Mealy-mouthed Democrats: a rant

[ljm2002]

The Democratic party has lost credibility as a populist organization. True, we do have the better ideas for actual working folk. Trouble is, we've gone over to the Dark Side (aka DLC) and become beholden to the mega corporations, and have mastered the art of mealy-mouthed corporatespeak. While the likes of Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly et al have mastered the art of faux-outrage, faux-common-sense-talk, and use it to brainwash the masses into thinking that it is the right and the republicans who speak for them. And why not? The alternatives presented by the Democratic Party, for the most part really do come off as wimpy mealy-mouthed people of no particular conviction.

I am not impugning the intelligence of the average American when I say that they (we) are confused about their (our) own best interests. We have been manipulated and misinformed for decades. The government lies were exposed for awhile during the '60's as a result of Watergate and 'Nam; however, this was quickly quashed, with the government using assassinations and drugs as a primary method of control (e.g., JFK, RJK, MLK; CIA cocaine smuggling) to turn it around. Not to mention the control of the media which at present is arguably the biggest threat to what is left of our so-called democracy.

We are constantly told that "Americans are a peace loving people", when by any objective measure, just the opposite is the case. Manifest Destiny, the Indian Wars, imperialism in the furtherance of U.S. corporate interests... Right now of course the invasion of Iraq was done for reasons completely other than those that were stated; in fact Andy Card admitted soon afterwards that the WMD angle was chosen as one they could sell to the American people -- funny how little outrage that admission caused.

By and large, we in the U.S. have accepted our roles as consumers rather than citizens. The average American has internalized the demonization of leftist ideologies, with no such demonization of rightist thinking. We have allowed ourselves to be divided, looking for others to blame for our shrinking share of the pie rather than looking to the real thieves at the top who are divvying it up amongst themselves and leaving less and less for the great unwashed masses. You will hear people complain about "socialized medicine" who have no clue that we in the U.S. pay more, for less, under the existing private arrangements -- never mind the 40 million + people without medican insurance at all. It goes on and on.

What I want to see: get rid of the mealy-mouthed posturing. Get down to brass tacks. Shed the fear of what the rightist shills will say about us and our positions -- they will say it anyway! Quit treating mega corporations as They From Whom All Good Things Flow, and realize that regulation is a necessary component of healthy systems. For the government, regulation comes from separation of powers, and from the ballot box; for corporations, regulation comes from government.

Why should corporations get tax breaks that the rest of us do not get? If as persons we all deserve equal protection under the law, then why can't I as an individual deduct my expenses before computing my tax? Why can they move their headquarters offshore, move jobs offshore, and still get tax breaks? If corporations are persons, then let's make sure they have some personal responsibility to go along with the breaks.

I want Democratic representatives who stand up for the middle class and the poor. The rich can take care of themselves. I am not advocating class war as such -- not at all. Merely pointing out that right now, the interests of the rich are well represented, while the interests of the rest of us are not. If our Democratic representatives cannot or will not step up to the plate and clarify these issues, then the hell with them.

Right now, Howard Dean is doing a pretty good job on this score. The Congressional Black Caucus is doing a pretty good job. And there are a few others. But by and large, the Democrats are a sorry lot who have not been an opposition party at all, never mind an effective one.

</rant>

[Pithy Cherub]

1. There is a battle between the souless and the soulful

in the Democratic party. Those that believe in scarcity are going along to get along and those that believe in abundance are taking opposing stands and demonstrating Leadership. There shall not be a change (or rather, a consistent ability to stand up due to successful spinal implants) until it is too painful for them not to change.

A Democratic analyst somewhere, commented that the reason the Democrats did not have an even larger lead over republicans now, is because the Democrats are losing their base's support and/or approval. That really resonated with me.

[radio4progressives]

2. k&r Excellent post.. n/t

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Anywho6]

3. I completely agree!

I recently refused to donate to the DNC on principle. I told the solicitor that, as far as I was concerned, I may as well donate to the RNC because very few Democrats actually stand up and fight against what is going on and that until there are more liberal Democrats, I will NOT contribute a dime to the DNC. I said that if I did make any political contributions, they would be to individual candidates. She emphasized that we needed to win back the majority and that's what the money would go for and I asked what difference it would make if we had a bunch of moderate, spineless hand-wringers that would made a Democratic majority a farce.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Our dear Paul Wellstone proposed legislation

that would punish those that engage in offshore banking to avoid paying taxes.

It would behoove Dems to expose that travesty and stop turning a blind eye.

[ljm2002]

5. Well exactly,

...and you see what happened to him.

But we cannot allow fear to rule the day. We need to have the courage of our convictions, and we need our representatives to lead in that area. At the moment, by and large they are failing dismally at that.

Although props to Howard Dean -- he expresses himself directly, and on point, and has shown remarkable ability to maintain a calm demeanor while doing so, in spite of the image they have tried to cultivate by smearing him with "The Scream".

And Conyers, and others -- there are certainly some out there, just too few.

[Dr Fate]

6. Hell- I can name more fighting DEMS than just Dean & the CBC...

Kerry, Clark, Gore, Boxer, Edwards, Feingold, Hackett and others... even Democrats like Biden, Feinstien, Leahy, Hilary have been coming out strong...

Anyway- this is best paragraph:

What I want to see: get rid of the mealy-mouthed posturing. Get down to brass tacks. Shed the fear of what the rightist shills will say about us and our positions -- they will say it anyway! Quit treating mega corporations as They From Whom All Good Things Flow, and realize that regulation is a necessary component of healthy systems. For the government, regulation comes from separation of powers, and from the ballot box; for corporations, regulation comes from government.

[ljm2002]

7. Yes, of course there are...

...I agree, there are more fighting Democrats than the ones I mentioned, but I couldn't dredge up all the names for a Sunday morning rant -- gotta go with the flow sometimes. :hippie:

But still, there are not enough, and there are far too many who will not even back up those who fight the good fight, and who undermine any move to be progressive.

Thanks for your words though, and for liking the core message.

[karynnj]

8. There are many, but it seems inconsistent

to mention the BLC and Howard Dean, but to leave out one person who did more than anything on one of the things brought out in the past, who is speaking out as often and well as anyone - John Kerry. He was the only Senator willing to put his neck out to investigate (and prove) that the CIA was turning a blind eye to Cotra drug running). He was also one of the most eloquest anti-war voices in the 70s.

Throw in investigating BCCI - and it's likely impossible to find someone who fought more good fights than John Kerry, certainly not Howard Dean.