What is the core issue that makes you a Democrat?

[nonconformist]

For me, it's definitely Corporate America stomping on the little guy.

I was raised in a yellow dog union supporting family of Democrats, so it's in my blood. Nothing infuriates me faster than a situation where your average blue collar worker gets shat upon by millionaire (and billionaire) CEO's.

Another hot button issue with me is how they treat the military - with substandard pay and crappy VA benefits they're always attempting to reduce. But then again, I guess it ties into the issue above.

There are a lot of reasons I'm a Democrat... or rather, a progressive. But it does seem for me that often times it boils down to my core problem with the working people of this country being held down. I'm sure I'd still feel this way even if I was raised by raving fundie lunatics because I do have a brain, but I also think it ties into morals and values I was brought up with. That's why I think it's so amusing (and infuriating) when they talk about the moral right. Moral my ass!

So, what is it for you? What are the core reasons you define yourself as a liberal/Democrat/progressive, and what are your hot button issues?

[ET Awful]

1. Social justice

which just about encompasses everything :).

[leftofthedial]

5. that's also my answer--but it is a huge umbrella

Protecting us from corporations
Advancing the rights of workers
Valuing humans over money or "things"

[ET Awful]

8. That's why I said it :)

Like I said, it covers pretty much everything.

[JimmyJazz]

25. You might want to check this out:

http://www.wsws.org/

It's just a suggestion.

[asjr]

7. The same for me. There are other reasons but that is the

one I hang my hat on.

[jackster]

2. I'm a liberal progressive Democrat

for primarily the same reason as you - I believe in the individual citizen and what's good for them and the collective good, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ALLOWING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CORPORATION TO SUPERCEDE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL!

I've never understood how CARING people could be anything BUT Democrats.....

[Al-CIAda]

3. Coming from being a libertarian, same destination...

...for the same reason. I smelled the corporatism coming, and the Libertarians offered NO solution/opposition. Fascism must be destroyed.

[Lori Price CLG]

4. Uh, that I hope the Bush regime falls into a fiery pit of lava? LOL!

Just kidding, Carnivore!
:hi:

Lori

[Fleshdancer]

6. human rights (other wise known as "civil rights" in this country)

Equality is where it starts with me. African-Americans deserve the same opportunities as everyone else, women are not inferior and can actually own their own bodies, and gay people should have the right to marry.

I'm Democratic on a wide range of issues, but this is the biggest for me.

[FogerRox]

10. ALL that crap about FDR --he just rocked.

I'm a mcGOvern/FDR DEM.

[Mend]

9. Reasonable redistribution of wealth

the average person is supposed to do without anything and is considered value-less except when it comes time to go into burning 911 buildings or crappy wars. It is obscene that so few have so much, and so many have so little.....

[FogerRox]

11. 1950's top personal tax rate was 86%

gEt it?

[millertime]

26. There must be worker drones in any civilization.....

BUT, the way we are going will provide no social net to protect the people. In the end, we will either have a revolution or our society will fail.

[FogerRox]

35. Worker Drones--you mean serfs---right? what 95% of us.

Over my dead body

[Catchawave]

12. Many issues....

primarily those that put compassion over profit.

[Straight Shooter]

13. "... with liberty and JUSTICE for all."

I'm talking about genuine justice, the color-blind, gender-blind, class-blind, sexual orientation-blind kind of justice. I'm talking about the justice that the heavens would bring, if its inhabitants could reach into the hardened hearts of those who rule this Earth.

If I had to live without the dream that there may be justice in this world, in some form or another, even if it's only once in a while, I would abandon all hope.

The Democratic party is the party of justice. True justice. It's no wonder that the majority of attorneys are Democrats. As our Pledge says, "... with liberty and justice for all."

[Trajan]

14. The Bottom Line ....

The role of government INCLUDES the ability to promote the general welfare of the common citizenry .... including the ability to exact taxes and enact legislative acts that provide education, infrastructure, job training and aid for food, shelter and clothing, if and when necessary, for the good of citizens who need it ....

This is the difference ....

It began with FDR : The goal of the GOP is to destroy every vestige of the New Deal ..... and unfortunately, it appears they are doing just that .... WITH the aid of a number of 'democrats' ....

I am a Democrat because of FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton .... and the policies they espoused ...

[nonconformist]

23. I often refer to myself as an FDR Democrat

FDR had the right idea about how a society should run. One of my favorite presidential quotes is:

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little."

