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Zorra

(27,670 posts)
9. No. Real Democrats brought us Social Security, Medicare, women's reproductive
Thu May 19, 2016, 12:41 PM
May 2016

choices, civil rights, and the 40 hr work week.

Third Way lesser of two evils DINOs still called themselves Republicans back when real Democrats forced those basic rights into existence. If DLC/Third Way had not taken control of the Democratic party, we'd have the rest pf these basic rights today.

With the exception of President Obama and his administration in the area of social justice, most especially with regard to LGBT rights, pitifully little social and economic progress has been made for minorities/working people by those calling themselves Democrats since the DINO coup of the Democratic Party during the Reagan era. It's shameful. We must set higher standards for our leaders other than to simply be "the lesser of two evils".

We need really great Democratic leaders who want great things for our people, not corporate tools whose only reason for being president is to increase the profits and power of the 1%.

These are the things that great Democratic Party leaders do, and try to do:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to the Congress of the United States on the State of the Union, January 11, 1944:

"It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.”[3] People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."


President John F. Kennedy:

“I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”


“Today, we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. … It ought to to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color.”


“Difficulties over segregation and discrimination exist in every city, in every state of the union, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis, men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. This is not even a legal or legislative issue alone. It is better to settle these matters in the courts than on the streets, and new laws are needed at every level, but law alone cannot make men see right. We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution.”


“The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities; whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated.”


“This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance to develop their talents. We cannot say to ten percent of the population that you can’t have that right; that your children cannot have the chance to develop whatever talents they have; that the only way that they are going to get their rights is to go in the street and demonstrate. I think we owe them and we owe ourselves a better country than that.”


Some quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

"I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law."

"There are some instances when a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I was arrested Friday on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust.

Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was seen sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar because a higher moral law was involved. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks before submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire. To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience.

We can never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." It was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. But I am sure that if I had lived in Germany during that time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal. If I lived in a Communist country today where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I believe I would openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws ...

I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are presently misunderstood. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with the destiny of America. Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson scratched across the pages of history the majestic word of the Declaration of Independence, we were here ...If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands ...

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.


Bernie Sanders:

I thought the American Revolution was how we got here. eom Merryland May 2016 #1
"Who wants less evil?" yallerdawg May 2016 #2
Who needs less evil when you can simply rebrand overt evil as "pragmatism"? Kelvin Mace May 2016 #32
Your argument no longer holds water, and here's why: ViseGrip May 2016 #3
When the "lessor of two evils" vetoes Congressional legislation... yallerdawg May 2016 #7
No, the status quo on trade, jobs, college, climate, healthcare, and Hillary. ViseGrip May 2016 #37
It's time to work for down ballot Democrats WhiteTara May 2016 #10
Hey, yes! The Kochs et ilk have been investing Hortensis May 2016 #42
As activists in the 70s we made a fatal WhiteTara May 2016 #47
Well THAT is a crock mikehiggins May 2016 #4
I don't think either one is evil (at least not like Cheney), but I characterize this as the Zen Democrat May 2016 #5
And yet you do have that choice ONLY, those two. Either one votes for one or they dont, and Actor May 2016 #8
And how we DON'T make progress is beleiving the "lesser of two evils" lie. baldguy May 2016 #6
For that we can thank Nadir for using that meme over WhiteTara May 2016 #11
No. Real Democrats brought us Social Security, Medicare, women's reproductive Zorra May 2016 #9
Quotes from the last century are not necessarily germane to today. randome May 2016 #15
We can't sit here and criticize the Republicans for not compromising Dem2 May 2016 #12
Let me tell you something nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #13
So give nuclear weapons to a known narcissist sociopath who will use them Actor May 2016 #17
So give fucking nuclear weapons to an outsider nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #18
My party? Actor May 2016 #19
Yes, I am one of those silly independents you will need in November. nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #26
I only care about one thing. One. Actor May 2016 #28
And if you do not get the dynamics why that threat, and it is a threat is going to fall on nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #39
You have been here since Brock o' Clock and are questioning why a member with 151K posts is here. Matt_in_STL May 2016 #38
If you're willing to open your mind a little I suggest you read "Listen, Liberal" by Thomas Frank. hobbit709 May 2016 #14
Open my mind? Actor May 2016 #16
Did you just discover him? Did you just discover liberal politics? Actor May 2016 #21
You've been here all of a month and you ask that? hobbit709 May 2016 #48
That isnt an answer. Either you are a seasoned political junkie and voter and Actor May 2016 #49
I know you weren't with me in Chicago in 68. hobbit709 May 2016 #50
NOBODY who even remembers that doesnt RACE to the polls on election day to vote Actor May 2016 #51
Who were you in your previous incarnation? hobbit709 May 2016 #52
Thanks for not debating what I just said, even you have to admit that it is true. Actor May 2016 #53
you don't want debate. You want total agreement with yourself . hobbit709 May 2016 #55
Exactly, I dont want to debate whether or not it is OK to let Trump become our president. Actor May 2016 #57
I don't want Trump to be president. That's why I'm not for Hillary. hobbit709 May 2016 #58
Welcome to our Democratic board.... Rollin eyes. seabeyond May 2016 #20
I am surprised so many people who say they are democrats are unable to understand Actor May 2016 #22
I agree, just not the way you mean. For example, the very stupid, lesser of two evils. seabeyond May 2016 #23
I am not sure I know what you mean. My point is there is a drastic Actor May 2016 #24
Ignore EVERYTHING I posted to you. seabeyond May 2016 #25
IT's all good. Obama is actually one of the most successful of all time. Actor May 2016 #27
I agree. What is interesting about Obama is he has done so much seabeyond May 2016 #29
Same team same team! :) jack_krass May 2016 #68
You lie Trajan May 2016 #30
No, I am a Bernie supporter and long time liberal. But many here are new to this Actor May 2016 #31
If you lied Trajan May 2016 #33
Again, your behavour should not be tolerated on a board of liberals, it embarrasses me Actor May 2016 #34
Message auto-removed Name removed May 2016 #44
Message auto-removed Name removed May 2016 #35
At any reasonable cost. agreed Actor May 2016 #36
Message auto-removed Name removed May 2016 #40
Compromise and pragmatism is the only path...i am afraid to burst beachbumbob May 2016 #41
The lesser of two evils didn't bring us change d_legendary1 May 2016 #43
They don't. nc4bo May 2016 #45
I kinda figured this person lived up to their name d_legendary1 May 2016 #46
Now that we have seen evil in Dick Cheney and Donald Trump, it should be enough. Thinkingabout May 2016 #54
Not sure we always know who is most evil. Civil Rights Act and Medicare enacted under Johnson. Hoyt May 2016 #56
It's how we got NAFTA, will likely be force-fed the TPP, start wars ThePhilosopher04 May 2016 #59
I disagree HassleCat May 2016 #60
You disagree... Actor May 2016 #61
Huh? Do you have me confused with someone else? (eom) HassleCat May 2016 #70
That is a list of six piss-poor compromises. dchill May 2016 #62
This is a waste of time. Actor May 2016 #63
That's not what I said, Mr Brock. dchill May 2016 #64
Not Brock, and you pretty much said exactly that. Dont pretend to be a democratic socialist Actor May 2016 #65
Learn to read. dchill May 2016 #66
new strategy Hillary not as bad as the opposition jack_krass May 2016 #67
What are you doing on a liberal board? Actor May 2016 #69
But you have to admit. It is sad to be going into a general election and the choice is Vinca May 2016 #71
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