General Discussion

ihaveaquestion

(3,209 posts) Tue May 2, 2017, 07:37 AM May 2017

Why should I be a Democrat? [View all]

This is a serious question for Democrats on DU...

Why should I stay with the Democratic Party which I believe has moved to the center-right?

My politics are pretty far left and I support single-payer heathcare, LGBTQ rights, unions, progressive taxation, robust public education including free college for all, justice system and prison reform, women's rights... etc. I have even occasionally found myself to the left of Bernie Sanders.

I used to be a participating member of the Democratic party, I stumped for John Kerry and Barack Obama and I used to donate to the DNC. I have become seriously disillusioned with the party over the years (starting with Bill Clinton for welfare reform and repeal of Glass Steagall) and changed my party affiliation to "no party" at one point.

I re-registered as a democrat in Florida just to vote for Bernie in the primary last year.

I'm not trying to start an argument with anyone... I really want to hear why this party should be supported. Convince me please.

117 replies

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Highlight:

Why should I be a Democrat? [View all] ihaveaquestion May 2017 OP

You have to live your life JustAnotherGen May 2017 #1

Voting for progressive taxation is not voting against your "financial interests" unless... hunter May 2017 #37

Ahhh JustAnotherGen May 2017 #57

I don't understand your reply. hunter May 2017 #79

So you can be a DU member, silly. n/t tazkcmo May 2017 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author heaven05 May 2017 #15

Post removed Post removed May 2017 #3

I thought JustAnotherGen May 2017 #4

Post removed Post removed May 2017 #8

You don't have to be a member of the Democratic party to support Democrats. seaglass May 2017 #5

+1000 (nt) ehrnst May 2017 #67

Gee, I noticed that you said you didn't vote for Hillary. If you have to ask this question, then still_one May 2017 #6

Voting for Hillary in the GE is a requirement for membership at this website. It would be SHOCKING seaglass May 2017 #9

Really, and you aren't shocked by an OP essentially saying there is no difference between still_one May 2017 #11

still_one - I was being sarcastic - I know of two DU posters who wrote in Bernie in the GE. They seaglass May 2017 #12

sorry. I can understand someone being against the direction of the party, but not recognizing the still_one May 2017 #13

Agreed. Makes no sense at all. This is not the way to have a conversation about Democratic party seaglass May 2017 #16

Agreed as well Justice May 2017 #72

I think I know who you're talking about but they live in solid blue states Arazi May 2017 #43

I have no idea if we are talking about the same people. I do not believe there has been any seaglass May 2017 #80

They didn't make a mistake. Not at all imo Arazi May 2017 #92

The OP voted for Hillary in the GE, so in the end s/he did the right thing and as far as I'm seaglass May 2017 #106

Nah, they.live in states that went for Hillary by 20+ points Arazi May 2017 #108

You entice them. I'm not interested in unreliable allies. We are not going to agree on this seaglass May 2017 #111

I think you missed the word "primary". Barack_America May 2017 #10

Didn't know it was a requirement - but yes, I did vote for Hillary ihaveaquestion May 2017 #31

It is the Putin talking point that works the best "both parties are the same" Eliot Rosewater May 2017 #102

No this is not a serious question. betsuni May 2017 #7

Repeal of Glass-Steegall ihaveaquestion May 2017 #32

You mean Glass-Steagall? betsuni May 2017 #44

I'm sure that's what was meant. Why the ridicule over spelling? KPN May 2017 #91

Not even Elizabeth Warren would agree with you. JHan May 2017 #62

I call Bull.. Your premise is false. Cha May 2017 #14

I disagree TNLib May 2017 #17

The ACA, while it does some good, is FAR from progressive. Kirkwood May 2017 #113

I have a question, are you going to respond to anybody? snooper2 May 2017 #18

Good question Cha May 2017 #19

perhaps the OP needs to be "convinced" still_one May 2017 #21

soon enough for you - was driving to work if you must know ihaveaquestion May 2017 #30

Why didn't Bernie run against Bill for President? R B Garr May 2017 #20

Neither welfare reform or repeal of Glass-Steegall was necessary for economic recovery ihaveaquestion May 2017 #39

You make good points. I and others here agree with you. KPN May 2017 #94

Answer this: R B Garr May 2017 #98

Yeah, 'cause the purity shit based on LIES got us Cha May 2017 #61

+1, looking at the narrow focus of the critique R B Garr May 2017 #99

What would being active in any party to the left of the Democrats gain you? muriel_volestrangler May 2017 #22

Thank You for the serious answer ihaveaquestion May 2017 #40

If you support Unions, then you have your answer.... Adrahil May 2017 #23

Sorry, but I've seen only lackluster support of unions by democrats in office ihaveaquestion May 2017 #33

