Where Is Our Common Ground?

[omega minimo]

Where is our common ground as Democrats? Do we need to find it? Is there a link? A short answer? Are we here just to vent or venture beyond that?


Do we know what we hold in common? Meaning beyond arguing about whether Democratic leaders can find their collective ass with both hands-- what about us? Where and when do we discuss what we agree on and what messages we want to send to clueless and/or effective Democratic leaders and legislators?


What are our common values and issues that transcend the labels and the kneejerk attitudes?


Is it possible that ideas and issues that are considered “Progressive” are actually central to the concerns of every American and -- even if Republican/Lites may not realize yet-- it is time for Democrats to incorporate those ideas and issues; time to Get Real about what matters to the majority of Americans?


Concerns we hold in common, no matter where we fall on the lifestyle scale, might include free and fair elections, Occupation of Iraq, veterans returning screwed over, an end to corporate welfare, quality public education, universal health care, environmental protections, reversal of the trend for privatization of the public “commons” (including water, infrastructure, air waves, etc.) and providing real jobs for American workers.


For starters.


What do you think?

[Redstone]

1. Two words: The war. Nothing else matters right now.

Redstone

[omega minimo]

20. The war and the way vets are being (not) treated

:evilfrown:

[calmblueocean]

2. "Every man for himself" is no way to run a society.

That's always been the essence of progressivism to me. We realize that everyone in life has ups and downs, and that we'll all be more successful if we help each other succeed than if we only focus on ourselves. Almost every policy stems from that viewpoint.

I often hear this described as a moral viewpoint, and of course it is. But I think it's true in sheer practical terms as well. Cooperation beats competition because it's less wasteful. I'm not a progressive just because I want to be "nice". I'm a progressive because progressive policies are smarter and do more with less resources than regressive policies.

[omega minimo]

6. The Founders were Progressives

We don't have to apologize for Altruism when the common sense version is hard-wired in to the Constitution.

Eh?

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Most important universal issues are the war & the environment IMHO

and our planetary addiction to fossil fuels, which is related to them both.

I'm not sure how that fits in to your poll, however, OM. :hi:

[omega minimo]

4. "Other" "More" "Etc." "Progressive issues are actually Centrist"?

:yourock: ETA

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Hey, whaddaya know- I agree with all of those.

Especially the last one. Peace! :hippie:

[readmoreoften]

5. Right now, ending the totalitarian state we live in.

If we don't reinstate democracy, we'll have unending war, unending terror, environmental catastrophe, and a religious police state.
We have to get a democracy back and remind people of what a democracy is. I think we need to do that as CITIZENS not as dems. I think we need to build a coalition to overturn the regime, even with natural political enemies. Because politics are OVER in the US.


I think that what PROGRESSIVES should focus on, after defeating the regime, is building a nation on education, labor rights, civil liberties, and equality for all who are living as second class citizens.

[omega minimo]

8. Sounds like America

and just today I was thinkin an answer to our problems may be "readmoreoften" :hi:

[readmoreoften]

12. My name is a reminder to myself.

Lest I not sit and brood over all this horror. Reading reconnects me with the world. :hi:

[omega minimo]

16. Perhaps

"I think that what PROGRESSIVES should focus on, after defeating the regime, is building a nation on education, labor rights, civil liberties, and equality for all who are living as second class citizens."

Perhaps if "PROGRESSIVES...focus on....building a nation on education, labor rights, civil liberties, and equality for all who are living as second class citizens" NOW it will defeat the regime. Flush out the sacred caca, as it were.

[readmoreoften]

7. The war is the symptom, the disease is tyranny.

As long as this regime is operating, there will be wars of expansion and empire. Even if the war ends tomorrow, it is only tabled if we don't get at the roots of this regime.

[Ravy]

9. The Constitution.

The recent Republican assults on the media, the signing papers, the statements of Bush calling it just a "goddamn piece of paper", the violations of privacy, the unconstitutional treatment of prisoners.

I think defending the Constitution is a message we can all get behind.

[omega minimo]

13. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes

:kick:

[StellaBlue]

15. !

This is what I've been harping on about for YEARS, and I'm only 27. Why don't people get it? This is ALL that matters, all that makes you "American", all that there is to fight for.

It's the Constitution, stupid.

[omega minimo]

17. LOL AbSoFreakinLutely!

"It's the Constitution, stupid."


:yourock:

[StellaBlue]

18. We need to get all our talking points together and distribute them

to all Democratic office-holders and candidates.

No?

[omega minimo]

19. Sounds good-- as long as we don't pattern it after the

Luntz-LImbaugh-Rovian mindfuckers. :puke:

[H2O Man]

11. In his speech

"A Message to the Grass Roots," Minister Malcolm X pointed out that the "common ground" was a common enemy.

[omega minimo]

14. Ah. In this Hall of Mirrors, do we know who that is?

[omega minimo]

21. Other, More, Etc.

[omega minimo]

22. .........................

:kick:

[omega minimo]

23. Last call!

:toast: