Why are you a Democrat as opposed to a Republican or any other party?

[Uncle Joe]

:popcorn:

[Skittles]

1. because I care about issues other than myself

I have empathy, something republicans lack completely

[montanacowboy]

2. I have been a lifelong Democrat

but that may soon change - if things don't get squared away with this DLC shit, and they run some middle of the roader such as Clinton, Biden, Byah, God Ford Holy Joe and that whole ilk, I am finished with the Democratic Party. And it's not only me, but many many of my friends and acquaintences; I do not believe the Dems fully understand the frustration and disgust we have for what this party has become.

I believe we need a third party - one in which all progressive democrats can unite under; a party for the people; a leader who says what he believes with no fear of repercussion - in fact, he tells them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

When I see this leader, I will know it, and you can be damn sure it won't be any centrist Democrat.

[connecticut yankee]

4. Who

do you suggest?

[montanacowboy]

6. I am frankly hoping for Gov Brian Schweitzer

of Montana - this is a guy who won in a totally red state by telling it like it IS. He take no prisoners and the repukes hate him, but he has the people behind him.

He kicks ass big time.

[janx]

16. I have visited Montana a few times in the last couple of years,

and it is probably the most beautiful place I have seen in the US.

I'm a Deaniac and became aware of Schweitzer through that venue. The whole thing sounded like a real populist and genuine campaign.

:toast:

[Big Kahuna]

3. Lesser of two evils.

Plus, I'm not kinky enough to be a republican.

[nickshepDEM]

5. Party of the working man.

[LibDemAlways]

7. Because the repukes I know are

selfish, ignorant, miserly, and mean-spirited. Ordinary Dems and Greens, not politicians, are kinder, more community-minded, more caring, more generous (even though they have less money), less judgmental, more "down-to-earth," and just plain better human beings.

[MrBenchley]

8. Lifelong Democrat here....

Started out as a reaction against the Republicans I encountered. I like our stands on issues such as gun control, racial equality, justice, the environment, etc.

[stray cat]

9. The republicans have in general become too radical for me

I believe in personal and fiscal responsibility but also believe in efforts to equalize opportunity and safety nets for individuals. The republicans no longer believe in personal or fiscal responsibility and have never made much of an effort to help equalize opportunity. I also believe, like John Edwards, that work should be valued more than estates and inheritance.

[Clarkansas]

10. I tried the Green Party

I had a good feeling sticking it to the two party system for awhile. But once I realized I was stuck with a bunch of demented republicans, those good feelings all disappeared.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Thats what being I democrat is to me. Thinking about other people.

Right now we have a bunch of republicans running this country, and they only think of themselves. Democrats are the best opportunity to remove republicans from office and save America.

[Solon]

11. I'm a socialist...

The Democrats are the closest party to socialism that have a chance of winning in this country. Americans are scared of the words, but not so much the policies of socialism. Look to Upton Sinclair's two campaigns for California's governorship. When he was the Socialist candidate, he got few votes, as the Democratic Candidate, he almost won, and got somewhere around 49% of the votes.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. I joined the Green party after a life time of Dem

when Clinton signed the welfare deform act. Won't go back until Dems grow a spine and I know you know what I'm talking about.

[doc03]

13. Lessor of two evils.

The Democratic party used to be the party of the working man. Then came Clinton the best President the Republicans ever had. If Clinton could have controlled his zipper we would be in the second Gore term today. Today the Democratic party supports NAFTA, gun confiscation, uncontrolled immigration, abortion and most supported this illegal war. What it gets down to is it is the only alternative to the Republicans.

[killbotfactory]

14. Because I am not a sociopath

And they are the only party with a chance of improving the condition of the country.

[Cha]

15. Because I think for myself..

and don't buy into cults or brainwashing techniques.

[ProudDad]

17. I'm not a Democrat often

But I am a progressive human being and, most of the time, that means that if I want to be represented I have to vote for a Dem.

Ah, to live in Vermont.... :shrug:

I could vote for another Socialist there...

[tirechewer]

18. I always was...

Because the Republicans seem to represent the interests of only the rich. At the same time as the Republicans make a big deal out of shrinking government in the ways that it helps people when they most need help, they are doing more and more to intrude into personal freedoms to the point where they want to tell you what to see, hear and think.

I want to think for myself. I want a government who will help me instead of trying to snuff me out. Now the Republicans are positively scary. They act like they have had a coup d'etat instead of an election. I keep finding myself thinking, what happens in 2008 if they lose the elections and just refuse to go?

[Popol Vuh]

19. Because:

-- I am a human being with a sense of community instead of a knuckle dragging me, myself and I short sighted fuck.

-- I WORK for a living.

-- I am not war mongering, cowardly paranoid-schizophrenic.

-- I know how to balance a check-book.

[ulysses]

20. I've always been a Democrat

because I've always been a liberal - because I believe in people over kneejerk militarism, over corporate power, over money.

Of course, this has not always sufficed as a reason.

[LunaC]

21. Empathy vs apathy - Generosity vs selfishness

Dems give a damn about their fellow human beings and the planet as a whole while Repugs seem to have a me-me-me attitude and only care about themselves.

[HughBeaumont]

22. Living through the Reagan years taught me one thing.

Republicants only care about their rich handlers. They don't believe in and never will embrace, opportunity for ALL people, no matter where they came from. And that's why I'm not a Puke - these people dumbfoundingly defend corporations and the wealthy as if they'll BE one someday. Their short-term thinking does no one but the rich any good. The rich will always be rich no matter how bad the economy is. In fact, the worse the economy gets, the richer they become relative to everyone else.