How Depressed are Liberals?

[TGHusker]

As the pendulum swings wide right it is only preparing itself for a possible wider swing to the left.  

https://www.dsausa.org/

 

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Who we are & what we do

Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. We are a political and activist organization, not a party; through campus and community-based chapters DSA members use a variety of tactics, from legislative to direct action, to fight for reforms that empower working people.

 

 

 

 

https://www.thenation.com/article/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-wins-democratic-socialist-21st-century-vision/
 

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Ocasio-Cortez was warm and open as a candidate—she showed up for the debates that Crowley skipped in the Bronx and Queens neighborhoods that make up New York’s 14th district—yet she pulled no punches when it came to issues. A Bronx native who celebrated her own Puerto Rican heritage, Ocasio-Cortez promised to “fight for sweeping change in the way that the United States relates to Puerto Rico” on a host of economic and enfranchisement issues. In a multiracial, multiethnic district with a large immigrant population, she made the fight against Trump-administration policies central to her campaigning, which highlighted a call for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). Ocasio-Cortez championed a single-payer, Medicare-for-All health-care system, declared that housing is a right, and called for sweeping criminal-justice reform. And she identified as a proud member of Democratic Socialists of America.

 

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Echoing the slogan of British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s movement, she asserted that

 

 

In the wealthiest nation in the world, working families shouldn’t have to struggle. It’s time for a New York that’s good for the many. I am an educator, organizer, Democratic Socialist, and born-and-raised New Yorker running to champion working families in Congress. It is well past time that we in NY-14 had a true, lobbyist-free representative who lives in our community and fights on behalf of Bronx + Queens families. This movement for Congress is about education and healthcare; it’s about housing, jobs, justice, and civil rights. It’s is about preparing for the future of our environment, energy, and infrastructure. It’s about championing the dignity of our neighbors. And it’s about getting money out of politics.

That up-front referencing of her democratic socialism signaled that Ocasio-Cortez is a different kind of candidate. She makes no apologies for her ideology.

Asked by Vogue about what drew her to DSA, she offered an activist’s assessment: “(What) I found was that every time I saw myself showing up for something that was important to my community, when I was one of the many people who showed up in Union Square for the 100-day vigil after Hurricane Maria, DSA was there. Every time I was joining my brothers and sisters in the Movement for Black Lives, DSA was there. When I saw these actions, it was like, Okay, this is clearly an extension of our own community. And the thing about DSA is that it’s a very large tent organization.”

 

 

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Sanders hailed Ocasio-Cortez’s “extraordinary upset victory,” highlighting the fact that “She took on the entire local Democratic establishment in her district and won a very strong victory. She demonstrated once again what progressive grassroots politics can do.”

Christian Bowe of DSA’s National Political Committee shared that sentiment.

“Tonight’s victory shows that we are in the middle of a political revolution,” said Bowe. “By running on an unabashedly Democratic Socialist platform focused on healthcare for all, housing as a human right, abolishing ICE, justice for Puerto Rico and a federal jobs guarantee, Ocasio-Cortez was able to defeat a powerful establishment Democrat who has been in Congress since 1999. The people of NY-14 demanded more from its representative than empty promises and deep pockets. We’re proud of this victory, and we know this is only one of many more to come.”

 

 

[knapplc]

4 minutes ago, TGHusker said:

Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. We are a political and activist organization, not a party; through campus and community-based chapters DSA members use a variety of tactics, from legislative to direct action, to fight for reforms that empower working people.

 

Ostensibly, I support this platform.  The question is, will that be how they actually run government if they're put in power?  Because if not, all the nice words in the world mean nothing.

 

Here's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' platform, courtesy of Sean Hannity.

 

 

Again, face value, I'm on board with nine or ten of those items.  That's likely a candidate I'd support.  But they use the word "socialist" as if it's a curse word, and people get freaked.

[TGHusker]

48 minutes ago, knapplc said:

 

Ostensibly, I support this platform.  The question is, will that be how they actually run government if they're put in power?  Because if not, all the nice words in the world mean nothing.

 

Here's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' platform, courtesy of Sean Hannity.

 

 

Again, face value, I'm on board with nine or ten of those items.  That's likely a candidate I'd support.  But they use the word "socialist" as if it's a curse word, and people get freaked.

Knapp, your know the funny thing (in a not funny way) when reading some of her statements - it stirred up and reminded me of my 'love' (as in appreciation) for Bobby Kennedy in my early teen years.  As 6th/7th grader at the time, I knew enough to understand him.  It also reminded me of my appreciation of HHH in my college years. 

