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In reply to the discussion: Why is the American left not as effective as the European left? [View all]Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)206. Yes, they are.
I live in the UK; the population here is 89% white, of whom 81% are "White British". France has similar demographics, as does Germany, as does Italy, as does Spain, etc. There are substantial numbers of immigrants to European countries, but non-European immigration is a relatively recent thing (in the postwar and more importantly post-colonial era) and while it's substantially changed the ethnic makeup of some urban areas it hasn't shifted the demographic balance of countries to the levels of diversity the USA has. And the white populations are pretty much homogeneous (unlike the USA where there has historically been political tension not just between racial groups but between white ethnic groups).
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Why is the American left not as effective as the European left? [View all]
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
OP
It's not War and Peace. Read the OP like a grownup, then get back to me.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#46
Dismissing it in its entirety without explanation is "the slightest criticism"?
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#76
sounds like it was written by somebody who came into office as a youngish progressive
nashville_brook
Oct 2014
#7
i've been seeing "the left" get LOTS done -- paid sick time, raise the wage, and GOTV
nashville_brook
Oct 2014
#16
I've seen the liberal leaders whom the left constantly trashes get those things done.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#38
I loathe individual people who care more about their egos than about other people.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#68
Exactly. The OP is a reaction to present circumstances, and argues for changing them.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#70
What do you think the LGBT rights advances came from, the right? Centrists who nattered about
Bluenorthwest
Oct 2014
#25
My point was that these things had been "pushed for" by the left for decades. Ineffectually.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#95
The state senator I vote for every time is consistently the most progressive one in my state.
suffragette
Oct 2014
#106
I love the fact I finally got my teeth taken care of thanks to Obamacare. Too bad you only care
KittyWampus
Oct 2014
#42
And again, you're trolling childish retorts because you have no rational arguments to make.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#157
Well, which is it? Do you not consider yourself American, or do you not consider yourself Left?
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#155
Because Europe's media isn't owned in its entirety by five billionaires, like it is in the US.
PSPS
Oct 2014
#15
Pretty bad. This is takeover of education/history by RW in 35 yrs., corporate media, dumbed down.
appalachiablue
Oct 2014
#146
No backing from the established party. Zephyr Teachout, Barbara Buono who were Both sound contenders
adirondacker
Oct 2014
#26
And to you that's enough, but not to anyone who actually needs help from the government.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#97
"If it's all about money and return on investment and stock shares and all that,
adirondacker
Oct 2014
#45
The bullshit is only going to get heavier and heavier and more voluminous when the 2014
djean111
Oct 2014
#50
I agree with Moyers, but I don't see how this relates to what we're discussing.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#100
also, watch what happens when left congress folk try to form coalitions with libertarian Rs
nashville_brook
Oct 2014
#44
Ludicrous accusation. Constructive, rational criticism = "lefty punching." Sheer insecurity.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#102
You didn't even read the OP. You've made that clear, now stop spamming.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#103
It is TL/DR....but why do you think the "European Left" is so successful? They aren't.
MADem
Oct 2014
#65
They would have to be reversed quite a long ways to become like our systems.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#127
Decades? Berlusconi and Sarkozy were progressive? Merkel is a rightie. Le Pen almost won in France.
MADem
Oct 2014
#119
There are serious cracks in that armor. They aren't new, and they are getting worse, not better.
MADem
Oct 2014
#192
Progress is not a straight line, so there were bound to be reversals for Europe.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#216
Progress may not be a straight line, but when the entire region, pretty much, screams
MADem
Oct 2014
#221
1200 hate radio stations owned, run, and staffed by the looniest of the loony right. Complete
Doctor_J
Oct 2014
#87
Seems to have pissed off quite a few people who see themselves reflected in it.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#131
Yep. And now that you realize that, take the insults (because there was no discussion
Number23
Oct 2014
#152
The Left has to fight a coalition (or, Devil's Brew) now of Republicans and 3rd Way Democrats.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Oct 2014
#111
that's it exactly. As soon as Obama and the rest of the DINOs support Sanders instead of PHARMA,
Doctor_J
Oct 2014
#132
So, the Democrats should form coalitions with the Left instead of the quasi-Republican "moderates".
Tierra_y_Libertad
Oct 2014
#142
Unfortunately, the party seems very comfortable with it's right wing pals and beneficiaries.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Oct 2014
#158
The left will align itself with the Party when it proves itself a reliabale friend
Tierra_y_Libertad
Oct 2014
#187
If the Left is so "ineffective" why does it get blamed when the Democrats lose?
Tierra_y_Libertad
Oct 2014
#229
Yes, Wellstone was definitely one of the last humanist titans in the federal government.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#135
You mean like the way we punished Liz Warren and Bernie Sanders for being effective legislators?
pa28
Oct 2014
#114
Can you support the claim that Warren and Sanders are effective legislators?
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#136
Over a half century of demonization of 'communists' and 'socialists'
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
Oct 2014
#161
The left bears a lot of responsibility for right-wing victories. Denying that would be dishonest.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#190
Why should anyone take this seriously? You offer no evidence for anything you say.
Vattel
Oct 2014
#162
Because it's content with the excuses provided by history and the status quo.
True Blue Door
Oct 2014
#178
You know...you should publish this. It speaks truth to me...if not "truth" at least reality. nt
kelliekat44
Oct 2014
#198
This post is preposterous with the rise of the ultra-nationalists in the EU.
joshcryer
Oct 2014
#209
I'm trying to point that out, pretty much, and getting the "Well but it's a continuum" argument in
MADem
Oct 2014
#222
I suppose if we simply define what would be considered center-right everywhere else in the western
Douglas Carpenter
Oct 2014
#223
Well it seems you insist on pushing your agenda on what you think a liberal/leftist is so..
Kalidurga
Jun 2015
#236