[LiberalEsto]

15. Sticking up for the downtrodden

making sure our society takes care of the sick, the poor, the underpaid, the mentally handicapped, the veterans, the victims, the minorities, the working people

Standing up to the wealthy and the corporations and the religiously insane and the warmakers

[leanin_green]

16. Sticking up for the common man. Helping the poor. You know. . .me.

[booksenkatz]

17. In addition to the excellent issues listed, may I add: FREE THOUGHT

It is very important to me that people be allowed to have their own beliefs and live their lives unmolested, as long as they are not harming others, weaker beings or the environment. I truly cherish the differences among us. Maybe it's why I like hanging out at DU so much, it's fascinating to watch the different ideas duke it out!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

18. I'm not independently wealthy.

I realize there are many liberal folks who ARE wealthy but then they are not here answering your question, are they? :)
Seriously, those with financial resources do not have to worry about access to services, goods, political support and everything else one needs to live a reasonably 'good' life.
The rest of us are about 3 paychecks from homelessness, hence the need to have a government that looks out for the average person.

[Joey Liberal]

19. Why I'm A Democrat

I'm a Democrat because I care about the middle and lower classes of this country. I care about balancing the budget, protecting our environment, education, and keeping church and state separate. I'm a proud Democrat because I believe in equal rights for EVERYONE, be they white, black, Gay, Straight, Hispanic, Asian, poor, handicapped or disabled. I believe in saving Social Security and Medicaid. I believe in a strong military that is not used to invade and occupy other countries based on lies. I believe that it is wrong to make veterans pay to use the VA health care system. That's why I'm a Democrat. And Fuck any Freeper that doesn't like it.

[shayes51]

20. Social Security

My father died when I was eleven. I was raised and educated largely on the survivor benefits from Social Security--a Democratic program begun by FDR.

[marcologico]

28. Same here. Social Security and everything it represents.

In other words collective social welfare. Also peace, prosperity, healthcare, jobs and justice, meaning human and civil rights.

The thing about corporatism: yeah, it's bad, but I think it was a passing fancy that I hope has passed. If it hasn't, it will.

[libodem]

21. labor

solidarity, the right to strike, individual freedom, equality, being broad-minded and tolerant

[cestpaspossible]

22. Democrats are the people party.

[MollyStark]

24. People are better off when democrats are in office

that is my reason.

[Tigress DEM]

27. Freedom - Don't Fence Me In..... btw oppose HR418 Sec 102

Freedom to choose.

Freedom to live my life and let others live theirs.

Freedom to worship as I choose.

Freedom to be anything as long as I have the guts to go for it.

Respect for others.

Protecting the little guy.

Strength that comes from KNOWING you are capable yet not having to put other's down to feel capable.

Freedom to get rid of politicians who lie, cheat and screw my country up.

[nonconformist]

32. Freedom to live and let live is a big one with me to nt

[spooky3]

29. Respect for truth and science; antidiscrimination policies.

So many others--it's hard to pick one.

[nonconformist]

30. Seems that for most of us, at the core it's the same

A desire for justice, equality and the fight against Corporate America.

These are all very moral values. Which begs the question... how do people rationalize being against these values? I'm not talking the corporations and politicians, their motives are clear - it's all about the mighty dollar and status quo. But for average people... what are their motives?

I guess that's almost a rhetorical question because I've not only been trying to figure that out since I was a child but we've all given it a lot of thought in the past 5 years.

[adwon]

31. 2 reasons

1. Family history. My mother's side is Irish Catholics from New York. My father's is French/English Catholics from Missouri and Texas.

2. The Democratic Party, in the 20th century, was on the right side of the major debates. In fact, even individual Democrats who were wrong on any one of the major issues were usually on the right side of another major issue. Damned few Republicans could ever make that claim.

A. Realizing that government had a moral obligation to help its citizens in distress. Examples: AAA, WPA, NYA, GI Bill, Medicare, Social Security

B. The Cold War. The right viewed it as a crusade against communism. Democrats saw it as containing the imperial ambitions of communist countries. Examples: containment (smart), rollback (loony GOP idea of 'war of liberation')

C. Civil rights. Not just the laws that LBJ manhandled through Congress and their successors (will we ever see such a show again). The fact that JFK could be elected president and graduate us Catholics out of 2d class citizenship. The protections of speech without regard to the virtue of the speaker or the message (this does have limits, very narrow ones). Why not let the nuts speak freely? It only hurts their cause.

D. Adaptability. Generally, in the tradition of FDR, Democrats have been willing to adapt ends to means. They have realized, to borrow from JFK, that all the necessary work can't be done in 4/8/12 years, but it can be begun. There is no desperation to force through half-baked programs because of fear at the polls. Democrats take a much longer view than their opponents.

[formernaderite]

33. While I agree....

I'm not so sure the democrats are interested in protecting the little guy anymore. The Clinton triangulation strategy has given way to many mainstream democrats harping on how they're fiscal conservatives and socially liberal. I hear this all the time. It makes me think, if not for the christian wingnuts on the right, we'd see alot of people moving to the republican side of the aisle.

[More Than A Feeling]

34. I believe in minding my own business

That is why I am a Democrat.

[babsbunny]

36. I am not a Bully

and I think Repubs are bullies!