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If you listen to conservative talkers, you'll often hear things like "the Democratic party has moved so far left...." or 'the Democratic party now is a Socialist party." Neither is correct, in my view. Sun Tzu said:
The Democratic party's primary operating principle is pelf, i.e. ill-gotten gains. Sure there are plenty of left-wing ideologues in the party, but they are primarily strung along as useful idiots. Bernie is a prime example.
I offer three indicators of this:
1)The $3.5 trillion spending package currently being debated. President Biden called on Democrats to reach a compromise number. Some have floated $2 trillion, while others say that 3.5 is the 'floor.'
Who does this? Suppose you're sitting at the kitchen table discussing a new roof or new car. You don't determine how much to spend first. You determine the need, and then the amount. Mayhap bank robbers do this. The size of the haul is priority #1, and how to spend it comes later. Democrats seem to share the thought process of brigands.
2)Four of the ten richest counties in the US are in the Washington D.C. area. This is exactly the result we would expect if the primary motive is pelf, not ideology.
3)The SALT cap put in place by President Trump was a massive tax increase on the rich. Democrats have overwhelmingly supported repeal of the cap. Even Bernie and AOC have admitted that repeal would be a tax cut for the rich. This is a significant 'tell' regarding the true nature of the party.
The nature of the Democratic Party. It has two factions: older money grubbing idiots that are Republican lite.( Joe Manchin, Pelosi, I even include Clinton Obama Pelosi and all the third way Democrats)
What do you possibly mean by 'Republican lite?' The Republican party itself is split into numerous factions. To wit, Cruz supporters, Paul supporters, Trump supporters, Romney supporters, and other groups. How can you define 'Republican lite' off of that? It would be like saying some NBA player from 2021 is '1990s lite.' Which 1990s? Jordan, Barkley, David Robinson?
Quote:
The other faction is mostly younger people who want to make changes that will substantially improve most people’s lives....
This too is without meaning. Everyone will say that they 'want to make changes that will substantially improve most people's lives.' Marx probably would have said that, dittos for Stalin, Hitler, Mao, along with Ben Franklin and Mother Theresa. What exactly does that mean? Who knows?
Quote:
I thought the first post was fairly self explanatory.
To your self, no doubt. To the rest of us, we're left guessing.
Older money grubbing Republican lite idiots, combined with young people who want change and have nowhere else to go because of a two party system and Republicans are worse money grubbing idiots.
My young coworker thinks the problem with society today is all the older people don't want to give up their power and are running things into the ground because they are so out of touch....vince McMahon and not giving up control of the WWE is a good example I can think of...a money grubber more concerned with the bottom line and losing ground because of it as talent jumps ship to AEW where they are treated better by it's young owner...but look all around you...members of the swamp, the deep state, the elites, many are 70+ years old.
He says they need to "retire already." I thought he made a good point.
As far as I can tell, the Democrat Party is a a supermarket of participants and ideas. There is no “line” or clear platform. Everything is very loose. Currently there are still old timers with moderate views, side by side with extreme elements. The later are gaining momentum with all kind of “wokeness”. The common denominator is anger. That’s what connects these elements. Anger, frustration and a strong desire to change everything. Unfortunately there is no clear idea how exactly the world will look after the “change”. They just “hate” X and hate Y. That’s about it.
Conservatives call them “communists” but that is incorrect. Communists had clearly defined goals. The current Democrat party is more like anarchists at the beginning of the 20th century.
Especially for those who voted 'socialism/progressivism,' as the primary motivating force of the party, here's a point I would challenge you to address..
Democrats love to claim to be the champions of education. Over the past 50 years we've poured billions into ed. Yet we get mediocre, and often absurdly bad results. Recall the case of the Baltimore high school senior who was booted back to 9th grade with a GPA of .13. Yet he was ranked 62 in his class of 120, meaning that about half of his fellow students were doing even worse.
The US is routinely at or near the top of the list in ed spending. The Baltimore school district had the 3rd highest per-pupil spending in the land. Yet this result remains acceptable, or at least brush-off-able, to the Democratic party leadership.