You didn't read what I wrote, didya? NT Adrahil May 2017 #60

I did, but you didn't address joining the dem party. ihaveaquestion May 2017 #82

I apparently have to spell it out.... Adrahil May 2017 #96

How many of your statements start out with "I?" Starry Messenger May 2017 #24

Party Support takes many forms... each stems from a different need/motivation.. MedusaX May 2017 #25

Thank You for your thoughtful response! ihaveaquestion May 2017 #36

So are you happy that trump won? Gothmog May 2017 #26

I voted for Hillary ihaveaquestion May 2017 #34

Go form a new party and guarantee that Trump is re-elected and we lose the SCOTUS for generation Gothmog May 2017 #38

".. moved to the center right.." You obviously haven't been Cha May 2017 #27

Exactly correct. Justice May 2017 #75

You shouldn't. Orsino May 2017 #28

If you oppose Trump, you choose the only option to replace him with somebody much better. Doodley May 2017 #29

of course! ihaveaquestion May 2017 #35

The party isn't perfect by any means Proud Liberal Dem May 2017 #41

I do prefer Hillary - I voted for her. ihaveaquestion May 2017 #48

I'm not exactly sure I understand Proud Liberal Dem May 2017 #54

be whatever it is you want to be JI7 May 2017 #42

You shouldn't if you don't like it ismnotwasm May 2017 #45

I get your point 100% and would answer that Bernie Sanders has shown a path forward Arazi May 2017 #46

It's been bad around here lately and I've asked myself the same question Warpy May 2017 #47

... betsuni May 2017 #52

.. Cha May 2017 #56

"I'm going to stay here and be an irritant" LOL betsuni May 2017 #58

Oh really.. I couldn't have guessed. Cha May 2017 #59

Thanks for the best reason I've seen - to be spiteful and irritating - love it! ihaveaquestion May 2017 #55

It actually goes against my inclination to be that way Warpy May 2017 #71

Fight the Republicans first treestar May 2017 #78

"spiteful and irritating". Well, well. Apparently Bush R B Garr May 2017 #105

So you are sticking with the party out of pure spite brer cat May 2017 #64

Right. Cha May 2017 #65

Have you missed the level of trolling here over the past months? Warpy May 2017 #70

If the level of trolling on an internet message board brer cat May 2017 #81

There's enough to make me want to irritate the trolls Warpy May 2017 #85

I read your post. brer cat May 2017 #87

DU isn't the Democratic Party ismnotwasm May 2017 #74

I know you were not specifically speaking to me, but thank you for this post, Warpy. PotatoChip May 2017 #114

You have two choices... brooklynite May 2017 #49

You are just avoiding backing a choice, the GOP doesn't not believe in a helping government, CK_John May 2017 #50

LOL BannonsLiver May 2017 #51

As long as the huge majority of elections are binary MineralMan May 2017 #53

Agreed Justice May 2017 #73

Best answer yet ismnotwasm May 2017 #77

that any Democrat needs to ask this question means detractors have been very successful. JHan May 2017 #63

Outstanding, JHan! brer cat May 2017 #68

Dayum! ismnotwasm May 2017 #84

I am about where you are as far as that far left treestar May 2017 #66

You don't need to be. You'll likely vote for Democrats anyway if you are progressive and pragmatic. ehrnst May 2017 #69

I don't care if you're a Dem, as long as you vote that way. Iggo May 2017 #76

Simple Afromania May 2017 #83

You are aware that you're posting on DEMOCRATIC Underground? NastyRiffraff May 2017 #86

I ask myself the same question. Lunabell May 2017 #88

Here is my answer. And no, I don't agree with every bit of it. NCTraveler May 2017 #89

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2017 #107

Don't be one then! kimbutgar May 2017 #90

Let me ask a question of you GulfCoast66 May 2017 #93

Fair points all... ihaveaquestion May 2017 #95

The O.P. Shouldn't be a Democrat Locutusofborg May 2017 #109

It's not my job to talk you into it... Blue_Tires May 2017 #97

+1, mind was totally made up--hence the narrow focus R B Garr May 2017 #100

It's the only game in town. Scruffy1 May 2017 #101

"Center-right"? LUL fail..... stonecutter357 May 2017 #103

Post removed Post removed May 2017 #104

Almost all good good policy in the last 50-100 years is thanks to the Democratic Party. DanTex May 2017 #110

I love being a Democrat...n/t asuhornets May 2017 #112

Most of us get that we're only going to get 80% -90% of what we support covered and we live with bettyellen May 2017 #115

Because the Democrats, flawed as they are, operate in a greater Reality. haele May 2017 #116

It's your choice MyNameGoesHere May 2017 #117