The Democratic Party

[Nateddi]

So what do you think of the democrats, cappies?

I assume you are all republicans, so how do you debate with centrists?

[Guest]

this is sandino i've lost my password, maybe malte will give it to me, in any case.


I think i've said it in general political topics, that the US political system is one based on pragmatism. The two large parties in this country, democrat and republican, are centrists. You as a marxist/communist/socialists might perceive democrats to be centrists, and republicans to be extremists, but you must realize that you arrived at such a conclusion through your own extremist analytical vision. I dont use this word disparagenly, extremists of both left and right are necessary for the democratic process to have any meaning. Its just that you must realize that as extremists you're ideas will not always be fully espoused by national wings of the large centrists parties. Thats why liberal democrats are more liberal in the senate than the executive branch, and conservative republicans are more so in the legislative than executive branches. You all might think bush to be the next worst thing after mussolini, but he's small potatoes compared to some of the conservatives out in congress.
What do i think of the democrats.
Personally i think they need to get their act together, post clinton they're at a loss for good ideas and have reverted to the bigger government stance that their own man, clinton, demonstrated as obsolete. Rather democrats should realize that in a time of war, with a republican controlled federal government that is expanding in size (an inevitability in war regardless of who's in charge, and possibly an inevitability in peace too) their political dissent should be expressed in proposing a curtailment of these expansive powers. Rather they're acting selectively to expand some powers that suit them, namely increasing federal employees, will arguing against those they are traditionally against, namely defense. They need to adapt to a new reality. The New Deal coalition and its ideals are not appealing to americans because we've moved beyond that. Democrats need to realize this.

For my money the next big political event will be the split in the republican party. Currently the republicans are an expedient coalition of bible thumpers and free marketeers (to generalize greatly) that was put together to get a win for nixon. THe truth is that the free marketeers and bible thumpers dont see Eye to Eye on many things anymore (there's no hubert humphrey, george mcgovern or jimmy carte to beat).
Free marketers, or the libertarian wing of the republican party, for example support the legalization of marijuana and the experimention of embryotic cells. Bible thumpers or conservative republicans do not.
One major event of the past six months was a petition signed by groups like the sierra club, and other environmental lobbies, as well as pro life lobbies to ban experimentation on embryotic cells. Traditional democratic and republican groups have found a common interest. The republican party is due for a schism, and we'll all be better for it because the interest of people will be better represented. Much like the democrat dixiecrat split of the sixties.

[Imperial Power]

I myself go back and forth between republican and moderate. I agree with most of the republican polices but I don't like Bush's social security plan. I honestly don't think the majority of the American popluation is smart enough to wisely invest their own retirement money. Then you would have the state taking care of all of them.

[peaccenicked]

"I honestly don't think the majority of the American popluation is smart enough to wisely invest their own retirement money''
Would you honestly admit to being an elitist and an anti democrat?

[Imperial Power]

Peace your communist form of government controls every aspect of life, im speaking of a retirement pension. Who is anti-democratic here?