Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

PatrickforO

(14,516 posts)
90. I have a good friend who was a member of the Green party in
Mon Jul 3, 2017, 10:10 AM
Jul 2017

my state. He left the Greens because he came to see how futile supporting them actually is.

Now, I'm not saying that some of the Green positions aren't very attractive to me. I am an economist, and social Democrat in the Bernie sense (for hair splitters, this means that I see a wide swath of things out there like good roads, strong infrastructure, clean water, clean air, prisons, police, firefighters, K-12, postsecondary colleges and universities, health care and Social Security as being within the realm of 'public good,' which can be defined as those things the private sector cannot or will not do for the good of all of us. These things need to be funded using public monies). In addition, I am a big respecter of reasonable regulations that keep us safe. For instance, in my state, a young couple bought their dream home and settled in, only to have the home explode because of a methane pocket caused by gas leakage from an uncapped underground pipe.

The next day, the Dems in our state legislature wrote a bill that would have required big oil companies to map these underground pipes. Republicans, citing 'job killin' reglashuns,' promptly killed it.

So, when I addressed a group of young Dems aspiring to public office, I told them they had to learn to talk about kitchen table issues in a compelling way, because our party has sucked at that since FDR's Fireside Chats went by the wayside. And please don't tell me our candidates have these good positions - on their websites - because we all know how effective THAT has been. What this means, I said, is to tell it like it is. Anytime a Republican brings up 'job killin' reglashuns,' respond by saying that these are lifesaving guidelines that actually create jobs, and enhance the quality of life for us all.

Another national example is Sen. Warren is now calling for 'single payer.' WTF??? Don't the Dems read national polls? Poll after poll after poll says Americans WANT 'Medicare for all Americans' because they understand Medicare and aren't afraid of it. 'Single payer' doesn't poll nearly as high. We have to learn to talk about kitchen table issues in appealing ways Americans understand.

The Greens are irrelevant, and if you're socialism is SO pure that the Dems aren't good enough, you're shooting yourself in the foot because Greens and Socialists really aren't electable.

So the Dems have to quit being wuuses and fight back harder. Don't just put it on the website and then say it was there all along. That doesn't win elections. Coin some good terms. Have some fun with rhetoric. Words really DO matter. So, hey, let's reinstate all those life saving guidelines Trump killed when he gutted the EPA.

