Why should I be a Democrat?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

41. The party isn't perfect by any means

but please explain to us why you wouldn't prefer another 4-8 years of Hillary Clinton and her probable cabinet appointees (which would NEVER include people like Betsy DeVos, Rex Tillerson, Rick Perry, and Ben Carson), her Supreme Court and other judicial nominees (which wouldn't consider Neil Gorsuch), and Executive Branch policies over Donald Trump.

Plus, there are no viable left-wing alternatives out there. Whatever "credibility" the Green Party ever had was pretty well shot after this past election and I'm not even sure that they are even legit left-wing anyway given that they spend almost all of their time attacking Democrats instead of Republicans and seem to pop up like a dandelion every time there is an open WH race following a successful Democratic Presidential Administration, seemingly to throw the race to the Republicans (based on their "more suffering under Republicans=impending progressive victory" theory).

I would also argue that, even if the Democratic Party isn't yet the ultra-left wing progressive Party you want it to be, the Party has gradually moved towards the left in recent years and their platform this past year was more inclusive of progressive ideas supported by Bernie Sanders than ever. Also, since 2012, Democrats now openly embrace same-sex marriage.

If you're looking for a party to belong to that caters to your every political desire that is viable enough to win elections, I'm afraid that you're probably never going to be satisfied with any party that's already out there, but that doesn't mean that you can't fight for what you think should become law and push political leaders to adopt them. The Democratic Party is pretty much going to be- for now- the only party that is going to be responsive in the least to your desired agenda. Republicans are certainly never going to go there and no other party on the left has demonstrated that they are viable and capable of winning elections in any significant number to make a difference yet. Remember too that political parties also have to win elections in order to enact their policies, so if you don't vote for the party that mostly fits your beliefs and has a chance of winning, you're going to be perpetually unhappy/dissatisfied.