Why are you a Democrat?

[graywarrior]

I'm writing an essay for Gov't class.

[Call Me Wesley]

1. Darn, I have to pass,

since I'm and old Trotsktye and Socialist. I don't want you to fail because of your professor screaming and running around in circles, shouting "Ze Communists! Ze Communists are coming!" until he foams out of the mouth and is falling backwards.

But, why I'm a liberal? Answer's pretty easy: I do care, and equal opportunities to everyone.

[anonymous171]

8. How can you be a liberal and a communist?

:shrug:

[Call Me Wesley]

21. Smilie shrug all you want, all day long.

My 'Communist' remark was on the funny side (graywarrior knows,) since if you invoke 'Socialism,' it's always translated into 'Communism.' What you're thinking of is 'Stalinism.'

Am I a communist? Getting down to the original, untainted roots, yes, I am. Am I a liberal? Yes.

[anonymous171]

22. That makes no sense. nt

[Call Me Wesley]

24. I won! (nt)

[patrice]

57. I don't see why not.

[anonymous171]

78. It's like saying, "Deep down, I'm an anarchist, but in reality I'm actually a Fascist"

Liberalism and Communism are completely different. You cannot truly believe in both.

[patrice]

80. I get it now. Communism requires a degree of authoritarianism that is the antithesis of Liberalism.

[maxsolomon]

2. Because the 2 party system leaves me no choice

and I am on the side of Reason and Compassion.

[Winterblues]

3. I am a Liberal because I care.

I am not a Democrat...I believe completely in the Golden Rule and I also believe in Social Justice..Democrats sometimes leave me wanting..

[anonymous171]

4. It isn't communist and sometimes represents to will of the workers and the poor.

Also all of my favorite politicians were democrats.

[Call Me Wesley]

23. 'Communism' really gets you, right?

'and sometimes represents to will of the workers and the poor.' Sometimes, yeah, sometimes, it might do. Which is a good thing. Sometimes.

[anonymous171]

35. It's not really the -ism part. Communists are really the ones I don't like

I do wish the Democrats would go back to supporting the will of the people though. "Sometimes" is not good enough.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Because I recognize that there are structural obstacles to success in our society. nt

[Gman2]

6. Cuz, it's what Jesus would do.

[Gman2]

7. Cuz, it's what Jesus would do.

[Cleita]

9. I became a Democrat because once it was the Party that my views fit into

the best, the party of labor, environment, equality, human rights and social justice. However, it seems that the party ideals are moving to this New Democrat of corporate friendliness model that doesn't fit in with my views so much anymore. So if this is a permanent trend, I'm afraid I will become an independent. I see no other way.

[dmallind]

10. Me personally?

I believe in shared reponsibility for funding shared services provided by government, with a greater share coming from those with greater resources.

I believe that capitalism works best when regulated so that negative externalities are minimized.

I believe that we have more to gain from a well-educated, healthy, well-fed and safe population regardless of their work history and status than we have to lose in taxes necessary to make this possible. People who do not work should not be kept in luxury or pampered, but they and their kids should not be left to die illiterate and disease-ridden in gang-infested wastelands either.

I believe that war is sometimes necessary, but only a last resort and only if the alternative is worse.

I don't care if you are religious, I just do not want your religion to be the basis for our shared laws, regulations or polciies. If your religion bans abortion or gay marriage, do not have an abortion and do not marry someone of the same sex. Let the rest of us decide for ourselves. Same goes for licensing laws, Sunday trading, Blue laws, gambling, etc.


And on a purely tactical level, the only party with a manifesto even close to mine that has the slightesthope in hell of ever achieving anything politically is the Democratic party. Even if I were an archetypal Socialist wannabe I would be a Democrat for now, as the Socialists or NWP etc are irrelevant distractions. Give me a different political system and different electoral system and I may not be one (but probably would, unlike much of DU).

[chaplainM]

11. Not rich enough to support the GOP

Not dumb enough to think the GOP supports me.

[lwcon]

15. I'm not dumb enough to think the Democrats support me, either

I used to be, or they used to. I'm not totally sure....

[Chemisse]

30. Clever - I like that nt

[azmouse]

12. I've just always known I'm a Democrat.

I know that's not a great answer but I just never thought of myself as a Republican.
Way back when I was in the 4th grade the teacher did a political "convention" for the students and even as a child I chose to be on the Democrats side.

