2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumA Friendly Request of Everyone Please
Some of us here on DU are normally more passionate than analytic. Others are more analytic than passionate. Some are more idealists, others insist on practicality over idealism. This can and often does affect our choice of candidates. That doesnt make one side or the other inherently evil, much as we might be tempted to paint them as such. We simply find ourselves on at slightly different places on the liberal/conservative continuum which runs from pure socialism on one end to totalitarian on the other. Basically, we all advocate for many of the same liberal causes. Some of us are more moderate than others; thats all, and some are more progressive. However, in the big scheme of things we are not that far apart ideologically; we often make the gaps between our positions seem much larger than they are.
For instance, we may differ on how much to regulate businesses. But none of us here wants to see big corporations be run roughshod over its workers, destroy the environment, destroy their competition and charge monopoly prices for their goods and services. No one on UD wants to experience the results of such a system where a few people are rich and everyone else is poor. On the other hand I havent read one post on UD where someone has advocated that the people of this country, through our government. take over all means of production. That would be true socialism, not Bernies Democratic Socialism.
Im sure that your can think of many other examples using both the fiscal and social issues, but the truth of the matter is that we and our candidates are all to the left of center to one extent or another on the political continuum. However, few if any of us are as moderate or as far to the left as perhaps we would like to believe. And that goes for our candidates as well. We are far more alike in our political views than different.
I think it is important that we remember that we are all quite different in our political beliefs than most of those who belong to the Republican Party. It is a widely recognized fact that the base of the GOP has pulled their party much further to the right than the Democratic Party has moved to the left. Even their most centralist candidates espouse views which are diametrically opposite of our own. They are not evil either, but we must do what we can within our political system to ensure that their views are not those which will govern our country.
No! I am not demanding, insisting, or even asking that you support the ultimate Democratic nominee, as much as I would like to see you do so. As many have correctly pointed out, your vote is yours to cast as you see fit. Each of us has to live with whatever decision we make. What I am asking each of us is recognize and remember we are all on the same side and to remember who our opposition really is. Then it goes without saying that we should treat one another accordingly. And yes, I need to remember to live up to those standards as well and I will try to do so.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)Never have been, never will be.
If she wins, fine. That's democracy.
Response to bigwillq (Reply #1)
IHateTheGOP This message was self-deleted by its author.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)supporters said that she would not ever support Bernie even if a gun were put to her head and that she would prefer Trump
CajunBlazer
(5,648 posts)What I was going to write here before I read your post is that in the spirit of my OP, I am not going ask someone to pull Hillary's lever.
However, I will certainly ask those on DU not to pull the lever of a someone in the clown car, especially someone with a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder.
I think on that one point we can agree.
840high
(17,196 posts)she finds Bernie "disgusting".
CajunBlazer
(5,648 posts)While the most insulting and provocative seem to hang around forever.
No wonder the atmosphere on this DU Primaries board is so toxic.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)If you support someone who is in league with the moneyed interests that have undermined representation for the voiceless majority and working and middle classes then NONE of what you say we all support can be accomplished. It's the literal elephant in the room (or should I say our party...). Whether you are supporting this corruption deliberately or not is irrelevant. The result is we get nowhere except having our social safety net and public goods and services undercut and undermined. All else really is window dressing unless the government is actually working for we the people.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)You write: "For instance, we may differ on how much to regulate businesses. But none of us here wants to see big corporations be run roughshod over its workers, destroy the environment, destroy their competition and charge monopoly prices for their goods and services." That's true. As a result, it makes much more sense to post here about points where the Democratic candidates differ on how much to regulate business (such as reinstating Glass-Steagall). No one here is interested in a discussion about whether to abolish the EPA.
The natural result, especially in GD-P, is that we post a lot more about our differences than about the points on which we're all on the same side. I don't think this is a bad thing. I wouldn't even bother to click on a thread titled "Here's why we shouldn't abolish the EPA" or the like.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)I guess DU is like television, movies and most other forms of communication and expression. Conflict and disagreement is more interesting than agreement.
That little fact of human nature is also probably why politics is generally oriented more to division than unity.
CajunBlazer
(5,648 posts)The whole point of pointing our similarities was to urge folks to not treat fellow posters as enemies and call other people's candidates evil. I think that is a reasonable request under the circumstances.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)The view has been expressed on DU that the candidate currently leading in the polls will certainly be our nominee, and that ANY criticism of her is therefore carrying water for the GOP.