Why is that? It's all about the money. Education employees get a nice deal; the teachers' unions collect dues, and in turn they donate big bucks to Democrats.
No true blue progressive would tolerate this. The liberals of 50 years ago, like George McGovern, who had a history PhD, or Jimmy Carter, who was a nuclear engineer, would not. The agenda has gradually, imperceptibly shifted. It's all about the money now.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Average Democrat voter
or
Democrat party leadership
or
Liberal academics?
The first is a pretty mainstream group of people who want affordable health care accessible to all, basic regulations protecting the environment and workers rights, common sense gun laws, and a vibrant safety net. Things this group does not want: open borders, allowing 5 years to transition sexually against parent's consent, abolishing police, abolishing capitalism in general. This is the group I am a part of.
The last group wants to blow up and remake society with vengeful punishments for anyone it sees opposed to their goals. Rooted in envy they aren't worried if the end results harms 99% of society as long as they've gotten to mete out punishments.
The middle group isn't sure what to do. They've adopted the woke marketing to opposed the academics but in practice aren't doing things much different than before. Example: clambering for open border for the Haitians only to send them to Guantanamo en route back to Haito. Or saying "abolish the police" simply means minor tweaks to law enforcement.
Average Democrat voter
or
Democrat party leadership
or
Liberal academics?
The first is a pretty mainstream group of people who want affordable health care accessible to all, basic regulations protecting the environment and workers rights, common sense gun laws, and a vibrant safety net. Things this group does not want: open borders, allowing 5 years to transition sexually against parent's consent, abolishing police, abolishing capitalism in general. This is the group I am a part of.
The last group wants to blow up and remake society with vengeful punishments for anyone it sees opposed to their goals. Rooted in envy they aren't worried if the end results harms 99% of society as long as they've gotten to mete out punishments.
The middle group isn't sure what to do. They've adopted the woke marketing to opposed the academics but in practice aren't doing things much different than before. Example: clambering for open border for the Haitians only to send them to Guantanamo en route back to Haito. Or saying "abolish the police" simply means minor tweaks to law enforcement.
Charts at link show that over 70% of Democratic votes in both the US House and Senate are party line. For Republicans it's about 40-50%.
Rather than being split into groups, it appears that the Democratic party tends to march in lockstep. Given the ideological diversity in the party, I think this buttresses my case that money has become the primary driving force.
For those who voted 'looking out for the little guy,' which was of course the party mantra from 50 years ago, I'd like you to explain how 4 of the 10 richest counties in the US are centered around Washington DC.
Normally you don't look out for the little guy by extracting a large portion of his cash from him.
As far as I can tell, the Democrat Party is a a supermarket of participants and ideas. There is no “line” or clear platform. Everything is very loose. Currently there are still old timers with moderate views, side by side with extreme elements. The later are gaining momentum with all kind of “wokeness”. The common denominator is anger. That’s what connects these elements. Anger, frustration and a strong desire to change everything. Unfortunately there is no clear idea how exactly the world will look after the “change”. They just “hate” X and hate Y. That’s about it.
Conservatives call them “communists” but that is incorrect. Communists had clearly defined goals. The current Democrat party is more like anarchists at the beginning of the 20th century.
True. Current Democrat party and its elements equal Anarchy. As seen with the Lawlessness seen in their major cities.
I don’t know the true natiure of any political party, not limited to Democrats and Republicans.
There are more Independent/ Unaffiliated voters than either Republicans or Democrats. The largest block of eligible voters , those born in 1981 and beyond have long demonstrated a tendency to remain Independent
There has been a historical trend within the two main parties towards parties/ caucuses/ alliances within each party. And sometimes these parties/ caucuses/ alliances get more than their fair share of media attention, pro and con. As time goes bye, most folk don’t even remember these alliances within party.
Positions within and across parties constantly evolve.
AOC or Iihan Omar’s positions are no more representative of Democrats than Marjorie Taylor Green or Lauren Boebert are of most Republicans. All four do quite well fund raising for themselves based on noise.
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