In my opinion the single most important Democratic Principle is

[Bandit]

Progressive Taxation. Since Democrats will no longer stand up for that single important principle I have to ask, Is there still a Democratic Party and if so exactly what does it stand for?

[Scruffy1]

1. It now atands for nothing

[tekisui]

2. Worse is that they will use the deficit as a reason to cut social services.

The Democratic Party is dead. We have to conservative parties in this country. One is slightly better on social issues. But, neither are for the people.

[Cosmocat]

7. Just a tragic, tragic moment ...

this was a defininng moment on THE issue that separates us from them, and we had the stronger hand by a LONG mile ... Not often the Ds have the politics of an issue in their favor ...

They folded a pair of aces to an off suit 2 and 7 ...

Just tragic, and as noted, it ensures high levels of deficits that will provide the cover to continue tearing at social safety nets ...

Just a REALLY bad moment in our party, and country's history ...

These tax cuts were one of the most disasterous policies our country has ever seen, and they could have just let them expire ... VERY rarely do you get a chance to have a really bad idea go away without having to do anything ...

[elocs]

3. I think the most important Democratic Party Principle used to be people and how to help them.

The Republican party principle is MONEY. Now it appears the Democratic Party no longer has a principle.

[sharesunited]

4. Delete and reply to OP.

[sharesunited]

5. Here is the 2008 national platform:

Much of it is obviously centrist pablum, expending a lot of effort trying to immunize the party from criticism from conservatives.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78283

Here, perhaps, is where you would like the party to be, as envisioned by the Progressives:

http://pdamerica.org/iot /

They clearly do not believe in appeasing one's way to a majority.

[Winterblues]

8. Are you suggesting that progressive taxation is not a core Democratic Principle?

Democrats have always stood for the working man and fairness. This tax extension is the opposite of that..This is an escalation of America's wealth into the hands of the very rich and less and less for the average American. Exact opposite of what Democrats supposedly stand for..

[sharesunited]

9. Yes it is. Alluded to in both the national platform and with considerable vigor by PDA.

[kath]

10. {gently} - how about if you reword that to "the working person and fairness"?

Great post, with which I very much agree. But not only men work these days, ya know?

My two grandfathers were union organizers in the days of FDR. They roll in their graves over what has happened to the Democratic Party.

[Winterblues]

14. You are very much correct and I apologize

I am of the old school where men was used to describe all people. We used to descriibe humans as mankind. I guess those days are long past. :shrug:

[kentuck]

6. I think that is a fair question, Bandit.

Is there still a Democratic Party??

[patrice]

11. Isn't the justification behind Progressive Taxation Economic Justice for the Disadvantaged, such as

the Un-Employed?

What is Progressive Taxation worth in and of itself? Nothing. It's the purpose of Progressive Taxation that counts and the purpose of Progressive Taxation is Economic Justice for those whom the system has disadvantaged in one way or another.

So the principle behind the principle is one that defends and protects groups like the Un-Employed.

[Individualist]

12. DLC has attained their objective of destroying the party from within.

[patrice]

13. It's much more important to be for or against Obama than it is to do anything effective

on the issues.

I live in a metro of about 2 million people. At the height of the "Health" "Care" debate we managed to turn out TOTAL maybe about 100 people in a period of several months and several of us doing that are Democratic worker-bees, so it's not like Democrats didn't know what was going on. Everyone wants SOMEONE ELSE to do it and around here that usually turns out to be Green Party and they are some of the most in-efficient organizers I have ever met, though they DO have a very loyal core.