[arcadian]

13. Underdog syndrome

[graywarrior]

39. I freaking love that answer

[NoFace]

46. As long as you don't end up with a...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferiority_complex

[FrenchieCat]

14. I am a Democrat because

I understand without a doubt that life isn't always fair,
so I believe that there are certain basic rights that all citizens of this country should be able to enjoy
earned by nature of being part of a community called the United States of America.
The sum of those rights means that we are each assured a decent level of ability to the pursuit of happiness.

Further, I believe not only in the pursuit of happiness for each individual,
but I also believe in giving back to this country that has enabled it as a whole.

Lastly, I believe that good and efficient government is possible,
as long as those who run it care about this country
as much as they care about themselves.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. The Democratic Party is the (slightly) lesser of two evils.

But, I certainly owe it no allegiance.

[cherokeeprogressive]

72. +1

[kenny blankenship]

17. It's kind of a habit I fell into

but lately I'm thinking I can't afford it anymore.

[TexasObserver]

18. Because it's better than the alternatives in our representative democracy.

We have a system that is imposed upon us. It is mainly a two party system, and if we don't choose one, we help the other.

I vote Democratic because for the long range and for the short range, I think it's the best option to move things in the direction they need to be moved, but it's a long and disappointing process.

[clarence swinney]

19. theodore sorenson

Why I am A Democrat book.

Democrats built Great Middle Class.
Republicans built Great Upper Class.

google
clarence swinney
+ 82 Democrat accomplishments
+ Democrats create Wealth and Jobs
+ Wreckoholic
+ $14,000 surplus
+ Rape Of Middle Class
+ Jobs
+ Praise clinton
+ identify a Republican
need more e mail me at [e-mail]

[Ardent15]

20. Because of the two political parties, the Democrats have some members that care for the People. nt

[Bosso 63]

25. I guess I like tilting at windmills.

That, and I don't want to go through life frightened and ignorant, which are apparently requirements for membership in the G.O.P.

[county worker]

26. I wrote this trying to get in a grass roots orginization

I am 63yrs old. I fought for change in the 60's and we won some pretty good changes for women and minorities and for the rest of us. I had always thought that we would move from there to a more enlightened and progressive society. That hasn't happened.

I fear that young people in this country will not have the rights and freedoms and opportunities in their life that I had in mine if a conservative movement takes over this country. That would not have much impact my life because I have only a couple of decades left at the most. I tell people that I am glad I lived when I did because I fear that life in the future will be more difficult than life was for me.

Higher education is a necessity to have a job that pays well yet higher education is being priced out of the lives of many young people. Critical thinking skills are not being taught in the schools where teaching to a test is what we do now. We have a nation if undereducated people who are willing to believe anything they hear on the radio or see on television. There are no real news programs that the general public tunes into anymore.

Deregulation has put us at the mercy of corporations. Now the Supreme Court has said that corporations can buy elections. Our current economic crisis was caused by lack of regulation of financial markets yet we haven’t learned our lesson yet. With corporations in control of our government deregulation will happen in every sector.

We need a government that tries to make opportunity available to all and where social justice is a cause worth working toward.

The middle class is shrinking to where there someday may only be a wealthy ruling class and a poor working class in this country. Our country’s wealth is accumulating in fewer and fewer hands of people at the top of the income scale. We need to lesson the gap between the haves and the have nots.

Jobs are leaving this country and going overseas leaving people to compete with a growing number of applicants for a position. Unions are becoming weaker and weaker or non existent. We need good jobs for those who want to work so that we can begin to rebuild the middle class. Right now we need a jobs program like there was during the Great Depression.

The current health care bill is not going to bring quality affordable health care for all and that was the goal. All we have now is weak insurance reforms.

Obama has let his base down. Democrats have control of the White House and Congress yet we can’t get any progressive legislation passed. Our politicians in Washington care more about bipartisanship then they do about the change that they promised would happen.

If we have another 8 years like we did under Bush and the Republicans it could lead to fascism and constant wars of opportunity.

[graywarrior]

40. Wow, great stuff!

[DevonRex]

27. Long story but here's a little of it:

I was raised in a Republican fundy household. But I never, and I mean never, felt like I fit in with them. I believed what my parents taught me, of course. Until I joined the Army.

