"They Think They Own The Party" [View All]

[Steely_Dan]

The obvious division between the "new" Dems and the "old" Dems reminds me of the last scene from "Platoon." You remember...Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) is riding in the OH1 (Huey) contemplating the madness that was his experience in Viet Nam. He spoke of how Elias and Barnes and how they fought each other...They were fighting for my soul. And in the end, we came to Viet Nam to fight Communism when in reality, we were fighting ourselves.

I felt compelled to post the following in response to a comment I read on a different thread.

"The problem with the Liberals/Progressives is that they think they own the party."

I find this offensive on so many levels, it is hard to know where to begin. Of course, the Democratic Party is known as the "big tent" party and the party of the people. Even taking into consideration the inherent problems that arise from the "big tent" (all those different nuances completing for the soul of our party), I still find this kind of comment unfortunate at best and completely intolerable at worst.

So, let me ask my "new" Dem friends the following...
Read the list of tenets below and tell me, are these the tenets of the progressives - the liberals - the greens - new dems - old dems...Just where do these tenets fall in your vision of the Democratic Party? Feel free to comment on each one of them and let us know what is compatible with your vision and what is not.

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.

Yes, you are correct. This is an excerpt from FDR's Economic Bill Of Rights. I believe them to be one of the best examples of the tenets of our party. Are these tenets too far to the left of your vision? And if they are, tell us what you would add or delete.

You see, as far as I'm concerned, these tenets are not negotiable. They have served our party well for a very long time and I see no need to "adjust" them for times we live in. Perhaps instead of trying to put the "old" dems out to pasture, you should embrace those things that have made our party the Party of the People.

Or perhaps you have a better idea.

-PLA