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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
72. They needn't worry. This is not 1972. The historical parameters are very different.
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 04:24 PM
Nov 2015

This is the time for a progressive populist government. Look at the history. Look at the present. Look at the wave of young people backing Bernie.

Hillary may do well in the polls, but in a time of change as drastic as we are experiencing, it will be a question of who is excited enough to get out and vote, and not of who is doing well in the polls. I will vote for other Democrats, but I will not vote for Hillary. Many people who want real change will, unlike me, just stay home and not vote for Hillary or anyone else.

1968 and 1972 were the beginning of the end of a long liberal era that began with the election of Roosevelt in 1932, just 40 years earlier and that began to move toward conservatism with the election of Eisenhhower in 1952. (Eisenhower would be a Democrat by today's standards.) Kennedy was elected on charisma in 1960. The country was still liberal, but beginning to become more conservative.

Goldwater ran in 1965. It was the era in which the John Birch Society and the neo-conservatives undermined the appeal of liberal thought as much as they could. (We did not call them neo-conservatives then.)

The 1972 election was the moment at which the anger of segments of the population about anti-discrimination legislation and frustration over the Viet Nam War led to a Republican victory. From there, the country inched toward a more and more conservative government. Jimmy Carter was a respite, but since Reagan was elected, even the Democrats have been conservative compared to FDR, Truman and LBJ's domestic policy.

It's time to return to our liberal roots. Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the rest were the liberal revolutionaries in terms of public policy of their time. That is our heritage. America has traditionally been the place where humans experimented with liberal social ideas. We should continue to be that.

Hillary is, in her thinking and political philosophy more of the Reagan conservatism lineage.

It's time to meet the new economic and social reality of our time with new solutions. Bernie is offering that.

When our country was young, settlers could claim land, pay at most very little for it, and if they cultivated and kept it safe and useful for society, it was theirs. We were in that sense a socialisty state from the beginning. We did not sell the land to a few fat-cat landowners. We allowed those who wished to have it and use it well to have it and use it. What could be more socialist than that? No lords and ladies -- the norm at the time in Europe. Just people sharing the land and making something of it, helping each other build houses and barns, selling and buying what they could produce and what they could import. That was life in the new territories of the north. The South repeated the same old social structures of Europe worsening it with slavery who were even worse off than European peasants and the serfs of the Middle Ages.

So it is time for a move toward populism. It has been 35 years since Reagan took over. 43 since the conservatives took over in 1972. It's time for the country to accommodate the new reality: we have become a society in which huge corporations own much of our land; we are a nation of debtors, not a nation of investors or capitalists; many, a large percentage of us survive based on our intellects, our education, our technological skills and not based mostly on our physical strength or skills.

In the early days of our country, our government gave those willing to work the opportunity to have land. It is simply right and in the tradition of our country that today, those willing and able to work should be given the opportunity of education and assisted in establishing themselves in using that education. That's how our country became great, and that is how we can remain great.

Healthcare is also basic. We should all help make healthcare affordable for each of us. We need to reform our legal system so that we have a healthier society. Prison is not the solution to crime. We need to find out what would be a better solution to crime.

Economic disparity is dividing our society and creating a helpless underclass. That is not the American way. When we tolerate that kind of economic disparity, we are betraying the principle that our country is founded on: that we are all created equal. We don't have to have the exact same amount of money or economic power, but we do all deserve enough equality to make every life one of dignity and self-respect. We need a society in which we work together and see each other as valuable, equal individuals. We do not need a society in which the rich run everything from our schools to our churches to our government. No way. That is not the American dream.

Hillary does not represent a movement toward the kind of America that we need to be at this time. Her policies are sort of begrudging approaches to problems that she does not see as the fundamental social problem that they are. She takes the bandaid approach to improving the world. She has no far-reaching vision for our country. She just wants to make do, kind of hobble along. That is not what we need.

We need Bernie with his appreciation for the dignity of every human being and with his challenging ideas.

Flag burning should be a felony??????? That's your Hillary.

State college education free for everyone. That's the modern version of giving land to those who want it. That's my Bernie.

You and others who are backing Hillary because they fear the Republicans need to vote according to what you think is right and not in order to avoid the Republicans.

The entire Democratic Party needs to get behind the change we need in this country. We just lost in Virgina and Kentucky. We are not offering voters the kind of government that is needed for our time.

