Why are you a Democrat (if you are)?

[ulysses]

This isn't meant as bait - it's a reposting (with slight rephrase) of the first thread I posted to on DU, started by Crewleader.

Full disclosure - I was raised in a family of middle-class Democrats, and if nothing else I'm a Dem because I've *always* been a Dem. Very strongly considered declaring myself a Green in 2000. There are members of my family who probably won't ever accept my voting for RN.

For all the good it's done me in recent years, I'm a Democrat because I'm a liberal. I was brought up that way, and I've never seen anything like a compelling reason to change my mind. I believe in true equality of opportunity, I believe in equality of rights, I believe in public schools. I believe that government exists for a reason, I believe in the regulation of corporations in the public interest, I believe in the separation of church and state. I believe in the well-being of the community over the enrichment of the individual where those are in conflict - and I believe that they are often in conflict.

I am a Democrat because I believe these things. What about you?

[KG]

1. does being a 'social(ist) democrat' count?

:)

politics are a leftist amalgamtion of liberal/progressive/socialist ideas.

but in short-hand for casual conversation i call myself a 'liberal democrat'

i'm a registered dem., but watching the party try to remake itself in the imgage of 'eisenhower republicans' has me searching for a new home....

edit to add

(uly) "I believe in true equality of opportunity, I believe in equality of rights, I believe in public schools. I believe that government exists for a reason, I believe in the regulation of corporations in the public interest, I believe in the separation of church and state. I believe in the well-being of the community over the enrichment of the individual where those are in conflict - and I believe that they are often in conflict".

i beleive in those things, too. but not sure the DLC/DNC does anymore.

[ulysses]

2. yeah, I'll take that

I think we're in pretty much the same place, except that I've decided (for now) to not give Al From and the party conservatives the satisfaction of seeing my liberal ass leave my party. :evilgrin:

[silverweb]

3. All of the above...

Except that I did declare myself a Green about a year ago, simply because the California Green platform most accurately reflects my own beliefs, and because the Dems wimped out after the coup of 2000 and I wanted to send them a message - not because I like or would have voted for Nader. (http://www.cagreens.org/platform) (I also believe that the Green Party's effectiveness lies in the local and state-wide arenas, not the federal, for some time to come, but that's another discussion entirely.)

Anyway, I was raised with all lip service paid to Democratic ideals, but learned as an adult that my family's real interests are squarely in the Republican camp, so in that area we have definitely parted ways.

Other than that, I will ditto your very eloquent words: "I believe in true equality of opportunity, I believe in equality of rights, I believe in public schools. I believe that government exists for a reason, I believe in the regulation of corporations in the public interest, I believe in the separation of church and state. I believe in the well-being of the community over the enrichment of the individual where those are in conflict - and I believe that they are often in conflict."

[Um_Yeah]

4. I guess because of My Grandfather.

I asked him when I was a kid what was the difference between Democrats and Republicans and he told me Republicans stand for the rich and Democrats for people like us. While my Grandfather isnt exactly a liberal I certainly am. Im also from NY a very blue state and I cant stand some of the knuckledraggers you get in the Republican Party.

[stevebreeze]

5. I work for a living

and I am good at math. I know there is no way in hell I will come out ahead with Shrubs tax cuts, EVER! I know his economics will put this country into an even deeper recession then it is in currently. While I am not relgious I am my brothers keeper.
:kick:

[whathappened]

6. my father and his father

and his father were all working poor , just trying to feed the family and did'nt give 2 shits about being better then there next neightbor , so i guess that would make me a dem all the way , no turning around , i'm not impressed with someone who is rich , it is ok for them to be that way , but what they have is'nt alway what i need in life ,

[indictrichardperle]

7. im a free thinker

Junior and the neo-cons have turned me into a Dem, and if they dont chill out im heading towards a Hippy. :hippie:

[gully]

8. I'm a Democrat because the Democratic party is "The Party of Inclusion"

And I believe our Government should represent us all...

I could list many reasons, but that about sums it up for me.

[TheBigGuy]

9. My parents where, as where my grandparents.

They where big fans of FDR. On my mas' side (the German side) they wher social democrats, which was similar to the US "liberals".

So I pretty much got my politics from my family. Havnt seen much reason to change, franklly.

[ulysses]

10. family's funny sometimes

I was talking to my mother-in-law this last weekend, and was reminded that *her* mother (the family matriarch) was a HUGE fan of JFK and FDR - yet Ms Uly's mom is as conservative as it gets in the south before you cross over into fundie-land. Love these folks, but I'll never understand them...

[PeakOil2008]

11. Because Republicans don't like to THINK

Just look at the moron they select to sit in the Oval Office. :eyes:

[tnlefty]

12. I was raised in a family of republicans and I can remember being

yelled out when I asked questions about seeing the police dogs attacking blacks, the water cannons, the police hitting people with sticks during the 60's. I won't type the racist responses that were yelled at me, but it just couldn't be reconciled with my thinking "they're people and that's not a good reason". I was VERY young at the time. Needless to say we've walked different paths ever since and while my siblings were pretty cool during the late 70's and 80's they and my parents took the Newt Gingrinch view of society and we mix like oil and water now.

I just believe in fairness, justice, and that we all have a responsibility for the greater good of all of us. I don't agree with smackin' poor people because they're poor, nor turning a blind eye to greed and corruption. The ends just do not justify the means for me.

[maveric]

13. I have a conscience and I believe that we are all equal regardless

of race, creed or econmoics. And I believe that we need to take care of those that cannot survive without assistance.

Democrats stick up for the working class, that makes up 85% of the nation. I'm in that class and my family has always been there.

Basically repugs represent the wealthy and could give a shit if you lose your job, home or even your life. A black and white mindset.

I'm from a demo family background (Irish/Sicilian). My great grandfather was active in the labor movement early in the 20th century, and was one of the leaders of the "Bread and Roses" strike of 1912. My grandfather was also a labor leader in the textile mills of Lawrence MA. My parents worked hard on JFK's 1960 campaign. I've just always been exposed to the democrats and truly believe that they are the party that cares for the good of all citizens.

[nedlogg]

14. I could probably come up with a hundred reasons

but mainly because the repugs all seem to be such uptight, self-righteous assholes.

[Booberdawg]

15. Because I believe any country can be judged

by the way they treat their least. Which means Social Services for the poor, the handicapped, and the otherwise disadvantaged. I also believe in equal rights for every citizen - no exceptions or loopholes.

There are just so many reasons. I was a registered Republican until the mid 90's just because I didn't know any better and was a sheeple. Once I actually paid attention to the issues and understood what they meant I realized I never should have been a Republican in the first place.

[jfkennedy]

16. Democrat

I was a Democrat until the 2000 election. I am a Democrat at heart because a genuine democracy at its best is exercised by liberals that belong to the Democratic Party. For me Democracy is much more then voting for Republican Democrats. When I watched the stealing of the election and not one of my representives said anything in protest after the Supreme court decision and then on top of it all in party unity voted for everyone one of Bush's laws, I knew that my leaving the party was wise because the party had left me and democracy itself years ago. What I was watching on TV during the 2000 election and the few days after was exactly how they were running my country like cowards and thieves whom have taken our constitution and sold it to the highest bidder.

For me democracy at it's best is simply to be friendly to others, to respect liberty which is to be able to express ones opinion no matter how much it offends the majority, and freedom.

A very simple formula they wrote about more then 200 years ago.

Only a non-violent revolution can bring back our democracy that has been stolen from us.