How do you identify yourself as a Democrat?

[Guaranteed]

Poll question: How do you identify yourself as a Democrat?

Keep in mind that choice two is also called "liberal" nowadays.

Which classification do you identify with?

[amber dog democrat]

1. the" NO W" sticker

stays ON !!

[Democrat Dragon]

2. True Liberal

I'm an amatuer visual artist,support self-expression and have a deep concern for the environment. I am against turning capitalism into social drawinism and beleive that giant corporate monopolies are a threat to the free market. I used to favor strict gun control until I saw a certain T-shirt on infowars.com.

[TheDonkey]

3. A mix between moderate and liberal

I'm on the extreme sides of different issues. It's hard to label people, or even myself I think.

[jonnyblitz]

4. beyond liberal.

I probably shouldn't even post on DU, that is how "beyond" I am (based on who considers themselves liberal these days).

[Clark2008]

5. Wes Clark Democrat

I don't fit into any of these categories.

I'm moderate, particularly for this board, but I haven't agreed with one damn thing Bush has done - well, I agreed with getting the Taliban and OBL after 9/11, but he fucked that up, too.

I have voted for traditional Republicans, but I despise the neo-cons (and I don't recall it being Dean who told me about them. I believe I picked up on what they were well before I'd ever even heard of Howard Dean).

I'm liberal on some issues and moderate on others.

I guess I'm a Democrat because of the old Will Rogers belief: "I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"

[AllyCat]

8. Aye! But I guess that's what I call a TRUE liberal

Hard to place labels, but whatever Wes said is pretty much where I stand.

[ulysses]

6. #3. n/t

[against all enemies]

7. When I go to vote there is a "D" after my name. That, plus I'm a

tree hugging, anti-war, pro-democracy, progressive tax, liberal. And by the way, Fuck Bush.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

9. Whore.

I take on all comers, as long as they are not a special interest,
like such as the poor or teachers.

[Guaranteed]

31. Totally understandable.

Hey, at least you admit to it. :P

[CAG]

10. Just a suggestion

When making poll choices, its best to refrain from name-calling (ie, DLC "whore" and republican-lite). It tends to invalidate the poll and shows people (especially those that might want to click that choice) that there's an obvious bias and agenda behind the poll. Fox news and right wing websites are really good at this, I suggest to not seek the lowest common denominator.

I voted actual moderate, BTW. I certainly have too many differences with the DLC to label myself a whore, although a Clinton/Gore/Kerry presidency right now would look a WHOLE lot better than the current village idiot presiding over us.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

12. There's no shame in being a whore

as long as it's for a good cause, such as say a ambition
to be most powerful man on a particular planet.

[wyldwolf]

14. one might as well suggest a category of...

far left conspiratorial socialist loon.

[imenja]

17. agree

But that would assume the poster is interested in an actual representative of the political identification of DU members. The terms of the poll, "DLC whore" most particularly, make evident he is not.

[wyldwolf]

23. what do you expect, though?

There is a group at DU who value ideological purity above everything else. Funny, though, that they can't agree on what is ideologically pure.

[Guaranteed]

27. If that's not you, you've got three other choices.

Do you think it sounds like you?

[imenja]

30. no, see post. #15 on "liberal"

You need to open your mind to a wider array of possibilities of political thought.

[Guaranteed]

32. LOL already covered.

"Far left" is specific enough. That should cover the socialists and the three full-on communists on the board.

Look at the bell-curve. It's a very fair poll.

[imenja]

33. hardly

The poll reflects your very narrow view of politics. "Far left liberal" is hardly the left range of ideology. It seems like your main point it to affirm you own identification as "true liberal" (God only knows what that might mean) and to make a caricature of those who identify themselves differently.

[Guaranteed]

34. That shows how much you know.

I'm the second choice. :)

[imenja]

35. regardless

You conceive of politics and ideology in a very limited fashion. There are ideas outside of the Democratic and Republican parties. Having a look at politics outside of the US might be a good starting place.

[Guaranteed]

37. The poll asks "How do you identify yourself as a DEMOCRAT?"

If you're Green, well, this poll isn't for you, if you're not satisfied with "far left" liberal.

Four categories, while on a simple one-dimensional spectrum, is very fair.

Are you just angry about #1? Sorry, but anyone that buys into the neo-con garbage is a whore. No apologies.

