The 'Big PIcture' threads seen here recently give me hope

[Stinky The Clown]

A walk down DU's 'Memory Lane' first, if I may ........

During the 04 primary debates, the candidate wars, the general campaign, the election, and in the anguished aftermath, we were true Democrats. The circular firing squad was alive and well. Internecine wars raged. Issues were discussed. Issue stances of this one or that one were dissed.

But of late, I am hopeful. The threads, more and more, are about the big picture.

Toughness

Vision

Broad concepts

Core beliefs

In a word ..... simplicity.

Elegent simplicity.

Clear simplicity

Eloquent simplicity

Evocative simplicity

Principled simplicity

Simplicity .... (as Martha would say) ..... its a good thing!

[Ce qui la baise]

1. I agree, I admit I was in a hurry to see it. It is a welcome movement.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Haven't you seen all that DLC vs. Progressive fighting?

I'm more nervous than ever. Hopefully DU is as schizophrenic and non-representative of the party as some people say it is. Otherwise we're in big trouble.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Yes .... just the bitch du jour

Not to minimize anyone's given views, but we've had ths sort of infighting and squabbling on other similar issues and people.

DU, frankly (at least among frequent posters), is more representative of the far left and extreme left than the Dems at large ...... although to be sure all types are represented here.

[MissMarple]

4. I think DU is evolving. And we are clarifying goals and ideals.

The Democratic Party has been in disarray, and progressive ideals and goals can help get it back on track. There remains, however, a good deal of thinking that isn't strictly Democratic. The party can't represent all of the left's beliefs because some of them are contradictory. For instance, abortion is an issue that divides many on the left, but good leadership can provide a way that ameliorates many of the stridencies that color this issue. Instead of dividing us, we may need to abandon the fringe approaches (or lack thereof) and unite behind a position that addresses late term abortion, availability of abortion, and who gets to choose. Those who have painted themselves into a corner so much that they cannot budge, need to understand this is a complicated problem that must be addressed with a variety of approaches. And simply banning abortion out right or allowing no oversight at all are not viable positions.

How to pay for health care is another issue that folks coalesce around by ideological lines. My guess is that we will end up with some of both, private payer and single payer. People really want different things in their health care and if you want something different, they should be free to pay for it...kind of like private vs public schools. We live in a real world and ideals are goals not universal absolutes.

I think, and I could be wrong, that DU is helping to clarify and focus democratic thought and how that intersects ,in a viable way, with the issues we face as individuals, as a political movement, and as a country. The issues transcend political party and political ideology. Finding solutions can be guided by, but not completely defined by, ideology or party self interest.

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. :)

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Very well stated. Thanks!

You're quite right ... we have no broad agreement. And we have been trying to be all things to all people ... even people at the fringes (both left and right, actually).

We need to find our 'best' place. And that is not necessarily centrist or fringe.

More along the lines of 'common sensical'.

But even more than issues, we need that big picture thing. Like (was it poppa bush who said it first?) that 'vision thing'.

(edited for bad spleeling in the titular :) )

[MissMarple]

6. Thanks, right back at you.

And, I'm thinking the big picture thing is reflected in the issues. I guess that is why I fall out with the progressive/populist side of the divide.

Finding a way to resolve issues and real everyday problems seems to be thrown into the laps of the progressives, and they are actually on both sides of the proverbial aisle. Surprisingly, they still survive the ideological warfare being fought around us.

Forming a coherent vision for contemporary progressives and populists, uniting the two, is essential in winning the class wars that the neocons, the corporate and the big money people insist on inflicting upon the us all.

They have no long view, and it damns them. Let us hope we can circumvent that damnation and survive their folly.

You're right, we need a vision...and one that encompasses progressive goals.