That's when I learned that my family really WERE racist bigots. It took all of a week to figure that out because the African American soldiers were outstanding. The next thing I learned in the military was that there was such a thing as homosexuality. And I learned that gay and lesbian soldiers were treated horrifically in the military, by the brass - not by their peers for the most part. We tried to protect our gay and lesbian fellow soldiers as much as we could because they were also outstanding. This was military intelligence. You don't get there by being stupid or lazy or inept. They were ALL the best the Army had to offer and should all have been treated that way.

I went back to college after that and got a degree in political science and learned what the constitution means. Certainly not what my parents had taught me.

In short, it means more to me than you'll ever know to be a Democrat. It means that the scales were taken from my eyes. It means freedom from the oppressive views of my entire family. It means that I actually CARE about people - all kinds of people. It means that I want others to do as well or better than I have done in my life. I want people to be housed, clothed, fed, educated, employed, cared for when they're sick. I want EVERYONE to have the same opportunities. It means I reject hatred and bigotry.

I'm not perfect by any means. I have learned so much from the GLBT community here and I'm grateful for it. And that's what it IS to be a Dem. We know we have a lot to learn from other people, no matter who they are, what they are, where they come from. We revel in our differences because they enrich our lives and our nation.

[graywarrior]

41. That is beautiful and thanks for sharing that with us

[Jakes Progress]

28. My mother always said

that she was never rich enough or mean enough to be a republican.

My daddy didn't say. He just always voted the straight ticket. He was the most honest and straightest man I ever knew. Every time I ever argued with him, I later found out I was wrong. Seems stupid to question his wisdom now.

[guitar man]

29. Mostly because of labor issues

I'm a working man, come from a working family and while the Democrats bitterly disappoint me with their shortcomings in the field of labor policy lately, I know that the repubs have never done a damn thing for working people. Not once, not ever.

[Fla_Democrat]

31. Florida is a closed primary state

When I turned 18, and went to register at the county office, there were less than 100 registered republicans in the county. Local offices (school board, sheriff, etc.) were all settled in the primary. I like being able to choose my local dog catcher. :smoke:

[Chemisse]

32. I most always vote on the side of the Democrats

Because I care a lot about the environment, I worry about global warming, I care about the fate of poor and middle-class people, and I dislike big business.

[divvy]

33. Because of Aristotle.

I believe in governance from a large middle class which protects everyone from the tyranny of either the rich or the poor.
I believe in legislating the morality of capitalism while leaving the individual to (whenever possible) choose their moral values.

Republicans believe in governance from a small ruling class over a large pesant class (plato the republic)
Republicans believe in the legislation of personal morality (abortion, homosexuals etc) with unregulated markets.

[graywarrior]

42. Aw man, that is so awesome!

[Atticus]

48. I may one day be poor again. I may one day be very ill. I may one day have a gay grandchild or

one who marries a person of color. I refuse to allow the government to even inquire about my spiritual beliefs or lack thereof and someone I love may someday want a safe abortion. I believe we should only allow unions to be restrained, restricted and harrassed to the same extent that we restrain, restrict and harrass corporations.

That's a start.

[demosincebirth]

34. I am a democrat because there is no other party that I can fit in

with my socialist leaning ideas. I don't call myself a liberal, either.

[NoFace]

36. Environment, Ending the failed Drug War, Pro-Choice, Separation of Church / State.

Plus, look at the alternative...yikes!

[El Supremo]

37. Democrats represent the majority.

Even if the majority sometimes don't elect them.

[mrmpa]

38. The alternative would have my dad rolling over in his grave

[dkf]

43. Democrats are the responsibility party who try to find ways to make things work properly.

Republicans are irresponsible care for nothings.

[Blue-Jay]

44. What's the theme of your essay?

[graywarrior]

67. It's why are squirrels more intelligent than ducks?

lol



I keed...it's party affiliation.

[Xipe Totec]

45. Slightly better than being an Independejo n/t

[Chef Eric]

47. Because the "strict daddy" style of governing that we've seen from Republicans has made us weaker.

And the "nurturing parent" style that we've seen from some of the better Democrats has made us stronger.

[dysfunctional press]

49. it's as far left as you can realistically be in american politics today.

and that ain't sayin' much.

[sadbear]

50. 'Cause republicans are assholes

And I'm not.

[handmade34]

51. America's Promise

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html

[Skittles]

52. because I care about others and not only about ME

[bvar22]

53. Nostalgia mostly

This is the "Democratic Party" I joined 42 years ago.

