Is it my imagination or is DU more civil since the OWS movement came along?

[county worker]

There were times that I hated to log into DU because of all the snark and food fights but I don't see so much of that lately. It has been more pleasant to come here these past few weeks.

[Rex]

1. Something has unified us, well 99% of us.

The others are here to be uncivil.

[lunatica]

2. It's the Occupy movement. The rage has been supplanted by hope and enthusiasm

The tide has turned.

[Ship of Fools]

20. Yep.

[randome]

3. Shut up!

Go to hell!

(Just kidding...)

[H2O Man]

4. I agree.

It has been pleasant lately.

[woo me with science]

5. Nice post.

I feel this, too.

There is always the one percent, but they are....one percent.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yes and no

Actually the place has a certain splittiness to it that comes out when cops misbehave.

Also our law and order contingent, like I suspect all the way to the WH, have no clue how to deal with this.

[Kaleko]

7. WTF are you suggesting?

A conspiracy to be "nice" out of some kind of misguided sense of solidarity with each other??
.
.
.



:yoiks:

[leveymg]

8. Hope brings unity and a sense of purpose that's been lacking us since Hope&Change failed.

In a word: yes.

[Douglas Carpenter]

9. OWS unites people around a more progressive agenda without arguing about Obama

I think the main point of argument has centered around President Obama. But most of the time everyone agrees that he has not accomplished everything that should be accomplished. Some believe that he really is quite progressive and has tried his best at least most of the time but has been thwarted by the blue dogs and the Republicans. Others believe he has not tried his best and is really not that progressive. But almost everyone supports much more progressive government. OWS is a campaign for a more progressive agenda - not an argument about the President.

One of the most positive things I have noticed is that no one or very few are trying to push the DLC/Third way agenda. People may argue about who is and who is not. But everyone agrees on the need for the Democratic Party to be a strong progressive party.

The DLC/Third Way agenda has been morally and intellectually defeated. It will take a bit more time - but the next step is to see this cancer within the Democratic Party politically defeated.

[H2O Man]

11. Well said.

[BrendaBrick]

16. Here Here!

Regarding our President, I have been all around the block with him emotionally (and I suspect that I am not alone on this one). From bright eyed rose-colored glasses when he was first elected about all of the changes that I expected to just 'magically' take place to the other extreme of being completely disillusioned and disenfranchised to the point of having one of my threads locked here for posting the Bee-Gees song: "Jive-Talkin'" when I was at my worse.

I think that I have finally reached that realistic middle-ground. I have come to realize that he has been playing by the rules...so much as 'the rules' are concerned.

I also believe that at first he tried to strike a proper (however naive) middle-ground, you know, being the 'adult' in the room and all - only to see that fail miserably (and to tell you the truth, probably didn't expect such a complete shut-out from the party of "No").

I still believe in my heart of hearts that he really DOES HAVE the best interests of this country at heart and has all along. All things considered. The political machine is what it is in this country - like it or not - this IS the reality and the constructs in which he has to operate within. Again - like it or not.

I think that I have finally comes to terms with this reality. Bottom line, he IS one of the most intelligent and insightful Presidents I have ever known and in regards to this post about the occupy movement as being a campaign for a more progressive agenda and not an argument against the President is spot on.

What springs to my mind is a scene from the Jerry Maquire movie, Help Me Help You:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGt5f70K02Q

I think that is what our President has been trying to do given the political climate which is the reality and I also think that the Occupy movement is doing JUST THAT and I also hope/suspect that by supporting our more progressive candidates will be the means to these ends!

So yeah, I like it here on DU as of late because I sense a change/shift along these lines...

[HughBeaumont]

10. This is what happens . . .

. . . when a Democrat getting elected to the White House only exposed the ugly dangling nudity that is the Plutocracy, which not-so-apparently purchased both parties.

We cannot rely on leaders any longer. They only let us down. We have to rely on each other if this is ever going to work.

And the Plutocracy's useful idiots can either renounce Reaganomics & get on this train or get out of the way.

[monmouth]

12. Also well said...n/t

[TBF]

18. Excellent post. nt

[SoDesuKa]

13. Fuck No

No, it's your imagination.

[dtexdem]

14. It's 99% better.

;-)

[Sherman A1]

15. I would like to believe you are correct

however I don't believe it is the case.

[kestrel91316]

17. Yeah, it's much nicer, except for the half dozen or so anti-OWS quislings.

And the handful of gun nuts in a MAJOR snit because we demand free speech but think modest regulation of guns is ok.

[jwirr]

19. DU is at its best when we have something positive we can do. nt

[tcaudilllg]

21. A lot of people were RW plants

I think people have started ignoring them. Or are doing so more often, at least.

[hifiguy]

22. We now have something to cheer for

and unabashedly. That's easy to unite around. And it has been a nicer place the last couple of weeks, especially.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Only in your deluded mind, HITLER!

[Taverner]

24. Yup. Nice post Kitler