political party is unworthy of contributing to one's identity, I shudder to think what you'd say about me identifying as a Starcraft player.

I'm a Starcraft player too. But I am not just a Starcraft player, and neither are you.

Then they should rethink their priorities. Ideals are far more important than party affiliation.

Ideas are cheap. Execution is hard. It's as true in politics as it is in startups.

Parties aren't the only way to contribute to 'execution', of course, but they're one of the most obvious.