Is DU committed to democratic principles or the Democratic Party?

[Phrogman]

I'm just curious which one it is.

[NightWatcher]

1. I'm gonna say, Progressive People-Powered Principles

GD may have it's personalities that butt heads from time to time, but also consider the various other forums that are focused on principle; activist hq, civil liberties, energy/ environment....

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Both. n/t

[Skinner]

3. We make no secret of who this website is for.

You agreed to it when you registered to post:

Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

[Richard Steele]

4. Why do you assume it must be one or the other?

[MrPrax]

10. Why?????

Because it's his board...that's why and so it's his rules. That's why!!!

[Lerkfish]

12. I think you didn't follow the chain of response in this thread.

the person you responded to was responding to the OP, not skinner.

unless I"m misreading it, or you.

[Richard Steele]

15. I think...

...that was some SARCASM directed at the OP, and it's
just a confusing coincidence that Skinner posted directly
above me.

I think. :shrug:

[Lerkfish]

17. could be..either way its confusing who its directed to

so that's why I timidly commented and said I could be wrong.

[MrPrax]

20. Yup...

Apologies...wrong place...didn't catch it in time...etc.

(ooh...I guess I could, rather than owning up to a mistake, blame the forum format and do the usual DU thing and suggest politely that it's not as good as other places, and the buttons could be bigger, and the thread-view could be better...and...and....and...anything to avoid admitting to a mistake)


But But I don't do it often; I actually pretty good on that score.
Please don't kill me. ;-)

[Lerkfish]

11. Unless the lament is that we should allow democratic leaders who do NOT espouse principles

which, if so, is rather telling of the OP.

[kikiek]

5. Who decides what they are? Does everyone have to follow the same ones?

And do I have the right to decide for myself when I believe they aren't following them or is that a "group" function?

[whistle]

6. Can you list those principles here please?

[johncoby2]

7. yes

[dkofos]

8. neither

[KharmaTrain]

9. We're Here For Our Own Reasons

DU is full of many types of people...we're not a monolith. In many cases we share common interests, values and causes, but they vary in degree from member to member. And that's this forum's strength.

While I prefer Democratic Party candidates, I can't say I'm committed to the party nor would I ever sumbit that way. Many of us here hate that facet in the Repugnicans.

[Lerkfish]

13. why not ask Lieberman that.

he claimed to be a democrat until he lost the primary, but he never was committed to democratic principles.

in HIS case, his candidacy and principles were mutually exclusive.

[William769]

14. This should answer your question.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

[blondeatlast]

16. Pass the Diet Coke, please...

:popcorn:

[whistle]

18. Well, I guess I'll post our democratic principles then since the OP can't or won't

Well, I guess I'll post our democratic principles then since the OP can't or won't

...First and foremost we have:

“…we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

-- U.S. Declaration of Independence


<also a more specific list>

Democratic Principles for a Free America

1. Respect for the right to practice
the religion of one's choosing, or none.

2. Respect for the Constitutional principle
of seperation of Church and State,
which honors all religions by singling out
none for special treatment.

3. Respect for the Constitutional guarantees
of legal due process, including unobstructed
access to the court system.

4. Respect for the Constitutional guarantee that
the citizens of the United States should be free
from unwarranted searches and siezures without
probable cause, whether a search is of a
citizen's person or property. It should be
understood that no search so denied to
government agents shall be allowed by agents
of any other entities, including corporations.

5. All laws should apply to all citizens of the
United States equally, including the authors of
the laws.

6. In the interest of the common good of the citizenry
of the United States it is recognized that health
care for all citizens is a reasonable, desirable
and reachable goal.

7. All health care decisions should be made between
health care professionals and patients -- not
insurance companies, HMOs, or politicians.

8. No corporation should be treated in law as a
citizen of the United States, or granted any
privilege or benefit, whether financial or other,
that is not availible to all corporations and citizens
of the US.

9. The chemical composition and DNA encoding of
all citizens is the personal property of those
citizens and subject to Constitutional property
protections.

10. The Social Security System should be maintained
as established and contracted with the American
public. The SS fund should be untouchable for
any use other than that for which it was intended.

11. The principle of intelligent, informed self-defense
is paramount to the security of the United States,
but not as an excuse for Imperialist military
expansion and war profiteering. International
cooperation is recognized to be of utmost
importance when engaging a confirmed
international menace, because it is unreasonable
to expect the citizens of the US to bear the
entire expense in life and lucre of being the
world's policeman.

Please note that these are completely consistent with how the Democratic Party operates and upholds all standards of behavior among its leaders, party members and the people of the United States of America.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. I consider myself Progressive and

I have been a registered Democrat since I was first able to vote 38 years ago, but will not practice blind loyalty.

The Democratic party had in my opinion the closest to my values. At first I thought that due to pressure from the Wrong Wing, many "mainstream" Democrats have gone closer to the center and even right of it IMHO. The debate was framed and the word Liberal became a dirty word. Many Democrats caved instead of standing proudly by those principles. I have often said that Bill Clinton was the best Republican President we've ever had. He disappointed me greatly. But as time went on, something more insidious seems to have prevailed.

In the last few years I came to the realization that the leadership of the Democratic Party is financed/and or/ have been manipulated (blackmail, threats?) and are dancing to the same tune that the Republicans do. They are opposames. They pretend to be different (kinder,gentler) but when push comes to shove, they fall in line with the higher powers that be.

Why aren't the Dems screaming about PNAC? Why aren't the Dems screaming about the new Presidential Directive that can bring our country into a Dictatorship at the next national emergency? Why aren't the Dems Impeaching this sick motherfucker of a President? Why aren't the Dems screaming about the armada that is building up in the gulf? When the Democrats start yelling out about these things and a myriad of other things, will I consider myself a Democrat again.

[LWolf]

21. The site itself,

as clearly stated in the rules, is committed to the Democratic Party.

Individual members? Some are committed to the first, some to the second.

Some to both. I feel for this group; it is becoming harder and harder for them to keep the two married.

[bigtree]

22. I don't think we get anywhere close to effecting those principles

if we don't have an expansive party which is able to capture and hold the majority.

I don't think one is worth much without the other.