I was proud to be a Conservative Democrat. [View All]

[dawg]

I believed in free enterprise, and that most needs were best met by the private sector. But I also believed in smart regulation and a strong safety net. I was a Conservative Democrat.

I was a little concerned about Dukakis being too far to the left, but I voted for him anyway.

Time went on. Things changed.

Clinton was elected President. He raised taxes on the wealthy and proved that modest tax hikes would not derail the economy. But he also passed welfare reform and NAFTA. He actually said, "The era of big government is over." Can you believe that shit? I needed to re-evaluate my positions. What did I believe now?

I believed in free enterprise, and that most needs were best met by the private sector. But I also believed in smart regulation and a strong safety net. I was a Middle-of-the-Road Democrat.

I thought Al Gore represented my views pretty well. I was proud to vote for him and proud that he won.

Time went on. Things changed.

Bush the lesser used a national tragedy to push a radical right-wing agenda. Huge tax cuts, tilted towards the wealthy, all of which were added to the national debt. Civil rights were eroded in the name of security. The media was complicit, and lies were either allowed to stand (Fox News) or else they were given equal footing with the truth in a "He Said - She Said" format (all other networks). The President's Press Secretary actually stood up and said people needed to watch what they said. I needed to re-evaluate what I believed.

I believed in free enterprise, and that most needs were best met by the private sector. But I also believed in smart regulation and a strong safety net. I was a Liberal Democrat.

Time went on. Things changed.

Help! It's 2008 and the economy is opening up like a gaping lava-filled portal to Hell! Bailouts! Stock market crashes! Massive layoffs! Collapse of the housing market. But there is good news. We won the election, and the new President is a progressive!

Fast forward a few years. We all know what is going on. There are two possible explanations. Some feel that the President has shifted to the center-right, is using right-wing frames and rhetoric, and has turned out to be big disappointment to the left. Others think he is using political strategy, doing the best for us that anyone could, considering the political realities of the day. Either way, we are screwed and screwed hard. Either our Democratic President is no longer with us, or else the country has moved so far to the right that he has no choice but to echo these frames and pursue these compromises. I repeat, either way we are screwed. So what do I believe now?

I believe in free enterprise, and that most needs are best met by the private sector. But I also believe in smart regulation and a strong safety net. I am a Fringe Leftist.