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

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.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens."---FDR

The "Old" Democratic Party bears no resemblance to the Party using that name today,
so I guess I'm just hanging around for Old Time's Sake.

I have no respect for today's "New Democrats".

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[WeDidIt]

54. Because of the religious right

I became a Democrat at the tender age of 18 because the religious right terrified the shit out of me.

[Hepburn]

55. Because I could not stand to look at myself in the mirror...

...if I were a Republican.

[KingFlorez]

56. I was raised with very strong values of fairness and equality

To me, being a Democrat is beyond belonging to the party, it's about principles. To quote Will Rogers, "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

[shireen]

58. to vote in primaries

otherwise, i'd rather be an independent.

hey, that duck better be freed soon or i'm reporting you to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Duct Tape. :P

[patrice]

59. Because I place high value on Reality and living by The Golden Rule

[BlueJac]

60. I'm not.........

I have balls and they don't

[NYC_SKP]

61. OT. I figured out your new Avatar.

I believe the word "Eureka" occurs in the script of that one.

Thought this would make you smile:



:hi:

:hug:

[graywarrior]

68. Cool!

Wouldn't he being saying "thir?"

[one_voice]

62. Why I'm a democrat...

I'm a Democrat because I believe someone has to champion the people that work their asses off and get the shaft from those more "fortunate".

I'm a Democrat because I believe in equal treatment for all, not just for some.

I'm a Democrat because those who don't have a voice need a voice.

I'm a Democrat because I believe diplomacy is always better than to start a war.

I'm a Democrat because I don't believe in torture.

I'm a Democrat because I think it takes everyone working for/contributing toward a better life for everyone. I don't believe in the "I've got mine so screw you". Those are the people that the down and out, the children, the single mothers, the gay population, the poor, the sick, the elderly need to fight. It's Democrats that fight for these people.

I'm proud to say I belong to a party that included Ted Kennedy, JFK, and yes now Obama.

I'm a Democrat because I care what happens to my fellow Americans.

[graywarrior]

70. Welcome to DU and I love what you wrote

Please stick around and post more

[NoFace]

76. That was good. nt

[Kablooie]

63. Cuz the devil made me do it.

[Dinger]

64. Jesus Was A Liberal, Progressive, Anti-Establishment, Democratic, Anti-War, Tree-Hugging,

protester, anti-gun person who would never have voted for a republican in his life.

That is all.

Oh wait, this was asking ME why I am a Democrat. That's right.

Because Democrats are the party of the common man, the poor and the beaten down, living on the lonely hungry side of town, and just we're reminded of those who are held back, up front there needs to be a Democrat.

[Martin Eden]

65. Okay, here goes:

I'm not in love with the Democratic Party, but the Republican Party is abhorrent.

I'm a Democrat because sustaining the natural environment that sustains our lives is imperative, and the Dems are much better on this than the Repubs.

I'm a Democrat because I believe in economic fairness in which those who work hard and play by the rules are above the poverty level, have adequate health care, and can afford to send their children to college. The Republican Party first and foremost represents the interests of corporations and the uber-rich.

I'm a Democrat because I believe in the separation of church and state, in women's reproductive rights, and in equality regardless of sexual orientation.

I'm a Democrat because Republican foreign policy borders on fascism.

I'm a Democrat because my parents fostered in me the values I've expressed in this post.

[Tailormyst]

66. Good luck with your essay, hope this helps

Because out of the two choice they say they are closest to my values. However, I am beginning to believe its all pretty much lip service. They don't do much beyond enriching themselves and if either sides supporters speak up to much they just start yelling "gays and abortions" and both sides dutifully cast their votes.

I will also say I am now an independent. I left the party over the last year.

[flvegan]

69. Because I'm not a fucking moron.

I could be a mindless, hateful idiot and vote R based on lies and "rah rah USA!" political propaganda, or, I can give a shit and think about what's best for We the People and vote for the only option that comes close...D.

[graywarrior]

71. As usual, you guys surpassed my expectations

Oh, and the duck is a duckocrat...bwahahahahahaha!

[one_voice]

75. Hmmm...

Did Dick Cheney get a hold of that duck and torture him with the duck tape?

Or

Did GWB think duct tape was for taping ducks?

[Yurovsky]

73. I used to be registered as a Socialist...

but living in a closed primary state made that an exercise in futility, especially since I live in a pretty blue part of Florida and local elections are usually decided in the (D) primary. Statewide, the GOP is still running the show (and ruining the state). I guess I just made a practical choice. I'm certainly far closer to the Democratic party than the GOP - I can't think of ANY position I agree with those evil fuckers on.

