I have a political delimma

[tavalon]

On the one hand, I think that refusing to vote for the Democrats in the general, given the abysmal state of third parties would be tantamount to cutting off my nose to spite my face. On the other hand, I'm a union worker and if unions decide to refuse to vote for Democrats in the general election, that's equivalent to a general strike with regards to the election and I won't, as a union member, ever cross a strike line. I'm not going to be a scab.

[Demeter]

1. Only ONE Dilemma?

Count yourself lucky.

[tavalon]

5. One delimma this hour of this day

[cali]

2. I highly doubt that any major union will do anything but endorse dems

[Bucky]

3. No, refusing to participate in an election boycott is not the same thing as crossing a picket line

Apples and oranges. Crossing a picket line is fucking with a brother's job. You don't do that. Boycotting an election is more like giving half your candy to a school yard bully. I lovehate my union like family, but they don't own my vote.

[midnight]

4. This dilemma is what they believe is a win/win for them. They are counting on you

voting for them regardless of how they cut your chances of making a living and paying for food, health care, etc....

[napoleon_in_rags]

6. This is the issue as I see it.

I'm looking at the unpopularity of the health care bill, and realizing that the most politically expedient thing Obama could have done would have been the crucifixion of Joe Lieberman: You put together a Dem plan with strong public option and all the bells and whistles, you get it through the house into senate, you get the 59 Dem votes behind it, and let Lieberman block it by joining filibuster. Then you complain about Lieberman ad infinitum, let the bill fail, and every can complain about how somebody other than Dems are the problem. That way you stay popular. Or you could get something, anything, done. That's what Obama opted for.

The way to get single payer or anything cool like that is to have a LOT of Dems in congress, period. There is no other way. How does not supporting Dems achieve that?

[Buzz Clik]

7. More anti-Democrat sentiment at DU.

Surprise! :party:

[elocs]

8. Perhaps you might care to check out the OP's profile because I don't read the OP that way at all.

I also don't buy the "my party, right or wrong" line and that it somehow deserves to get blind support no matter what. That's what Republicans do because they seem to be unable to think for themselves.

[Buzz Clik]

9. I'll take the OP at face value. DU is much too large to attempt psychoanalysis of every post.

[elocs]

10. Who said anything about psychoanalyzing? Is simply looking at a profile too much of a bother?

She has been here since 2004 and has over 15,000 posts and on her profile she has written: "A little shell shocked at how much good Obama has done in so little time!"

That sure sounds like praise of Obama and does not in the least sound anti-Democratic, but then that was too much trouble to check out before the quick response, wasn't it?

[Buzz Clik]

12. The biggest problem in terms of anti-Democrat sentiment here comes from long-time posters.

I've accepted the fact that the DU management will no longer make a directed effort to cull out the rightwing infiltrators. So, I pretty much ignore the transparent attempts at disruption. However, I do worry about long-term DUers who voice the same ideas of challenging Obama in the primaries, boycotting the elections, hammering the House and Senate leadership at every turn, etc.

DU seems to have morphed from a pro-Dem, anti-GOP site into a free-for-all in which all political opinions are welcome, no matter how scathing they are of the Democrats or how far they go in undermining the Democratic cause. Expressing frustation about trends or recent events is one thing, but promoting the defeat of Democratic leaders is completely different. The OP hasn't gone to the furthest extreme, but she certainly is testing the waters.

[Buzz Clik]

11. ..

[tavalon]

13. Then discuss it with me

rather than taking pot shots.

[Buzz Clik]

15. This is your personal problem. Work it out.

But, if you want to "think out loud" on a discussion board, expect comments.

[tavalon]

18. Like your ever so helpful comment

Not.

[tavalon]

20. You like throwing pot shots without any substance, don't you?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. See my post here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7454419

[Buzz Clik]

16. Excellent thread!

I cannot understand how people can deceive themselves into believing that dropping out of the political process sends a message.

Showing up at the grassroots meetings and championing a Democrat who actually supports your views sends a much louder message.

[tavalon]

19. I read that and wholeheartedly agree

My post is about a wrinkle in that idea. If union members stay home, I'm unsure whether I will support the unions (being a union member myself) or continue with my personal plan.

That seems to have been missed by one of the posters to this thread.

[arthritisR_US]

17. the Democrats need to wake the f*ck up and start honoring their word. n/t

[grantcart]

21. We are Democrats

we always have a vigorous discussion before we finally agree on anything.

The unions are not going to get everything they want. They are going to get a lot of what they want. They are going to support Democrats at a high level this fall.