Stop it Dan, you're offending our Stein fans! hrmjustin Jul 2017 #1
Stein's Having Dinner With Putin Was Telling dlk Jul 2017 #2
Considering her thoughts on Syria, I think it's safe to assume who... Docreed2003 Jul 2017 #8
Wasted vote helmedon1974 Jul 2017 #3
It was a two-person con job sweetloukillbot Jul 2017 #4
Or . . . peggysue2 Jul 2017 #5
My contempt for those two not fooled Jul 2017 #59
Great post. Stein was vile yesterday, I think it R B Garr Jul 2017 #6
Jill is a grifter just like moron trump TEB Jul 2017 #7
If anyone questions where Stein's loyalty lies... Docreed2003 Jul 2017 #9
An awful statement by Green Party presidential candidate Cha Jul 2017 #34
Your welcome Cha!!! It's always important to highlight the truth! Docreed2003 Jul 2017 #48
I'm good.. hope you and yours are, too! Cha Jul 2017 #62
Her appearance in Russia at the same dinner Flynn spoke created a never ever Stein. She Thinkingabout Jul 2017 #10
Yes! Thank you for explaining the "Green" phenomenon so well blue-wave Jul 2017 #11
The ultra far left do not care about the American people. joshcryer Jul 2017 #12
Depends on the definitiion of far left. lark Jul 2017 #13
You are not far left Motownman78 Jul 2017 #16
Post removed Post removed Jul 2017 #14
... ancianita Jul 2017 #18
I just had a post removed for allegedly the same. In my defense I said the events are happening NOW Hekate Jul 2017 #25
Luck of the Jury Pool draw, I think. MineralMan Jul 2017 #27
I'd Appeal Me. Jul 2017 #54
I did Hekate Jul 2017 #55
'SHE WAS WARNED. NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED' Me. Jul 2017 #56
While she is a hopeless... tonedevil Jul 2017 #15
Best thing I've read about her bullshit. And the reason I've steered clear of the Greens. The public ancianita Jul 2017 #17
She sure did her part Crabby Appleton Jul 2017 #19
Greens love Republican and Russian green $$$$. L. Coyote Jul 2017 #20
Jesus, are we still whining about Stein? Gore1FL Jul 2017 #21
See DanTex' #39. nt stevenleser Jul 2017 #84
I was hoping for a logical answer to my question, but thanks for the effort. nt Gore1FL Jul 2017 #99
Post removed Post removed Jul 2017 #22
What is the point? LiberalLovinLug Jul 2017 #23
stein is a fucking Liar.. she told her gullible suckers Cha Jul 2017 #35
I'm glad you made this post, because it lets me illustrate an important point about Green defenders. DanTex Jul 2017 #39
A freaking men Docreed2003 Jul 2017 #49
Yep not fooled Jul 2017 #60
Can you really not see the difference in two parties? LiberalLovinLug Jul 2017 #94
Of course they are different. But they work toward the same results. DanTex Jul 2017 #96
The more important questions are: Gore1FL Jul 2017 #100
Stein was clearly acting as a stalking horse for Putin... farmbo Jul 2017 #61
Group Hate exercise begins. HATE HATE HATE philly_bob Jul 2017 #24
Attempt to stifle the flow of facts exercise begins. STIFLE STIFLE STIFLE Hekate Jul 2017 #26
Not my hero, didn't vote for her, philly_bob Jul 2017 #28
Fuck "Stein voters". They are not allies, and if you think they are, then that says more about you. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2017 #30
Oh for christs sake.. Kentonio Jul 2017 #68
Because all this silly talk about people attacking our party prevents ehrnst Jul 2017 #72
We could probably "win a damn election" were it not for the alt leftists of the Green Party. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2017 #97
Just because the majority sees the asshole stein for Cha Jul 2017 #37
Your mental model of a rational Stein voter that can be "won over" is absurd on it's face. BzaDem Jul 2017 #38
Like the congressional baseball shooter who was a Stein voter JI7 Jul 2017 #46
I say fuck Stein voters. Anyone that fucking stupid is not someone that I want to count on. nt Blue_true Jul 2017 #104
right back at ya, philly bob.. do you feel better? Cha Jul 2017 #36
I registered my protest at the hippie-bashing (Stein, Sarandon, Nader) that occasionally hits DU philly_bob Jul 2017 #44
Right off the bat you're showing major cluelessness.. Cha Jul 2017 #47
Ain't that the truth? These highly paid professionals were never "hippies" Hekate Jul 2017 #52
They're sitting on Millions of cushiony BUCK$ Cha Jul 2017 #57
Btw, just saw this.. the opposite of this OP Cha Jul 2017 #58
Exactly as we hoped he would do... Hekate Jul 2017 #64
Yes! Exactly! Cha Jul 2017 #65
Who Was The Hippie Being Bashed? ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #91
"Hippie bashing" was an historical reference to 1970's Democratic politics. philly_bob Jul 2017 #95
I Know What Hippie Bashing Is ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #101
The uncooperative rebels hounded by the conformist mob are Stein, Sanders, Nader, Sarandon philly_bob Jul 2017 #102
Fuck all the people you mentioned. Blue_true Jul 2017 #105
Then I and Philly Bob Are On The Same Page ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #110
Here's my question. When someone criticizes another GOP ally, to you make the same post? DanTex Jul 2017 #40
Actually, venting does help. Allows us to blow off steam then get back to work. (nt) ehrnst Jul 2017 #73
See DanTex' #39. nt stevenleser Jul 2017 #85
She is no friend to us. WE need to understand that, and act on it. NT Adrahil Jul 2017 #86
A vote for Stein was a vote for Trump Gothmog Jul 2017 #29
Exactamundo. Greens own everything Trump does to damage our democracy. oasis Jul 2017 #31
these people are NOT the left. They are troll party meant to help republicans win JI7 Jul 2017 #32
stein is a Pawn for putin/trump ally/serial Liar RFer. Cha Jul 2017 #33
We could fight fire with fire. MarvinGardens Jul 2017 #41
Thank you Philly Bob . . FairWinds Jul 2017 #42
I assume when people criticize Republicans, you're just as upset about it, right? DanTex Jul 2017 #43
Because Green voters are potential Dem voters Kentonio Jul 2017 #69
GOP voters are also potential Dem voters. DanTex Jul 2017 #70
Oh come on, spare me the silliness Kentonio Jul 2017 #75
you tell 'em Kent FairWinds Jul 2017 #76
I would say the same to you. DanTex Jul 2017 #80
Despite me not really caring about the details of the Green party, you've gotten my attention Kentonio Jul 2017 #81
They actively work to destroy the environment by helping Republicans get elected. DanTex Jul 2017 #82
Quick newsflash, we lost the last election Kentonio Jul 2017 #83
Yep, and part of the reason was the Greens working to undermine the closest candidates to them that stevenleser Jul 2017 #88
Interesting, SL, about Greens in other countries. philly_bob Jul 2017 #108
And that plays into your argument how exactly? DanTex Jul 2017 #89
Because if even one voter is turned away from us by visiting here Kentonio Jul 2017 #92
US Green Party voters don't care about the details of the Green party. They enabled Trump. stevenleser Jul 2017 #87
The Green Party in the U.S. treats the Democratic party the same as the Republican party because haele Jul 2017 #98
I'm not think about working with the Greens Kentonio Jul 2017 #109
Honestly, with modern Greens, they are pariahs. Blue_true Jul 2017 #106
No kidding fallout87 Jul 2017 #45
Not just the past 6 months. The last 20 years! JHB Jul 2017 #50
Also, a lot of Republican money has gone into their campaigns to Akamai Jul 2017 #74
Well, I do not know about that, but FairWinds Jul 2017 #78
Wish you had posted links to her victory lap rpannier Jul 2017 #51
Stein and Nader were both spoilers who wanted the GOP to win Gothmog Jul 2017 #53
Nope, I dont think it works this way vkkv Jul 2017 #63
Two theories on that Ruby the Liberal Jul 2017 #71
It has more to do with the fact that we all thought, esp. us Liberals, that HRC was was going to win vkkv Jul 2017 #93
She is certainly no Wionna LeDuke! burrowowl Jul 2017 #66
Ironic, so many Greens I talked to thought HRC was colluding with/chose DT ehrnst Jul 2017 #67
Stein is neither liberal nor progressive, any more than the Jackpine crowd was Tarc Jul 2017 #77
She was the purveyor of fake news to the extreme left KRISITNA Jul 2017 #79
I have a good friend who was a member of the Green party in PatrickforO Jul 2017 #90
You hit the nail on its head. Blue_true Jul 2017 #107
In Maine, I swear Eliot Culter ran as an independent just to get LePage elected. Zing Zing Zingbah Jul 2017 #103
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Jill Stein's latest victo...»Reply #90