[liberal_at_heart]

74. I am currently without party

I'm leaning toward socialist.

[Hugabear]

77. Because I have a brain, and I can think for myself

I don't need some right-wing preacher or talk-show hatemonger telling me how to think or vote.

[Mind_your_head]

79. Because I don't like republicans. But now I don't like democrats eithers.....

I'm now without a party. Guess I have to start my own "party" that is.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW1dbiD_zDk

:-)

[Political Heretic]

81. I'm not. Not since the national Democratic Party abandoned the people. (see sig)

The Democratic party (nationally at least) has chosen to embrace trickle-down economic theory, and chosen to prioritize the wants and whims of the financial elite first, ahead of the needs of ordinary working Americans.

Because of this I will not financially contribute or give my time to the DNC, nor will I financially contribute to any Democratic candidate that does not consistently stand with workers.

Instead, I am a fierce advocate for revolutionizing the Democratic Party - fighting hard to unseat capitulating corporate sellouts from legislative seats and from positions of leadership within the party and replacing them passionate social and economic justice advocates.

I would like to see the party become something great, but I won't work for that change while saying I "belong" to a part that currently sells me out on a daily basis.

[tekisui]

82. I have a brain and I have a heart.

And, I grew up poor.

[Unvanguard]

83. Because they are the lefter of the two viable parties. Pretty simple. n/t

[Marr]

84. Because we haven't got a left-wing party.

[kimi]

85. Usually I read most if not all replies before posting

This time I won't.

I was raised in a Republican household. Learned early on that life wasn't fair, but that there was a political means to even it all out after a fashion, and that means was the Democratic Party. So, I've followed the family tradition of military service, and I'm unabashedly proud of this country, and my kids follow me in turn.

I can't see NOT being a Democrat, and being an American, really. It's about equality, and consideration, and rights - regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, anything. It's about a system where everyone has a voice, has the right to be healthy, have their voice heard, have justice available. It's about so much that Americans take for granted till it's not there, and then it becomes something that is precious beyond words. It's just what should be, no matter what.

[graywarrior]

90. !

:headbang:

[jotsy]

86. An essay you say? How long do I get to go on?

For starters, I'm not.

As a registered independent, I'm an equal opportunity critic. I have contended since the early 90's that two party politics are toxic to the needs of the people. What governance requires to be labeled effective is debatable, and perhaps endlessly so. Consensus becomes a difficult proposition when a public is so deliberately divided.

I try not to lean left, I won't row right, I'd sooner just step forward, tyvm.

I'm whatever you call that, I suppose there are some who would argue whack works.

[lpbk2713]

87. I have a conscience.

I couldn't even consider being anything else. I've voted for every Dem Presidential candidate since JFK.

[UrbScotty]

88. If not for Democrats, who knows if I'd be alive?

I posted this on another message board earlier tonight:

I If not for the Democratic Party, I would not have had a Pell grant or any other form of student financial aid.

If not for the Democratic Party, who knows how much I'd be getting paid right now? Probably not as much as I am! (Actually, I might be unemployed, because the job I have is in college!)

If not for the Democratic Party, my job prospects would be suffering greatly - not only for the lack of a college education, but also for the lack of a stimulus.

If not for the Democratic Party, I probably would not have had the chance to dine with Danny Glover. I was invited to dinner with him at the university president's residence, after finishing third at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Oratorical Contest. We wouldn't have had MLK Day if not for Democrats.

If not for the Democratic Party, would my brother and I be here? I don't know. My mother got pregnant four times - twice she had miscarriages, and twice she delivered by C-section.

If not for the Democratic Party, would I still be here? I don't know. Democrats (and some Republicans of the past) are largely responsible for the regulations which have kept our food, water, and air safe.

If not for the Democratic Party, would ScottyUrb have ever been born? I don't know.

But I am here, and for that, I am grateful. And for the Democratic Party, I am grateful.

[madamesilverspurs]

89. At the risk of gross over-simplification --

During my Republican phase I was told what to think. Since becoming a Democrat I'm occasionally asked what I think. That shifting of my personal paradigm gave me a much cleaner perspective. I'm far more honestly informed these days.

---

[eridani]

91. Because there are no third parties that take elections seriously n/t