Bernie is offering to start the revolution in our country so that we can have government suited to our present society and not something that sounded good in 1972 and 1980.

Bernie is the winning candidate for 2016.

ONE REASON THEY SHOULD: Herman4747 Nov 2015 #1
Live in reaction instead of action? artislife Nov 2015 #4
I like that phrase: "Live in reaction....etc." Sums it up well. Armstead Nov 2015 #20
You do realize there is a primary first where we can pick the Democrat we really want LynneSin Nov 2015 #51
they seem to forget that it's a "Democratic" primary and not liberal or progressive. demosincebirth Nov 2015 #57
The Democratic Party is the party of liberals and progressives. JDPriestly Nov 2015 #60
You might have forgotten moderates, which I am one. demosincebirth Nov 2015 #64
Quoting Cesar Chavez suggests you are more of a liberal. JDPriestly Nov 2015 #87
I quote Cesar Chavez because I was a farmworker as a very young man. I was a teamster stewart demosincebirth Nov 2015 #88
What don't you agree with? JDPriestly Nov 2015 #93
That is the ONLY reason I'd ever vote for her. Jokerman Nov 2015 #6
That's the ONLY reason I will vote for her. While holding my nose. n/t Avalux Nov 2015 #10
+1000s DinahMoeHum Nov 2015 #50
or rtracey Nov 2015 #54
I will voting for Hillary beacause she is the best choice lewebley3 Nov 2015 #63
In a sane world it would not be a choice between Hillary/Sanders vs. Top Republican Clown LiberalLovinLug Nov 2015 #112
But if we nominate Bernie, this whole "hold our noses and vote for a bad Democrat" nonsense Maedhros Nov 2015 #12
The progressives voting for Hillary do not want Herman4747 Nov 2015 #15
The 'progressives' voting for Hillary are acting out of fear, playing not to lose. Maedhros Nov 2015 #19
Yes but nearly all in the off election years Tommy2Tone Nov 2015 #49
We had huge losses in congress in 2010 and 2014 eridani Nov 2015 #98
Not really. blackspade Nov 2015 #29
They needn't worry. This is not 1972. The historical parameters are very different. JDPriestly Nov 2015 #72
Excellent post that reflects my own thinking perectly. nt JEB Nov 2015 #83
Yeah, because it will be a landslide...against him. JaneyVee Nov 2015 #16
Explain your logic. blackspade Nov 2015 #30
Wrong. Bernie does better in a general than Hillary. pinebox Nov 2015 #61
Except that not everyone voting in Dem primaries agrees with you. MH1 Nov 2015 #85
But it's this cyclical lament, wrought with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Maedhros Nov 2015 #94
Ah, "the lesser of two evils" argument ... tex-wyo-dem Nov 2015 #28
Uh pinebox Nov 2015 #33
Here Here Tommy2Tone Nov 2015 #46
Hear, Hear! nt Herman4747 Nov 2015 #52
LOL Tommy2Tone Nov 2015 #53
Actually, what would be more Republican than this? JDPriestly Nov 2015 #59
5 Reason to support Hillary: The are millions more lewebley3 Nov 2015 #62
Hillary is the Best Choice lewebley3 Nov 2015 #65
A Republican by any other name Kelvin Mace Nov 2015 #77
Only if she is the nominee. Even then, she has no appeal to the 63% who sat out 2014 n/t eridani Nov 2015 #97
Number 1 through 4 also apply to President Obama. guillaumeb Nov 2015 #2
SCOTUS artislife Nov 2015 #5
I bring it up because it is a consideration. guillaumeb Nov 2015 #7
Latina who is turning her back on her people artislife Nov 2015 #8
Now I partially understand. I think. guillaumeb Nov 2015 #11
Well, It depends on whetehr a Clinton would suppot a SC Justice who was... Armstead Nov 2015 #22
And that idea of HRC's pick depends guillaumeb Nov 2015 #79
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Nov 2015 #3
How Much Longer? colsohlibgal Nov 2015 #9
well any group blocking people on DU clearly are showing their true colors PatrynXX Nov 2015 #13
Ayup. AzDar Nov 2015 #14
Progressives are like 7% of the population. JaneyVee Nov 2015 #17
Oh Janry, Janey, janey Armstead Nov 2015 #23
nope ibegurpard Nov 2015 #26
Yes, and all of our candidates believe that as well, difference is... JaneyVee Nov 2015 #27
