Been here on DU almost 6 years - some observations

[The Straight Story]

Unlike many other sites I have been to DU is a bit unique. We have people here all over the map on issues.

Whether it be guns, smoking, schools (charter/public/home), animal rights, one politician or the other (DK, Obama, etc), health care, unions, etc and so on - we have people voicing their opinions and (sometimes) backing them up with some good links.

DU is NOT an echo chamber.

I have read and posted on other sites, none have the openness of ideas we have here. I might well disagree with some here vehemently on some things but at least I am able to hear your side and not just get people who agree with me. Would not learn much that way.

Where I stand on issues is not always reflected in my posts, I tend to post articles I think others here might find of interest.

Here though are some issues and where I stand on them:

Schools
My daughter is home schooled - via a cyber charter school. The one she is with is awesome, but she has been to both charter and public schools. Some charter schools she got into sucked - terribly. Some public schools she could have been in (she was in one in the 1st grade) suck too. She has had both good and bad when it comes to schooling. I prefer choice.
That does not mean I think charter schools are a savior or that public schools are the best for all kids.
It is like the whole windows/mac/linux/solaris debate - for some one OS works best for their needs, for others a different one is best. Choice is something I am for in a great many things.

Guns
I don't own one. I did once for my job. Millions own guns, a few - very few - use them in ways which harm others. The problem is not guns IMHO it has to do with mental health/poverty/etc. Guns don't scare me - people do. Our government has used guns to kill more people way more than it's citizens have, so if you want to ban guns/weapons - start with our government first.

Smoking
It is legal, and I am pro-choice 100%. If you own a bar and want to allow smoking there and you as a patron don't want to support such - don't go there. If you don't want to work at a bar/food joint that allows smoking, don't. I like having choices in things. If you want to open a business with your own money and allow folks in there who like to be naked and pee on the floor, good for you. Not my place to impose my beliefs on you - that is the job of fundies.

Religion
I respect those who have different beliefs than I do. I want them to have the freedom to practice their faith. I am a Christian and think that there have been many such folks of my faith who have done good by others. Some though have not, and should be called out. Some of my faith are 'fundies' and are total asses. Call them out all day long - just remember that all are not that way.

Science
Love science - but there are some in the field of science who are no different than those on the religion side. How many drug recalls have we had, food recalls, etc? Folks had peer reviews, swore X would help others, only to find out later that the drugs they had approved (etc) were actually harming us (but made a profit for their company). If I am skeptical of some new science it does not mean I am stone aged person, it just means that I have learned over time that people in the industry are not always right and have - at times - covered up things to protect their funding source.

Politicians
You think they care about you? A few might - but most care about the people they meet with, the PACS. You are one vote and maybe, at best, a few dollars in their coffers. We elected people to pass some laws on Single Payer, end wars, discrimination against gays - and who were the people who got the most help in Obama's first year? Banks/investors/defense industry. Not all his fault either - people in congress shoulder more than he does here.

We might get a bone thrown to us if we are lucky.

Health care
It was simple. We voted for change and single payer. At least a public option. You think you mattered in it all? You busted your ass, raised money to get dems in power, and now certain things are off the table. You didn't win - you just got a little something to keep you happy while our dreams were tossed away. What are you going to do, vote for the other party? You either lose a little or a lot. It does not make me feel any better, maybe it does you though.

Overall
I stand for choice and freedom, and for a strong presence of our government in industry/health care.

Abortion? Your choice - not mine.
Smoking? Same
Guns? Same
Education for your kids? Same
Regulation of corporations? Hell Yes
Funding for our public schools? More is needed
Helping the poor/homeless/sick/unemployed? We all need to do better.
Raising taxes? Nope - because such always seems to go to war and helping out those in the defense industry. Raise taxes for other reasons and be serious about it? I am on board.

[liberal N proud]

1. It's a big tent

Just like the whole Democratic party

And they wonder why the Democrats can't do anything in Congress. :rofl:

[Caliman73]

7. I object!!

No, just kidding. Our greatest strength is our greatest liability. We try to listen to all points of view and incorporate the best information much of the time rather than blind allegiance to a set of outdated ideas. It leads to argument and struggle, but ultimately to progress.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Not to some. The doctrinaire and ideologues tend to whine a lot, here and elsewhere

[bvar22]

25. The Democratic Party IS a Big Tent...

but there is NO room for those who advance the agenda of The RICH (Corporate Owners)
at the expense of the Working Class and The Poor.
"They" do not deserve a seat at OUR Table.

THAT is the basis for our problems today.
In 1992, Clinton/DLC gave the RICH (Corporate Owners) a seat at OUR Table (Working Class/Poor),
and the RICH have eaten all the food.


Fuck You dirty Working Class assholes!
Now we OWN the Democratic Party too!!!
Hahahahahahahahahaha!