[johncoby2]

11. I am a Democrat. Period. EOM

[Sporadicus]

13. Democratic Socialist

Because our system of government operates on a winner-take-all basis, I prefer to work within the framework we've been dealt - and that means trying to get the most progressive Democratic candidates elected.

[ArcRabbit]

18. Ditto

Democratic Socialists know how to do it. :hippie:

[imenja]

15. why limit it to 'liberal"

I don't and have never used the term "liberal" to identify myself. Liberal is not far left. Liberalism assumes an adherence to the idea of free markets as the ideal economic system. Liberalism is an ideology that emerged as the political corollary of capitalism. Adam Smith typifies liberal though. Consider the present day use of the term neo-liberalism. Only Americans imagine that the political spectrum extends only as left as liberal.
You need a category for leftist, progressive, socialist, or some other term that does not limit our choices to the very narrow spectrum that characterizes American politics.

[wyldwolf]

19. well, how about TRUE liberal! LOL! Isn't that broad enough?

[imenja]

20. NO

Did you read my post? Honestly. Liberal is not the left of the political spectrum.

[wyldwolf]

22. it was a joke. Basically a "comment" on the poster's labels

I'm sure he considers himself a TRUE liberal.

[imenja]

24. gotcha

Sorry, you often can't tell how a comment is intended when it is written rather than spoken. I see your point about the label "true liberal."

[Guaranteed]

28. "True" liberal and "far left" liberal cover those, I believe. nt

[imenja]

38. liberalism defined

See the link below for a definition of liberalism:

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

You will note that the term has taken on different meanings at different points in history and in different parts of the Western world. None of those definitions, however, questions the supremacy of capitalism.

"Far left liberal" is first of all an oxymoron. Liberal is only far left when compared with conservatives. Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity consider it "far left," but those familiar with political philosophy know otherwise. Secondly, it does not encompass a great deal of political thought.

I include below a brief distinction between liberalism and social democracy, viewed as a quite centrist ideology in most parts of the world.

"The fundamental difference between liberalism and social democracy, besides the fact that they have very different origins, lies in their views regarding the role of the state in the economy. Social democracy seeks to achieve a certain extent of equality of outcomes, and upholds egalitarianism as the source of its moral values. Social democrats support a large public sector and the nationalization of utilities such as gas and electricity in order to avoid private monopolies, achieve social justice, and raise living standards for all. Liberalism, on the other hand, prefers much more minor state intervention, for example in the form of subsidies, and believes that major industries should be regulated, but not state-owned. Beyond that, however, liberalism shares many of the same basic goals as social democracy."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

This doesn't even begin to approach ideologies such as anarchism, socialism, communism, and other leftist philosophies.

[Guaranteed]

42. You're complaining because I left out anarchists and

communists (which, along with socialists, are covered under "far left" liberal)? In this DEMOCRATIC poll?

Go home.

[imenja]

47. so you don't want the votes of those you don't agree with you?

If I don't subscribe to your rather narrow view of the world, I don't qualify as a Democrat, despite the hundreds of hours I spend working for the party?

What I'm complaining about is that you don't know what liberalism means. What is especially disturbing is that when presented with information you refuse to consider any of it. No wonder our party suffers from a deficit of ideas.

[Guaranteed]

50. You managed to decipher that I don't know

what liberalism means from this poll? Wow- you're probably the smartest person in the world.

I don't have a narrow view of the world- at ALL. And this poll is perfectly fine for the purposes of the Democratic party. It covers everything.

You're just overreacting to a stupid poll. Go find something else to complain about.

[imenja]

52. I agree it is a stupid poll

but to claim it covers "everything" in the Democratic is narrow minded. I recently did a poll of Peter Sellers movies. When others suggested some movies I should have included, I acknowledged it. I didn't pretended it "included everything." It is your declaration of covering "everything" within the party that is troubling.
A simple improvement might have simply been to say "left of liberal" rather than "far left liberal."

[ChiciB1]

43. Good Point, But Why Not Use The Word

Liberal if only to make the REPUKES MAD???

[imenja]

49. hey, go for it

If you feel it describes your political views, by all means use it. I personally don't identify myself as liberal, but that has nothing to do with Republicans.

[ChiciB1]

53. Ah, Yes... But What I'm Saying

is that the Repukes LOVE to use the moniker, so since it gives them so much glee, I just say "Hell yes, I'm a Liberal, why don't you look it up in the dictionary??? And in doing so you might find that the word also has other meanings, such as being broad-minded and generous. Or perhaps holding the view that others have the right to express their own opinion.

