It's not that hard to understand - here's the scoop:

[alberg]

If you listen to the buzz around the country, what you hear repeated is the message: "Vote whoever is in power out, and maybe they'll get the message that we aren't happy and want things to change in a fundamental way." It was this sentiment, "Change", that got Democrats elected in 2008. It's this sentiment that will remove them, unless they show the voters that they are sincere in working for real change between now and the next election. People are really pissed off this time. It's not going to go away. Unless a strong Progressive voice emerges on a national level that aligns with the outrage people feel about HealthCare, Jobs and Wall Street we are destined to suffer major electoral defeats. Obama will have one more shot at turning this around. Unless he uses the State of the Union address to acknowledge past mistakes and make a new start, we are in real trouble. He could start by firing Summers and Geitner, proposing a federal jobs program and opening up Medicare to everybody. Sound drastic? Yet that is precisely the kind of message that will regain the support of 70% of the electorate. It's a fool’s game to try and win over the other 30% - they are the same folks who supported Bush no matter what and believe Global Warming is a myth.


Most Americans want the same things:

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

They see the good life slipping away, and it doesn't seem to matter what party is in power. They thought that Barack Obama was the Change they hoped for, but so far they have been seriously disappointed. This is part of the reason for the rise of the so called "tea baggers" - many of who are simply concerned retirement age people who don't want their Medicare benefits tampered with. Most Americans are smart enough to know that the wealth of this country is increasingly concentrated in a small elite, and they want that to change. If a strong progressive leader steps forward, the majority of the country, 70%, will support them. Barack Obama proved that during his campaign. Unfortunately, the Change did not happen once the Democrats took power. In fact, Democrats appear to be unwilling to even fight for real change. And it is this lack of fight that has many of their supporters so disillusioned.

[rucky]

1. If we're going to bounce back and forth every election cycle...

it'll soon hit the point where everybody will abandon the two-party system. And without viable alternatives, all but the true faithful will be "independent voters" (who are already in the majority).

Before we all assume they're in the center, we need to understand that fundamental commonality (besides what you listed) among independent voters is the dissatisfaction with the two-party system. I, for one, look forward to the day it ends - either with multiple parties or no parties. That alone would move us a step forward to fair elections.

K&R, btw

[alberg]

2. Agreed.

A choice between marginally different versions of the same thing is not really a choice. When the Democratic party actually stood for the principles listed by FDR in his radio address, there was actually a real choice that voters could make - and they made it and elected him to 3 terms. He would have won a 4th if he hadn't died. The Democratic party needs to return to it's core principles - the ones that shaped the New Deal. That's the world most Americans want to live in.

[Winterblues]

3. I believe this as well but I do see more time to change public opinion.

This is an election year. I expect to see some ads that address this problem by virtually every Democrat that is up for election. They need to explain themsleves and explain the Republicans as well. I am one of those that is quite angry and I want explanations. I want to know why law breakers are getting off scott free, why the very people that brought America to its knees are not only not being held accountable but being rewarded with huge sums of tax payer money..I would like to see Obama get out front on this but he is not alone. Each and every Democrat needs to do some 'splaining...

[ddeclue]

4. Excellent list.. you are channelling FDR!

:applause:

[UTUSN]

5. "whoever is in power" is a TEABAG message. "Progressives" should cut to the chase and quit

voting behind slogans and other labels (like "Democratic"), then coming back later and claiming they didn't get enough of what they wanted in the first place. I'm an old fashioned big umbrella Dem whose ideal leaders were FDR, HST, and LBJ----take their GOOD parts, AND the parts some "Progressives" appear to disagree with. I have always supported anybody under the Dem label from whatever end of the spectrum, up to the edge of the Conservative "Democrats." I voted for McGOVERN while KNOWING he wouldn't give me what *I* wanted, which was the utter defeat of NIXON.

I tried gettomg along with the NADIRites during Campaign 2000 and got told by them to fuck off. I still didn't say THAT to them, but afterwards have called them "NADIRites" and otherwise put a pox on them.

That said, I am, in my very old age, getting thoroughly tired of hearing "cafeteria" types, otherwise known as "fair weather friends," griping their asses off and threatening to vote 3rd party or sit out elections or otherwise vote actively against Dems.

Just thought I'd say so.

[alberg]

6. The term "teabagger" itself is a right wing frame

designed to co-opt the very real dissatisfaction of American Citizens with their government and make it appear that this dissatisfaction is actually support for their elitist plan to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a small minority. To the extent that Democratic politicians play along with this they are cullpable. We need to focus on principles and not be distracted from our goals by labels and MSM manipulation. I can tell a duck by the way it walks and quacks - calling it a horse doesn't change what it is.

Appreciate you responding to my post.