 

Knapp, I think you bring up a valid point that we fail to look at more seriously- the power of labels.   Labels pigeon hole others - into camps we support or don't support and it unfortunately and perhaps more dangerously pigeon holes us individually.  "I'm a Conservative - therefore I can't support social justice issues."  Self labeling keeps us from growing and learning and dialoging and compromising.   It polarizes us as a nation.  None of the issues on that list should be 'off limits'.   While traditional fiscal conservatives  may be concerned about the fiscal/budget issue involved in implementation of some of these, it should not end the conversation before it starts.  Work towards compromise.   I know we (I) talk a lot about labels on HB.  

 

But labels also have their good point - it helps us to understand our based individual makeup and ways we can contribute to society.  Some of us are fiscally conservative and without us we'd be in a mess financially. Some of us are compassionate visionaries and with those, we wouldn't have a heart nor advance as a society.   I think of it kind of like the 'motivational gifts' mentioned in Romans chapter 12 in the Bible.  All are need to make the church function and that is true of society at large.  Maybe one day we can get beyond labels and see the benefit of talents and gifts that are different than our own and see how they 'fill the gap' in our knowledge, experience, and mind and soul.  If we all have an open mind, there is no reason opposites can't attract and solve problems together.  Some of the best marriages are those of opposites - if both parties appreciate those opposites and realize that we need those to fill our 'gaps' and become more whole individuals.  I'm rambling now but someone once said "Marriage is made to grind." He didn't mean it in the negative sense of having a terrible marriage but that two individuals, living that close to each other, will cause the rough edges to be ground off as we learn patience, kindness, consideration, love and over time become conformed more into the image of Jesus Christ- which is the Christian goal of marriage - to be more like Christ and to serve the world together (not our individual pleasure at the expense of another).  Well, in the political world we'd rather keep our rough edges instead of learning and growing and being open to other people and that results in our own and the nation's hurt.  But this is why I like HB - you guys and gals challenge me to think broader and bigger and hopefully more compassionately and inclusively.  I'm a lessor person if I don't consider others. But that doesn't mean I have to be tossed by the wind of everyone else's opinion.  Just that I give space and value to people as individuals and their expressions. 

 

Sorry, Knapp for the long reply but the above thoughts were on my mind yesterday and your post 'triggered' my remembrance of them. 

 

 

[RedDenver]

5 hours ago, knapplc said:

 

Ostensibly, I support this platform.  The question is, will that be how they actually run government if they're put in power?  Because if not, all the nice words in the world mean nothing.

 

Here's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' platform, courtesy of Sean Hannity.

 

 

Again, face value, I'm on board with nine or ten of those items.  That's likely a candidate I'd support.  But they use the word "socialist" as if it's a curse word, and people get freaked.

I'm in favor of all of those items. I wasn't sure about abolishing ICE, but then someone reminded me that ICE was only created in 2003. And Ocasio-Cortez has explained (can't find the link right now) that she thinks that ICE as an institution is too corrupt and inhumane to be reformed, so she wants to get rid of that institution and replace it with something else - not just end custom and immigration enforcement.

 

EDIT: Also, how did Hannity and team let "support seniors" get on there? Do they know their audience? (Or maybe Hannity and team were actually being honest for once, so that's an improvement if true.)

[Danny Bateman]

On 6/29/2018 at 2:30 PM, RedDenver said:

I'm in favor of all of those items. I wasn't sure about abolishing ICE, but then someone reminded me that ICE was only created in 2003. And Ocasio-Cortez has explained (can't find the link right now) that she thinks that ICE as an institution is too corrupt and inhumane to be reformed, so she wants to get rid of that institution and replace it with something else - not just end custom and immigration enforcement.

 

EDIT: Also, how did Hannity and team let "support seniors" get on there? Do they know their audience? (Or maybe Hannity and team were actually being honest for once, so that's an improvement if true.)

 

One could even make a pragmatic argument that we could accomplish the same things ICE does now at the same cost or cheaper through other government agencies while reducing the size of the government, which theoretically would appeal to conservatives & right-leaning folks as well.

 

The only impediment is the current regime & right-wing BS machine have a lot of their base brainwashed to think liberals just hate ICE & love illegal immigrants.

[Cdog923]

On 6/28/2018 at 3:34 PM, BIG ERN said:

This is on the basis that you are against religion...It's also funny to me as I've stated on this board that all a 2 party system does is have sweaty die hards from both sides arguing over things that they feel have to be black and white. I think for the most part Trump is an idiot, but we knew who he was and what he wanted to do, and now people seem to be appalled by it.

 

You didn't dispute any of the points that knapp made.