Reply #26: you put your left foot in; you put your right foot in ... [View All]

[welshTerrier2]

here's my take on what you wrote ...

i fully agree with you that we have a problem reaching the center-left populists as you've defined them ... of course, the obvious question is: just what actions can we take to change that ...

if we use your definition that people in this group are conservative on cultural issues, does that mean that we, as a party, should no longer endorse cultural change that may be offensive to people in this group? for example, take the gay marriage issue ... if we view this as a "liberation movement", should we align ourselves with those who see this as a sin? i guess my first question for you is "what can we do with issues like this to change the dynamic you cited?"

as for your statement that we should start "valuing their contribution", perhaps you could ellaborate on that ... to the degree that the party may show a subtle, or even not so subtle, disrespect for people in this group, i certainly agree ... but how do we translate "valuing their contribution" into action?

now, as for your statement that arguing "centrist" vs. "leftist" misses the point, i am totally on that bandwagon ... we will have bitter, intense arguments over policy ... we will not reach the same conclusions on the big issues of the day ... but it's way past the time for us to stop driving wedges and dividing the many factions of the left ... there was so much anger here, and so many people who left or were tombstoned because they were Greens or Nader supporters ... not all by any means, but we did lose, or it least it seems like we lost, many of the "far lefties" ...

i understood that some of them were "anti-democrat" and therefore violated the rules ... but we need to look not only at electoral politics but at building a coalition (i.e. a movement) of the left as well ... we need to find common ground among democrats of all stripes, Greens, Socialists and any others who are staunchly opposed to the right-wings corporate control of our country ...

the time for unity is NOW ... so i agree with you that, while we will have our debates over issues, proudly aligning yourself with "centrists" or with "leftists" seeks as its goal divisiveness rather than unity and we are all weakened as a result ...