I'd like to give a round of applause to all the Jill Stein voters and JPR-atf*ckers out there

[Jim Lane]

171. The irony is thick indeed.

On DU, we see vehement denunciations of divisiveness... alongside (and sometimes from the same posters as) the vehement denunciations of the millions of progressives who don't adhere precisely to the poster's views.

If you don't believe me, just trying posting something favorable about Bernie Sanders and watch the flames erupt.

My own view is that, if you believe in democracy, you can't see divisiveness as the greatest evil. There are disagreements on the left on subjects like single-payer health care. How do we resolve those disagreements? With competing speeches, arguments in publications and online forums, contested primaries, contested fights for party offices, platform fights, etc.

For example, I support single payer. If the minority of House Democrats who haven't signed on as cosponsors to HR 676 would do so, then the Democratic caucus would be united in support. But I don't expect the Democrats who disagree with me to just STFU in the name of party unity. My criticism of them is that they're wrong on the policy, not that they're being divisive.