Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Democrats shoot themselves in the foot all the time.
One cannot be progressive and mock people who have different views simultaneously.
If you're progressive you're progressive. You accept all views to advance society forward.
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I'm going to mock this view: you accept "all views?" Not all views are equal - facts remain facts, much to Republicans' chagrin - and those mean, mocking progressives are hardly the major problem facing modern society.
I do think the fracturing of the Democratic party is an issue. There is a white, liberal elite setting the mainstream agenda, and I agree with Cliff and Nyah above that there is an undercurrent of elitism and NIMBYism that flows through much of current Democratic discourse. And my own, truth be told.
My major problem with a focus on it - however - is what is the alternative? The Republicans have become a dangerous neo-fascist party. They
cheat. If the other side isn't playing by the rulebook, the first thing to do is to focus on re-establishing some rules. I can recognize that Russian influence on the election had far less of an effect than say, Citizen's United, but they're part and parcel, and I believe foreign meddling offers an opportunity for cohesion that the Democratic party needs to prevent the power grabs of Republicans.
What is the end goal of pointing out that the Democratic party doesn't represent workers anymore? Or that the liberal elites don't see eye-to-eye with minority voters? Or that Bernie is too far left for the suburbanites? It's just reinforcing divisions, fracturing a broad tent - somewhat ironically for those who decry "identity politics." That's why right-wing media are very happy to point out that Betty in midtown Manhattan doesn't represent the same viewpoint as Juan in the Bronx.
There is no easy way for a massive country to align classes, races, cultures, educations, and experiences under the tent of the Democratic Party. But, it's a two-party system, and one party is throwing out the democratic rulebook. Mostly because
demographics are not on their side.
It's always going to be an uneasy truce in the Democratic Party. It's a huge mess of divergent viewpoints and competing interests. Whichever candidate emerges from the fray will need to attract and entice a huge swath of very different people to vote for them. To me, that means attacking the Republicans and what they've become. Worry about internal division once the rules have been agreed upon once more.