What does being a Democrat mean to you?

[Target_For_Exterm]

To me, it means:

1. Having compassion for others, especially those who are less fortunate.
2. Not trying to live other people's lives for them and respecting them enough to let them decide their own morals to live by (as long as it's within the <not-stupid> law)
3. Wanting to make the world a better place
4. Wanting balance between the needs of business and the needs of workers
5. Workers be treated with decency and respect
6. An ethical government that works. I think there are some social issues that only the power of government can address
7. Some regulations are necessary for the public good.
8. Concern for the environment
9. Respect for human rights
10. Respect for the Constitution

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. I used to be really pro-business, but they've squandered a lot of my goodwill because of the things they've been doing of late. I like ethical business.

What does being a Democrat mean to you?

[Syrinx]

1. freedom, equality, opportunity and tolerance. n/t

[SeattleGirl]

2. Your list reflects just what being a Democrat means to me.

While the Right Wing looks at compassion and caring as a weakness, I see it as strength. It takes a strong person to show vulnerability, compassion, caring, and love. If all you can focus on is not letting anyone "get to you", then you are lost.

I like being a Dem; in fact, I could not be otherwise.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. If We Fuck Up, At Least We're Reasonable

[Ken Burch]

18. Now THAT's a great campaign slogan!

n/t.

[LittleClarkie]

4. Being a Dem means

Being one of the "good guys"
compassionate
teaming up with likeminded folks for the good of the people
being against torture, greed, following our leaders like sheeple, being lied to, manipulated and the like.

All I can think of at this time of night. Mostly it's number one. Being a Dem during the worst of the last four years kept me sane and made me feel like I was working to make things better, even if it didn't seem like I was doing much. Kinda Ghandi-esque. What you do may seem small, but it's important that you do it.

[lvx35]

5. We're the party of people, they're the party of profits.

its really that simple; we put people first, and try to find solutions for the well being of people. Everything we're about is helping people, and when we argue, its about what's best for all people. Republicans live in a much different world than that.

[QuestionAll...]

9. no, it' s not that simple. the simpletons R Us.

we all feed at the trough of false hope.

[lvx35]

12. What part of that is not simple?

You'd have to be a simpleton to believe oil driven Iraq war is focused on the well being of the people, or believe that universal health care isn't. This is the line. profit seeking drives the repukes, well being of the people drives us.

[QuestionAll...]

15. simple in thought, massively not executable in reality..

all we can do is complain. that's all. for now.
but keep that charge going, it will apex one day, it will.

never give up

[lvx35]

17. eh?

I was saying that the people driven approach excercised by the dems is simple to differentiate from the elitist profit driven approach of the repubs, I wasn't saying that there was anything to be executed... but anyway, I'm becoming a hell of an optimist these days. The more I do, the more I see that can be done...I think change is inevitable now.

edit: And btw, yes, I agree we must never give up. EVERYTHING matters. It matters infinitely that the dems took the congress, even if they try to perpetuate the Iraq war...Such a thing would only underline that the violation of the majority, and start sowing the seeds of true massive action like this nation has never seen. Understand here, we have won. It will still take some time though...:)

[Ken Burch]

20. My God...you just used "apex" as a verb...

Well. I agree with the never give up part.

[usaftmo]

6. To me it's like a math equation...

Democrat = Take money from the mega-wealthy and give it to everyone else.
Republican = Take money from everyone and give it to the mega-wealthy.

Democrat = We are a small part of what's existing on Earth, and must protect Earth for the future.
Republican = The Earth only exists for their pillaging/vandalizing/abuse/etc.

Democrat = Laws apply to all people equally.
Republican = Laws only apply to them when they benefit from it.

[Guaranteed]

7. It just means being one of the good guys. nt

[QuestionAll...]

10. are gals allowed?

[Guaranteed]

13. No. No women in the Democratic Party. nt

[QuestionAll...]

14. I appreciate the wordy thing of 'guys' being not exculsive to gender.

I really don't take offense at all by that word. In fact I probably have too much testerones in my estrogen body. I Like beer, I sometimes fart, and omg, I am developing an ego (but I had to work for that, it wasn't born to me)

How would a manly (?) sorta guy take being called a 'gal"

[Hippo_Tron]

22. LOL, we're headed straight back to being the minority party if that is the case

[namvet73]

8. Also: The true strength in this country....

lies in having a well educated society and a government (and supporters) who do their best to make sure as many citizens(rich and poor) of this country as possible have an opportunity to receive a good education so that we can use the power of the mind to solve world problems rather than just military might.

This is not to devalue the ability to defend ourselves. People who are trained in the art of self defense, however, are usually not the bullies. Education leads us to use our defense system wisely and make smart decisions on having a truly strong economy that benefits everyone.

It is ignorance that helped get this president into office (notice I did not say "elected.")

Courage, not only in our armed forces, but in our civilian population here at home. It is fear that has led people to be willing to give up their rights for "protection." It is not just the job of our military to fight a war. It is also the responsibility of those of us here at home to say, I am willing to risk my life rather than make extortion "payments" in the form of votes and support to those elected officials who are extorting us by saying vote for us so that we can "protect" you.

What do those "support the troops" bumper stickers mean to me, especially as one who was once a "trooper?" With due respect, many are sincere, but it often is telltale that the person bearing such "rah rah" banners really means "support the people OVER THERE so they can do the dying instead of us OVER HERE!"

It infuriated me when two members of my family agreed that it's OK if the government spies on them because "we have nothing to hide" and "we don't want to die." What they don't realize is that they could become suspect and even arrested just because someone in their neighborhood is suspect.

Let me confess my own ignorance in that I have realized my own ignorance of even the basics of how our government is supposed to work. But, I was not ashamed nor worried about what others might think as I checked out a book at a bookseller called "An idiot's Guide to The United States Government." I knew full well, that most people seeing me with this book were probably no better educated than myself and might have said to themselves "gee, maybe I should buy that book, too."

I am in awe of the more educated people (than myself) on DU who see things I don't often see and can eloquently explain things I can't explain.

[Raine]

11. It means having REAL love

for my country and doing the best thing I can for it by voting correctly. :patriot:

[QuestionAll...]

16. real love is personal

even if you have to let go of what it means to You

[Ken Burch]

19. It means representing all those that the Republicans leave out in the Cold

Fighting for justice, hope and dignity for all the American peoples(the plural form is intentional, since Democrats, as I see it, are the natural party of the multicutural fact), and, ultimately, for everyone to have a real say in the decisions that affect them.

No elites, no ruling class, but the people themselves.

It's big, but dreams have to be. With dreams, a nation, a party, or a person is nothing.

[Ken Burch]

21. That last sentence SHOULD read "WITHOUT dreams,

a nation, a party or a person is nothing".

(Damn, I hate finding typos when it's too late to correct them.)

[B Calm]

23. Democrat = Corporate Responsibility & Individual Freedom

Republican = Individual Responsibility & Corporate Freedom