So I agree that one word doesn't do it, however simply for the sake of synopsis it is a good word to use. But this debate could go on forever if we want to pick it apart. The poll asks a question, you give an answer, BUT there is leeway. And that brings us back to the "word" Liberal. Maybe we could use the word CONSOCIATE.

On the other hand... the meaning of the word Conservative does not encompass a full-bodied explanation. Mainly meaning you are more averse to change and want to stick with the status quo and are more cautious. And in my mind a stingy tight ass!

[imenja]

55. definitions

I don't see broad minded and generous among the definitions of liberalism. Note the discussion of liberalism provided in Wikipedia.

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

I have no objection to your using that or any other term to characterize your own political ideology. I, however, will not adopt it. As a historian, my knowledge of the term in it's historical uses and applications outside of the US means I cannot embrace it. It contains some positive characteristics--it derives from the Latin word for freedom--but at it's essence it is a political justification of capitalism. I certainly don't advocate that Democrats adopt or even entertain a socialist agenda. I have become far more pragmatic when it comes to politics than I once was. But if we are to choose a general term to describe Democratic voters, I opt for progressive. Also, irritating conservatives holds no particular advantage for me. The goal is to regain power. We need to think of how we use language when considering our strategies for doing so.

[ChiciB1]

61. Again... No Disagreement, However

I've never actually lived under a regime where liberalism was deemed to be a negative. I also agree with your assertion that we need to regain power, but using another word such as progressive in the sense as we bandy about here is different to me. Perhaps I can be corrected again, but one can be liberal & progressive. I did enjoy reading the link, and it was enlightening.

Perhaps I can be forgiven simply because of my ire toward this administration and how it does it's business. I have lived through several defeats of Democratic candidates myself and know what it means to lose. Having said that, and also living in a county in Florida that has never had ANY Democratic commissioners that I know of since I moved here in 1978, my frustration has turned to anger on more occasions than I would like. Sticks & stones, etc., etc may not apply here merely because words ARE slung around in such a negative manner in my area! Being tactful is good and gracious, but I don't see the same from the other side and THEY are the ones winning! I'm tempted to say 'if you can't lick 'em join 'em' but getting down in the mud holler ain't where I want to be either. But I do fire back sometimes.

So, as I said before this debate could go on forever and many good ideas will surface, but that depends on just how deep we want to go and how much we want to parse the word. I do see where you're coming from though.

[imenja]

64. the truth is, America is a liberal nation

Which is especially clear reading the Wikipedia definition of the term. The US believes strongly in ideas of natural rights, individual liberty, democracy, and,at least in theory, self-determination. It might be useful to point out to conservatives that when they malign the term, they deride the ideological foundations of our republic (Rosseau, John Locke, Adam Smith, and of course the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, both quintessentially liberal documents).
The more I think about it, I like your idea of reclaiming the word for the Democratic party (rather than myself individually). I've advocated for some time that we should use the language of the Founding Fathers to critique Republican corporate rule. Reclaiming the term liberalism, in it's full philosophical and historical meaning, is one way of doing that.

[ChiciB1]

65. I Knew We Could Reach That

middle ground. You said it better than I!

So I remain a Liberal. Very simplistic, but proud anyway.

[bklyncowgirl]

16. None of the above. Democrat by convenience

My politics are a mix.

I'm left on some issues, liberal on others and may even be considered conservative (of the old fashioned variety) on things on issues of fiscal responsibility. I have a libetarian streak as well.

I'm a Democrat because the Democrats are the only viable alternative currently existing to a neo-con ideology that is wrong headed and dangerous.

[TahitiNut]

21. I don't. I'm an independent liberal.

I don't need Corporate labels. :shrug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. A soon to be ex-Democrat. Joining an opposition Party (G)

I guess that puts me on the far left. Which has been true since birth. Grandparents, parents, all socialists of one kind or another.

[moggie12]

26. I am a pragmatic, activist moderate/centrist

So I picked the moderate category.

Since I'm an activist Democrat -- and currently a big fan of Barbara Boxer -- I'm on a quixotic mission to help her. In case you didn't see my post earlier today, it asks DUers to e-mail Wolf Blitzer/CNN to thank them for having Boxer on to express her views (more they hear from us little people out here in America, the better, IMO). Link below:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1521833

See, I really am an activist as advertised.....