[Kaleva]

2. rec'd

[Uzybone]

3. its a big tent and an echo chamber

[lynne]

4. Recommended

:applause:

[ixion]

5. a thoughtful, reflective post, Straight Story...

much appreciated. :)

[Cleita]

6. Nice post.

Thanks.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AlinPA]

10. Exactly right on the very tedious.

[Desertrose]

12. Hey, speak for yourself, dude!!!!

:evilgrin:

:hi:Zomby :hug:

DR

[Zomby Woof]

14. Desertrose!

:rofl: Yeah, I better just speak for myself. But I forgot to mention loudmouth know-it-alls with foot-in-mouth disease! :D

:hug: Hope all is well in the Sedona Homestead!

[Desertrose]

15. Doin OK here.....

I think spring might actually be coming...had a REAL winter here for a change.(Be damn glad you weren't in Flag this winter!!)

All is well here...and hope the same for you. :hug:

[Zomby Woof]

17. I saw that Flag was hit hard

We actually had a winter here. It rained a lot, which is needed in the worst way. Made me miss Seattle, lol. Finally got above 70 today, and the mountains are out, still covered with snow.

I am glad to see you on here, although I sure don't hold it against you when you're scarce. :evilgrin:

:hug:

[Atticus]

11. Your post is well-considered, well-written and an example of what all of us should aspire to

post here. Your clear and honest language and your exemplary common sense are, hopefully, representative of DU's "core".

Thank you.

[bridgit]

13. ^

:kick:

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

16. I like being all over the map.

[laughingliberal]

18. Balanced and reasonable

That isn't going to work. (kidding)

Excellent attempt at herding the kittehs. Rec.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

19. Well put and deserving of a k & r!

[Dappleganger]

20. Let's have a beer!

Seriously, I'd have a beer with pretty much anyone here on DU and we'd probably have a great time celebrating our diverse opinions.

[bigwillq]

21. Great post.

K and R.

:thumbsup:

[muffin1]

22. K&R

:thumbsup:

[Hardrada]

23. Shameless Trotskyite Counter-Revolutionary Wrecker!

Yeah, we have all kinds. :D

[madrchsod]

24. i am here because .it`s all about us....

it`s our playground where we can say just about anything. the mods and the guys who run this give us a lot room. sometimes they have to give us a time out or deliver a pizza but that`s ok sometimes we deserve it......



this is why i give my "big tip of the hat" to the guys who run the show

this is what this site looked like when i started lurking

http://web.archive.org/web/20011129171017/http://democraticunderground.com/

now compare that with today....we get a dam good deal for our money.

[anAustralianobserver]

28. DU is great but I don't understand why some topics eg election reform are moved from Gen Discussion

I don't know where most people browse DU from; I assume Gen Discussion (I start from the Top 10s page). Anyway that's not in the spirit of your post; I too give a big tip of the hat to DU and its members - I don't think there's anything this well organised and accessible for Australian politics.

[1776Forever]

26. Yep that's why I keep coming back. I almost left once & then realized my voice was needed too!

I respect anyone who wants to debate my ideas as long as they don't scream at me. I respect others and their ideas as well. DU gives me a place to vent and try to educate others on important issues. I learn a lot on DU too.

DU - :yourock:

[anAustralianobserver]

27. I think I agree on all points; have been here about 5 years nt

[Raster]

29. Who do you feel about lesbians and gays able to marry?

[Major Hogwash]

30. I'm a Democrat. And have voted for Democrats for 36 years.

And I will die a Democrat.

I started out caring for old people when I was 18 years old because my grandpa was a senior citizen.
Because Democrats care about the senior citizens of this country.

I started out caring for poor people when I was 18 years old because a few of my cousins were poor.
Because Democrats care about the poor citizens of this country.

I started out going to church when I was 5 years old, dragged there by my Momma kicking and screaming all the way, and learned to quit arguing with other people about their religion by the time I was 9.
Because Democrats care about the separation of church and state in this country.

I have always held politicians like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and JFK in high esteem as heroes to be looked up to as model citizens to emulate when I got older.
Because Democrats care about history, unlike the Village Idiot who was in the White House for 8 years before Obama got there!!

[timtom]

31. Great Post!!

Thanks for a nicely-written statement. Pretty much reflects my viewpoint, too.

[howard112211]

32. Unreced for suggesting that science and religion are similar efforts.

I think you have not understood what the scientific method is. I suggest reading up on it.

The scientific institutions produce results that are flawed. The religious institutions
produce no results at all. Questioning and correcting flawed results of scientists
is part of science.

People who pretend to have results that they don't have are not scientists. They
are fraudsters. This has nothing to do with the scientific method, however. On the
contrary, often fraudulent results are spread by (religious or other) people
who are trying to undermine the authority of real science.

[sixstrings75]

33. I concur 100%. A question though...

What party represents us?

Simple question. Think about it.

I'm in Canada. I have no representation because of these beliefs and values I hold.

You're either an ignorant conservative or a tree-hugging liberal...

There is no representation for us.