Reform The Democratic Party - What Do You Want?

[demwing]

A few of us are talking about starting this group or that group to address the way we feel after 4 years and more of George W Bush.

Here's our group:


The Phoenix Rises!

I've noticed a few other as well.

What do we want?

We want to feel proud of our Democratic party, we want to announce "I'm a Liberal!" as if it meant something incredible, because it does!

We want a diverse membership, where people who believe that gay/lesbian rights ought to be the same damn rights as any human rights can sit at a table with people who understand that Democratic principles don't conflict with authentic religious, moral, and ethical values. We want to be known as the party of love, charity, and brotherhood, as the party of intelligent defense, and international respect.

We want to be vocally, publically, and shamelessly progressive. We want to embrace the left, because that's where our heart lies, walk hand in hand with the center, because the progressive spirit is the American spirit, and turn away from the conservative agenda, because the conservative agenda is bad for our country (even if 60 million people voted for that agenda - the majority is not always correct). We are patriots, after all, and we care about our country.

We want to win local offices in our local governments, building a framework of support for our next attempt at the Whitehouse. We want to create our own media, and defang the corporate media monster.

But enough about us.

What do you want? How do you want to reform the Democratic party and how do you want to take back our country?

[GRLMGC]

1. Let's be the progressive party

No way i'll belong to the "Republican Lite" party. We need to be the real opposition. What I wante reformed is our tactics. We need to be meaner and far more aggressive. We need to go for the jugular. Our policies are better, we just need to sell them better than the Repubs.

[UdoKier]

2. I want a party whose primary focus is WORKING PEOPLE!

Especially people in the service industries who make between $6 and $20 per hour. They are the biggest part of the electorate. Hell, we could even sponsor a nationwide massive survey that goes like this:

"We are the democratic party, and in the last election we apparently failed to address the issues that matter most to YOU, and we want to make it up to you.

Please list the three issues that concern you most about the state of our society today, and what you would like to see done about it."

Take the responses, and ACTUALLY ACT ON THEM.

this party has ignored regular working people so long it's pathetic?

Remember when Bush was first about to repeal overtime protections? Gephardt didn't even show up. The dems in congress were gonna let it sail through. It took pressure from dems who got wind of it online to actually get some opposition going.

These guys have forgotten all about their constituents.

[davepc]

3. This party was dominate for decades

when we stood for the rural farmer, urban poor, union worker, salt of the earth types.

now we're the party of abortion and gays.

I'm a democrat, not an abortionist.

What the hell do we have to do to be the party of the common man again?

Because being the party of gays and abortionists is pushing the common man into the open arms of the GOP who is selling them out.

Now you call all call me a bigot homophobe.

We co-opted so many 60's and 70's movements for better or worse that we are getting killed on the national stage. Our base has left us, and what remains cant get us elected. Cold facts.

[demwing]

5. We are not the party of gays and abortionists

We are the party of civil rights and liberty. For EVERYONE, not just some.

Why should women, gays, and lesbians have any less right to lead their lives as they see fit, than you do?

[Cats Against Frist]

4. Sorry -- I want to go the "shut it down" route

I want a party who will push to get the extreme right everything that they've ever wanted -- so the real money holders, who depend on the status quo -- FREAK THE FUCK OUT, and reel in the loonies.

It's like when the guy comes to carjack you, and instead of cowering in fear and getting your head blown off, you look at him with a crazy look in your eye and say "shoot me -- it'll only make me stronger."

Then, he's gonna get scared and back off.

[demwing]

6. that could be dangerous

I think the loonies have infiltrated that moneyed elite. I think they have plans for us. I think you can't give them everything they want because they will always want more.

You can not feed this fever. You must starve it so that it dies.

[demwing]

7. kick it