General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Has Anyone Else On DU Noticed This Lately? [View all]snot
(10,549 posts)I don't think there can be any real dispute that, since I started voting, the party has shifted radically to the right.
This is no accident; it is the result of prolonged efforts in numerous spheres by the money party. They've poured a ton of strategy, talent, and cash into key areas and have gained control of our economy, campaign finance, and 95% of traditional media worldwide, and are rapidly gaining control of all levels of education. Add in a few other trends and the picture's pretty darn dire.
Note also that we've already spend several decades supporting our Dem leaders despite the compromises they told us they had to make -- through NAFTA, the repeal of Glass-Steagall, the loosening of restrictions on media consolidation, etc. I for one never particularly squawked through any of that.
Now we're living with the accumulating results. Our economy has literally been looted; millions have been impoverished, protections for labor, the environment, children and the elderly have been eviscerated, etc. I am far worse off than my parents were, despite having worked as hard or harder and in a supposedly recession-proof profession and having lived at least as parsimoniously.
And yeah, I've started to notice, and to put two and two together: government by a two-party system of bat-shit crazy Republican and Republican-lite is not working for me.
We can't get our old Dem Party back if we don't criticize Dems when they betray our interests. If we want our party back, we're going to have to squawk.
And note further: I think our party has more credibility with waverers if we consistently stand up for the people and our principles, rather than seeming blindly loyal to "our side" regardless of what its leaders do.