Why should I be a Democrat?

[JHan]

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

I am going to take your question on good faith and assume you're not baiting.

If you believe social institutions are key in solving problems, be democrat. It's because of this focus affordable healthcare, social safety net, good schools and environmental protections are concerns for democrats. We believe Government can do good, we believe the system can produce good outcomes.

There are two entities that wield power in our lives - governments and corporations. Too little government interference result in corporate hegemony, not Liberty as libertarians falsely claim, and too much government results in heavy-handed bureaucracy. Democrats have typically sought to find a balance, recognizing the importance of enterprise to create wealth and the importance of a social dividend to invest that wealth back in the commons and the social safety net, which conservatives snidely dismiss as "redistributing wealth".

To understand how Democrats approach problem-solving requires understanding the philosophy behind Democratic policy. Democrats typically identify the social problem, what the priorities are on that front, and seek to address those problems through social justice advocacy and legislation. The aim is to create a more compassionate society.

And we do have to ask what the republicans stand for. There is nothing wrong with contrasting ourselves with republicans because their approach to problem-solving is radically different.

Republicans typically believe that the market will solve everything while taxes and regulations are seen as intrusions. Any benefits observed in society is attributed to the market or "the Invisible Hand". Anything that cannot be solved by the market, should not be interfered with by Government and must remain a problem until the market fixes it. They do not believe it is morally right for the state to interject itself in affairs for the sake of service to citizens. Edit* Then you have your christian theocratic Republicans who will use government when it suits them to push their agenda.

You voted for Kerry and Obama, and yet you are asking this in 2017 after a year where we had the most progressive platform in ages.

Alrighty then.