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In reply to the discussion: A Short Note On The Democratic Party And The Progressive Left.... [View all]LWolf
(46,179 posts)Last edited Wed Sep 25, 2013, 08:22 AM - Edit history (1)
like a call for "the left" to move to the center/right. I'm not going to do that.
I have a different perspective. I agree that the Democratic Party is not a very good fit for the liberal/progressive left. I don't agree that the best way to deal with that is to give up and pretend that so-called "pragmatic" agreements to constantly erode past progress and move us in the wrong direction is the way to influence the party or the nation.
From my perspective, if the Democratic Party wants the support and participation from the liberal/progressive left, they can damned well act like it and earn it, instead of assuming that they have us over a barrel or under a bus because there is nowhere else to go.
From my perspective, if the Democratic Party doesn't want us at the table, they've got no business whining about us and blaming us when they lose. Yet I read that kind of whining and blaming here at DU all the time.
If they want us at the table, they have to set us a place, not throw some scraps on the floor under the table.
That's my perspective.
Am I hostile? To be honest, I'm more hostile to so-called "centrist" "pragmatics" than I am to the clearly socio-pathic Republicans. I blame the centrists for moving the party constantly to the right, for eroding all of the liberal/progressive progress made earlier in my life, for not fighting harder against fascism and neo-liberalism.
I am deeply, deeply angry, and telling me that I ought to give up and join the status quo only digs that anger deeper.
Attacking people? I don't attack anyone in the real world. No one. I get along with, I work successfully with, a very broad range of people, the majority whom I do not agree with when it comes to politics. Some of them I even respect, and a few of them, I even like.
Here? This is supposed to be a place that I can speak my mind. And I do. I don't think I'm going to convince a single DU center/right "pragmatist" to change his or her mind.
I'm going to say what I think here, if nowhere else. At least, I'll say the parts that are allowed.