Really....Link? blackspade Nov 2015 #34
7% of the population? pinebox Nov 2015 #37
That is just the opposite of wingnuts saying candidates that lose to Dems were not conservative upaloopa Nov 2015 #74
Horse shit pinebox Nov 2015 #75
You need to prepare people to accept your thinking first. In 2016 that simply is not happening upaloopa Nov 2015 #100
My thinking in 2016? pinebox Nov 2015 #108
No I mean the country as a whole upaloopa Nov 2015 #110
Here is the part you always leave out upaloopa Nov 2015 #111
Wrong. Here in Wisconsin we elected the "Madison liberal lesbian" to the US Senate ... Scuba Nov 2015 #95
You obviously don't live in a red state redstateblues Nov 2015 #104
No Democrat is going to take Tennessee ibegurpard Nov 2015 #106
They said the same thing pinebox Nov 2015 #109
Stop bashing Hillary!! Just talk about THE ISSUES dammit. Oh wait .. 99th_Monkey Nov 2015 #18
only 5? ibegurpard Nov 2015 #21
ok. n/t zappaman Nov 2015 #24
K & R SoapBox Nov 2015 #25
And yet she pretty much has a lock on the Presidency. randome Nov 2015 #31
And that's a good thing? ibegurpard Nov 2015 #32
It is what it is. A ridiculous tautology, sure, but inescapable. randome Nov 2015 #38
She had a 'lock' in 2008 about this time as well. blackspade Nov 2015 #36
Very true. But she was up against Charismatic Obama then. Sanders doesn't have that charm. randome Nov 2015 #41
I don't agree about her having it sewn up, but I agree with the rest of your post. blackspade Nov 2015 #48
Needs more embedded videos to get my attention Godhumor Nov 2015 #35
LMFAO! pinebox Nov 2015 #39
Blah, blah, blah - more twisting of facts to "prove" something - that's why that piece.... George II Nov 2015 #40
Apparently actual facts now are not factual. pinebox Nov 2015 #42
Look at the link YOU included in your message: George II Nov 2015 #43
Opinion pieces often contain FACTS pinebox Nov 2015 #45
Let's see now ........ Nope! It didn't work. I'm still voting for HILLARY. Lil Missy Nov 2015 #44
Ugh. PoliticalMalcontent Nov 2015 #47
Some reasons progressives shoud support Hillary Clinton HassleCat Nov 2015 #55
The main reason I log into DU lately... Orrex Nov 2015 #56
You? Stupid? No way, Orrex, we think you're GREAT! RobertEarl Nov 2015 #86
That would really mean something to me if your opinion meant anything to me. Orrex Nov 2015 #103
Yet they are, probably because they have bothered to look at her actual policies BainsBane Nov 2015 #58
you mean back to when ibegurpard Nov 2015 #66
When are you talking about? BainsBane Nov 2015 #71
There are plenty of examples in all decades. ibegurpard Nov 2015 #78
That wasn't the question BainsBane Nov 2015 #80
I didn't answer your question the way you wanted ibegurpard Nov 2015 #89
Not really pinebox Nov 2015 #68
That is not limited to Democrats BainsBane Nov 2015 #70
And that says it all doesn't it pinebox Nov 2015 #76
That's only if you like war and inequality eridani Nov 2015 #99
Losing for perfections' sake isn't pretty. lark Nov 2015 #67
Kicked & Recommended azmom Nov 2015 #69
Agree - many valid points mvd Nov 2015 #73
that might convince enough DUers, but there's no way that can win any more votes MisterP Nov 2015 #81
Well I think I showed a balanced opinion mvd Nov 2015 #82
but it's not DUers that won't vote, it's millions of Americans who saw the chance MisterP Nov 2015 #91
I think I understand you mvd Nov 2015 #92
K and R (nt) bigwillq Nov 2015 #84
So I actually followed a link to see what the real deal was in section #1 Persondem Nov 2015 #90
Bullshit. Criticizing the use of drones does not equate to defending terrorists. Scuba Nov 2015 #96
You didn't follow the links to the "evidence" did you? Persondem Nov 2015 #101
Maybe you would prefer Ben Carson liberal N proud Nov 2015 #102
Maybe you'd like the status quo to continue with a corporate Wall Street candidate. pinebox Nov 2015 #107
Excellent post. EndElectoral Nov 2015 #105
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