Are Democrats going to make a difference?

[DaveJ]

I will continue to vote Democrat until a better party comes along simply because Republicans come off as being just plain evil to me, but really, I doubt they will make a difference at least in my lifetime.

Is anything really going to change?

Like,

1) Health care: It may improve, but I doubt it. There probably will never be a day when anyone can walk into a U.S. hospital and be treated equally.

2) Slave Wages: We need reform that's more than a regular step up in minimum wage. I am more for a living wage policy that might be more complex in terms of deciding who gets it, but I think that it's the only civilized approach.

3) War and Peace: With the science and technology we have today I refuse to believe we can't find ways to peacefully resolve most conflicts. But the military industrial complex is embedded into our economy, so the killing will likely never end.

4) Energy: I know research is being done on clean energy, but it seems to be on a timetable to be completed only after all the oil runs out. It probably will be too late by then.

5) Corporate Interests: There really are a lot of ways we can change the way corporations operate. We can make them act in a more socially responsible manner. Will we? I doubt it.


Sorry for being so pessimistic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. John Conyers has started investigations

in the House. The Dems grilled Gonzales in the Senate. Yes, change will come, and it will come from the Democratic Party members in Congress.

[Joe for Clark]

2. Oh, yes we will.

AT the end of the day - they work for us - and they will do our bidding. Or they won't have a job.

Question is how long it takes them. And how much they want to keep their job, I suppose.

As a country we move pretty slowly - we do - but we get it right in the end.

Be optimistic - you have good reason to be right now.

Joe

[DaveJ]

3. If we could somehow wipe out the R's entirely I'd be more optimistic

As long as Democrats are forced to find common ground with people who think war is a nice way to make a living, it's hard to be optimistic. Along with that mentality come all the other social problems related to disconcern for fellow individuals.

It would be better if we had choice between Democrats and Green party candidates. But I sense that any Democrats who somehow tried to get rid of the Republican party entirely would be labeled insane.

[bigtree]

4. if influencing these issues was easy we would have been overun in the 12 years

republicans had the carte blanche of control of all branches.

Democracy is not designed for a greased path to action. It's designed to take these issues and run them through the wringer to protect dissenters and the less enfranchised. In that process, there are similar hurdles which affect even those on the 'correct' side of issues. The process works the best when we work together. To resign ourselves to defeat elevates the persistent pernicious forces which never tire in their greed and hunger for power and influence. My good friend used to say, "good always leaves, but bad comes to stay." I spend most of my time working to prove him wrong.

[partylessinOhio]

5. "Are Democrats going to make a difference?" No, I'm afraid not.

They do not favor the things the voters want. They want to go their own way just as the "Decider" does. They are too busy making deals to further themselves. We have to face the fact that the rich and big business or even little business owners have the money to influence them and we who labor do not.

I still would chose to leave this country permanently if I had the money and good health. I have come around to feel that I would deal the health issues and still move if I had the financial means. I could then pay someone to pack for me so I could pace myself to survive the moving and travel.

[Joe for Clark]

6. They don't make any deals if they don't get reelected

either.

They know that.

This is really a populist movement going on right now. The people are so far ahead of the politicians it is scary.

You say democrats - I think people who think the same way - I don't care about the party label.

I'll tell you, if Hagel (or an anti war rebuplican) ran against Hillary right now, I won't be voting for Hillary.

Joe