[El Fuego]

29. It depends on the issue.

On some issues I am very liberal, and on others I am moderate. I don't believe in the "ditto head" party line mentality. I am basically a pragmatist.

I am anti-corporate controlled government fascism. That alone makes me a Democrat.

[greendog]

36. (d/G)

.

[American Tragedy]

39. Libertarian liberal.

I generally follow the principle that consenting adults should be free of government impositions on their minds and bodies. If their behavior or expression offends someone, they can work that out amongst themselves. The government and the courts should rightfully intervene only as a last resort, to protect citizens' basic rights, not to merely punish people who violate someone else's view of the status quo.

I support traditional Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, welfare, progressive income tax, raising salaries of teachers and others in the public sector, funding for infrastructure and road reconstruction, corporate regulations, labor protections, etc. However, I am intensely opposed to waste of taxpayers' dollars on elective wars, punitive drug law enforcement, pork barrel spending, redundant weapons projects, propaganda campaigns, politicians' luxuries, and other excesses, especially when there is public debt.

Overall, my ideal government would be significantly smaller than the current administration, which is the most bloated bureaucracy in history, and my ideal economy would spend considerably less, which certainly defies the stereotype of leftists as big government and big spending.

[Zhade]

59. You echo my own thoughts. Well-said.

NT!

[Cozmosis]

40. A little left of center "actual moderate" but RNC skewed liberal

[ChiciB1]

41. I Voted TRUE Liberal

but have been known to tell others... You think there's a War in Iraq, well no... I'm Your War!

I'll remain solidly against STOLEN FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS! And if anyone wants to make "hay" about it... then the obvious answer

BRING IT ON!!!!

Does anyone but me think that The Idiot Boy King looks terrible these days???

I see dissembling on it's way! Although rumors abound about his paranoid personality!

[corbett]

44. Like Kerry, I Eschew Labels

I disagree with Kerry on a few things but overall, I'm very similar to him: fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...”

[DFLforever]

45. A liberal moderate

ala Dean.

Despise the 'centrism' of the DLC strain and accommodation with the right.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

46. I'm a socialist, but 'far left liberal' doesn't describe me n/t

[Tinoire]

48. Green to Mid Green on this chart

I voted ;) but don't want to throw a label out there other than Progressive Independent and firmly anti-war.

[American Tragedy]

60. The linear political spectrum is flawed, I think

There should also be a scale of government influence, ranging from libertarian to authoritarian, neither of which are inherently liberal or conservative.

Democrats have made the mistake of automatically associating libertarianism with the right wing, when in fact they are at most half-conservative. All of the ones that I know are fiercely anti-imperialist, uncomfortable with the religious right, and despise George Bush. I don't know how many of them there actually are, but I do know personally that the less avaricious ones can be won over. ;-)

[Tinoire]

62. I agree with you on that

Sadly for the Democratic party and surprisingly for me, I've found that on the issues that most matter to me (war, imperialism, occupation), I'm more often in agreement with Libertarians than many Democrats. My experience has been the same as yours.

If I had my way, I'd replace the 30% apologist/pro-war/occupation & pro-Imerialist Democrats with Libertarians in a flash.

[DemGirl7]

51. I'm consider myself to be a Actual Mod....I'm no DLCer...

I always considered myself to be a Moderate...but I don't really like the DLC all that more...they are too repug lite for me.

[Catchawave]

54. Bunny and Tree Huggin' Ho'...........

...which probably puts me on the far left of DU "sportsmen" :D

[Hosnon]

56. Come on guys...any principle without moderation has dire consequences -

Don't just be a "liberal" just as I hate that some people are "conservative"...think for Christ's sake!

[Acryliccalico]

57. True Liberal Here

:kick:

[lojasmo]

58. Hard to say...I voted "actual moderate" here are my views:

Single payer health care
living minimum wage
single payer preschool for low income famlies (lowest quintile)
decriminalization of marijuana
drug treatment in lieu of imprisonment for nonviolent drug offenders
Strictly enforced environmental regulations
decreased subsidies for agribuiseness
increased subsidies for family farmers
tenfold investment for biofuel R&D (ethanol and bio-d)
And a bunch of other stuff.

[Tinoire]

63. Hmmmm.... Those used to be moderate positions

now I hear they're "Leftist" positions which says a lot about how far to the right our party politics have shifted.

Throw anti-imperialist war in there and I'm a moderate too. This is why I dislike self identifying to labels- they distract us from focusing on the issues...