A Short Note On The Democratic Party And The Progressive Left....

[The Magistrate]

297. A Very Thoughtful Reply, Sir

A real pleasure to read.

You are right that one of the important functions of this forum is as a place to vent, and people resorting to it for that purpose will express themselves more forcefully, and more colorfully, than they might otherwise. I expect that does add a lot to the toxic air that can be scented wafting about at times. I do think, though, that discussion of practical matters is an important function of this forum as well. It is important for people to get some sense of what should be done not only in terms of goals, but in terms of means to achieve them.

I do not think ideological discussions are no part of discussing practical matters. I think one of the things we need to do is to get people, Democrats, who are more towards the center, to see the validity of more left views, and become more friendly, more supportive, towards them. This requires presenting ideology, both as theory in general view, and as practice brought down to specific cases. I do not think this purpose is served by telling people somewhat to our right, but still far from being on the right, that they do not belong in the Democratic Party, and are not really Democrats.

The specific issue you mention, Social Security and deficits, is one I am inclined to ferocity on. The whole business is simply one of people wishing to welsh on their markers. Social Security funds have, in fact, been treated as general revenue, and in consequence, a time will come when the bonds these funds have been exchanged for will come due. Neither our politicians nor our wealthy wish to make good on this bonded debt, and they must be made to make good on it. So far public outcry has staved off attempts to codify this desire to welsh into law, and this outcry must be kept up, and made ever keener and more forceful.

You ring unfortunately true is commenting that this forum may well be simply accurately reflecting the toxic political environment of our day. This point particularly 'Taking things as they are at DU these days, the proposition "DU should be a venue for reasoned, dispassionate debate on critical public issues" is as absurd as the proposition "The government should ensure the health and safety of all citizens" is in the "real" world' I would have to rate as cold but fair, and it deserves contemplation and thought by all here.

One point where we may part company a bit is your view that the Democratic Party is departing from a former liberal and left character nowadays. As you observed in opening, both parties have traditionally drawn "from a large pool of citizens who share divers beliefs". Certainly in the fifties and even the sixties, not only was Democratic Party far from a body of liberals, liberalism was hardly found solely in the Democratic Party. In my lifetime, I would say that perhaps the only period the Democratic Party could be considered to have been a predominantly left liberal body was that of the '72 convention, and perhaps for a few years after that. Even Mr. Carter, at the time, was not viewed from the left as a particularly congenial or liberal candidate.