Your alignment with the Democratic Party, today, is . . . .

[Stinky The Clown]

Poll question: Your alignment with the Democratic Party, today, is . . . .

Inspired by this current DU Thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x126657 . . . . . . .

Your alignment with the Democratic Party, today, is . . . .

[EFerrari]

1. The real question is how aligned is leadership with our platform?

I haven't changed my mind. :shrug:

For more than 200 years, Democrats have represented the interests of working families, fighting for equal opportunities and justice for all Americans.

Our party was founded on the conviction that wealth and privilege shouldn’t be an entitlement to rule and the belief that the values of hardworking families are the values that should guide us.

We didn’t become the most prosperous country in the world by rewarding greed and recklessness or by letting those with the most influence write their own rules. We got here by rewarding hard work and responsibility, by investing in people, and by growing our country from the bottom up.

http://www.democrats.org/about/our_party

[upi402]

6. That mission statement

makes me nostalgic for the old days.
Seems ridiculous now, but it's where I am still at.

[EFerrari]

9. It sounds like it was written by some pinko with the values of

Bobby Kennedy.

[Forkboy]

35. back in '86, the Dem platform was major reason why they attracted me so much.

They seemed to genuinely care about the little guy. Not anymore.

[Myrina]

12. +100

:patriot:

[Lucky 13]

15. If we DEMAND our leadership align with the platform...

... we are sanctimonious purists.

The platform is either false advertising or it will need to be changed soon.


But here's the DU dilemma:
Do they boot people for stating that they will not vote for Democrats?
OR
Do they boot people for stating that they do not support the democratic platform?

... because those two things are fast becoming mutually exclusive.

What does it mean to be a "democrat" anymore? If our leadership and our platform do not bear any resemblance of one another, how can ANYONE be deemed a "democrat" or a "non-democrat". Who is more "democratic"? Those who vote for the platform? Or those who vote for the wolf in sheep's clothing?

[Capitalocracy]

17. Tombstone them all and let God sort them out? nt

[EFerrari]

18. That is the dilemma, isn't it? n/t

[mmonk]

31. then how about aligning closer to our platform than the other one?

[derby378]

36. There are still anti-Second Amendment provisions in the platform, too

Enforce those provisions of the platform, and say goodbye to the House and the Senate in 2012.

[Lucky 13]

41. If winning elections is more important than our platform...

Then toss out the whole damn platform. Start over. Write a platform that will keep Dems winning elections.

At least that would be more honest than the charade being perpetrated upon us now.

[lonestarnot]

42. excellent point.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. It's been tenuous since LBJ and is getting more so.

[Capitalocracy]

3. The party is still us.

Whether the so-called "leadership" realize it or not.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Well, only the "leadership" get to influence the laws and economy of the nation

We can "be the party" all we want, but can we fix anything?

[Capitalocracy]

10. Theoretically we can change them.

Failing that, lack of support among the party base will inevitably (without advocating anything) lead to them losing that power of influence over laws and policy.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. Theoretically they work for us.

But we've seen that they don't.

Failing that, the other party gets power and that doesn't solve any problems either.

[Capitalocracy]

16. And that's the reality of the situation, none of our problems get solved

until we change our party leadership. Time to get active.

Or change our agenda to match the Republicans', and pretend we're happy when it gets passed.

[FiveGoodMen]

19. Not trying to be argumentative here, but

What choice do you or I have regarding the Dem leadership?

[Capitalocracy]

20. We have the final stamp of approval for their very existence.

As long as we're organized... or if they just mess up so bad everyone gets fed up individually

[mod mom]

22. So was it "us" who undermined progressives in the primary?

Just wondering.

[Capitalocracy]

23. See, it depends on how you define political party.

If you define political party as the organization that controls the money, then no, it wasn't us. But theoretically, the concept of "political party" means a group of people with some common political ideals. That would be us, making them the party "leadership" or whatever term you prefer to use for them.

[BonnieJW]

5. At this point,

I would be willing to listen to what a third party has to say.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. stronger than it was pre-Bush

[Renew Deal]

8. Good number of "Reagan Democrats" voting in this poll.

:shrug:

[Toucano]

32. 'Reagan Democrats' or 'Obama Democrats'?

Is there a difference?

Certainly there aren't many FDR Democrats left on DU.

[Mojeoux]

13. My allignment with the Democrats is the same: with a grain of salt.

I was 18 the year the Democratic Convention in Chicago when the cops attacked the Anti-War demonstrators with brutal force. I'll never forget. They attacked and bloodied random people completely uninvolved with the demonstration.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. The same. Is there a realistic alternative?

It's a choice between "far right" and "middle-right"

There is no viable leftist party.

:hi:

[Toucano]

29. Isn't 'independence' a viable alternative?

That's who the national party seems to believe matters most: people who are either too confused or lazy to affiliate themselves with any solid principles; people who blow the way the 24 second news cycle directs them; people who don't participate in the 'grassroots'.

[Fire1]

21. Certainly less than it used to be. The tent is too big. n/t

[damntexdem]

24. The real question is how aligned the Democratic Party is with ...

me,
us,
Democrats,
the American electorate,
the American people.

I don't see much evidence that it is well-aligned with any of those.

[drmeow]

25. The Democratic Party

has never really aligned with my beliefs in my adult lifetime. I was always a reluctant Democrat because the Democratic party has never been far enough to the left to make me happy.

[WillyT]

26. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Toucano]

27. ...rapidly approaching ZERO.

There are some fine personalities in the Democratic Party, but it's not going to be enough to maintain my affiliation.

[xiamiam]

28. surprising poll answers..nt

[Erose999]

30. Probably ending soon. Dang Woodchucks... chuckin' all my wood.

[Stinky The Clown]

33. Help me out . . . . what side are the woodchucks on?

:shrug:

[Erose999]

40. Chuckles the Sensible Woodchuck is the spokesperson for the DLC.

[Stinky The Clown]

44. Ah geeeze . . . . I thought he was a chipmunk.

What is the significance of a woodchuck?

[Forkboy]

34. Shaky.

[Autumn]

37. I was always a yellow dog Democrat,

but not anymore. I will no longer vote for a politician because they "run" as a Democrat. Not going to do it.

[eridani]

38. I'm very aligned with the WA State Dem platform

I only wish more of our elected officials were.

[old mark]

39. A tiny bit stronger-I am cautiously optimistic that they are getting better

with fewer Blue Dogs...


mark

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

43. I was far more aligned when I was less informed

That's why certain institutions prefer their followers ignorant, and I'm not only speaking of the Republican Party.

[Iggo]

45. Same as it ever was.

Well, except for that one time in '80.

MisTAKE!

[JoePhilly]

46. Looks like some folks need to start a 3rd party.

I mean, if your connection to the Democratic Party is so damaged, then maybe you should start a new party that reflects your views.