50,000 posts and the only mind I’ve changed is my own

But then that was the whole point when I joined DU in April of 2010 - to learn more about American politics, our parties and our candidates, our economic and social justice problems and the pathways to fix them.

I’ve been on the left side of the political spectrum since the early 1970’s when I was serving in southeast Asia in the Air Force, and began seeing through the daily ration of bullshit. In the years that followed, work and family responsibilities didn’t leave much time for politics, so despite my interest and political bent I had only a superficial knowledge of what was happening. Most of what I knew I learned by reading my state’s largest newspapers. On many issues I had been led astray and was ill-informed.

Then I retired in early 2008 and the free time allowed me to become much more active in politics. I campaigned for Barack Obama and was thrilled when he won. The day of his inauguration I felt more hope for my country than I ever had. Then came a series of disappointments – some of his cabinet picks and his failure to advocate for single-payer healthcare - or even a public option - really stuck in my craw.

(One cabinet pick I did like was Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. I was a big fan of hers due to her advocacy for universal healthcare. I felt she would do a great job as SOS. I could have easily supported her for President had she prevailed over Obama in the 2008 primaries.)

Then in 2010 I found DU (while searching for Ducks Unlimited of all things). I was hooked on the first day and joined immediately. Wow - a progressive community discussing the issues without the lies and disruptions that right-wingers inflicted on the other sites on which I had been posting. I fell in love with DU and still love DU.

There’s no better site for vetting the information that the media spoon-feeds us every day. News stories are exposed as propaganda and alternative points of view are posted without the filters imposed by the corporate media. I learned that many of the “truths” I had long held were, in fact, bullshit.

Right now DU is fractured as supporters of Hillary and Bernie duke it out. This is a healthy thing and I’m glad it’s happening. Neither of these candidates is perfect and it’s great that we can learn about the positives and negatives of both so that we can make the most informed choices when we cast our votes. I don’t expect to sway any Hillary fans but I do appreciate the opportunity to post about the positives and negatives of each.

But my own mind was changed when I learned of Hillary’s support for the Iraq War Resolution, when I learned of the Kochs and Clintons teamig up to found the Democratic Leadership Council, when I learned how the leadership of the party I’d long supported had been infiltrated by moneyed interests and had abandoned working people.

So my mind has been changed, and perhaps I’ve provided a bit of ammunition for others who are like-minded. That’s what’s so great about DU.

Let the truth be your guide, and there’s no better place for determining what is true and what is not than Democratic Underground. Long may we post.

Be back later; I’ve got a whole lot of snow to move.