Thursday, March 08, 2007

Let's Commit Suicide So the Rightwing Can't Kill Us

I'd been thinking about writing something about the difference between being a Democrat or a Republican so I'm going to give it a shot.

It's the difference between being for things or against things.

Democrats are for things. We're for equal rights and equal opportunity. We're for everyone having at least their basic human needs met. We're for trying to talk things out instead of using force as our first option and most of all we are for people. All people, even the ones we don't like much.

Being a Republican is about being against things. Against having to pay your share, against providing for the less fortunate, against equal treatment for all people and certainly against allowing people to make their own choices and decide what is best for themselves.

At least that was how it stood.

I'm beginning to wonder. I've been a Democrat all of my life and for sure I'm not about to turn into a Republican but at the rate things are going I may be left with no party at all.

Lately it seems like both parties aren't about anything but being against things. It's looking like we're going to tear each other to shreds while our opponents march right over us one more time. You'd think we'd have learned by now.

Blue Lyon just said adios to MoveOn.org now that they've declared war on the Nevada Democratic party. I've already said my two cents worth about the whole Fox news debate, I'm pretty much done with it and don't care much one way or the other who winds up airing the debate or even if it gets aired at all. I do have a few words for MoveOn.org though: exactly who in the hell do you suppose is going to be your voter base in Nevada if you continue waging your little war on the state party? Wild burros or jackrabbits?

Whatever, wage your little war and maybe win a battle just don't act surprised if you lose the war.

11 comments:

Flimsy Sanity said...

I think the difference is that theoretically the R's want no interference in business practices and control of our personal lives and the D's want control of business practices (consumer rights) and no interference in our sex lives. Actually politicians on both sides just want money and power and they suck up to those who have both - which is not joe blow voter.

Frederick said...

"I’ve always thought the American eagle needed a left wing and a right wing. The right wing would see to it that economic interests had their legitimate concerns addressed. The left wing would see to it that ordinary people were included in the bargain. And both would keep the great bird on course. But with two right wings or two left wings, it’s no longer an eagle, and it’s going to crash." - Bill Moyers

Featheriver said...

I like your "for" and "against" analysis of the Democratic and Republican Partys.

I also agree with the indication that the partys have, in many ways, become indistinguishable from each other.

But I have something of a different view of the whole thing. I think the reason why the partys are more alike than not is because of the leadership of the Democratic Party. Those people elected to the federal offices somehow lose their bearings once they arrive in Washington D.C. They seem to get infected with their self-importance and greed for power and money.

But, to me, the real Democratic Party is not the leadership--it's the rank and file Democrats, who, I believe still hold to those "for people" concepts. At least I hope so.

One good thing--I think--about the entire FOX hassle, is that the leadership of the Nevada Democratic Party demonstrated, with Tom Collins' email yesterday, that they heard and are reacting to the tidal wave of criticism they got from rank and file Democrats.

There is nothing worse, to me, as a rank and file Democrat, than being ignored.

Perhaps this episode was something of a wake-up call to the Nevada Democratic Partys' leaders. That is that they cannot, with impunity, ignore the rank and file members.

There are indications that they have done so in the past. But it is imperative they understand that they cannot be leaders unless they have someone to lead. Their power and authority is derived from the rank and file membership.

But there is a responsibility upon the rank and file members too. They must take an active intelligent interest in the state Party else it dissolves into impotency. Those rank and file members that have and are voicing their dismay over the partnering with FOX News are, at least, being active.

So, whatever I may personally think of the FOX matter, it is, I believe, a good thing that the rank and file is exercising their power.

In the end, though, if the Presidential candidates boycott the FOX event, it's a dead issue. In a way they have the final "vote."

cls said...

Here's the deal, the MoveOn call for the calls went out AFTER Tom Collins' letter went out yesterday outlining the things they were doing to address activists' concerns. Their "take no prisoners" tactics is what finally finished me off.

Not Your Mama said...

Featheriver: mostly agree, I am simply disappointed that issues such as this one, which do not impact peoples lives in any major way are the ones that seem to stir us up.

Cls: I caught that. I also heard/read far too many comments to the effect that "we don't care what you say or do, we're going to go after you anyway just to prove our power".

That's a pretty good indication of a person or organization that is more concerned with maintaining and strengthening it's own power base than with doing any sort of service for the people it claims to represent.

Not Your Mama said...

Flimsy Sanity: sadly while I cannot say enough negative things about the repubs I have to acknowledge that some in my own party have taken "reasonable protections and safeguards" to mean "let's crush our economy with a stranglehold grip" and frankly, after 20 years in CA I can honestly say they do not attempt to interfere in personal lives any less than the repubs, just in a different fashion.

I'm close to entirely fed up with all of them and unlike some of the "big time" bloggers, I'm not a professional writer, a power player or a political insider. I'm just a very ordinary citizen who lives in the very real and ordinary world where many, many voters are sick of them as well.

Bob King said...

I just got mailed the first "push poll" of the season by democrats. And I'm not even a registered Democrat, I'm on the rolls as a Libertarian.

Or in other language, "it's none of your business who gets my vote."

I will admit to having voted a straight "not republican" ticket. I figured that anyone still willing to run as a Republican was either obviously corrupt, or hoping to be corrupted.

But that ain't the same as approving of Democrats - especially the Republican's Second Favorite Democrat, Harry Reid.

I doubt I'll be voting for him come '08. An impeachment trial MIGHT change my thinking.

TomCat said...

I changed my registration from Independent to Democrat in 2004, because I hoped I could add my voice to the more progressive elements of the Democratic party, and because the most progress element of the Republican party are the neofacists. I don't approve of all Democrats. Look at Jefferson and LieberBush.

As for for and against, I'm for people. I'm against Bush.

Just My Thoughts said...

Move-on is a PAC. They have a vested interest in keeping the organization alive. It would mean they would loose the soft ass jobs they now enjoy and would actually have to get a fucking job. God help them...it's the shits when your ranting and raving doesn't mean a thing anymore.
But, to keep their soft ass seats and get paid to screw with people they seem to know no bounds. Even if it is screwing with the very people who might agree with some of the agenda.
One word covers these kind of people...Fuck-Tards. Or maybe paid lackeys..It's all the same to me. There are just people out there who will do ANYTHING for a dollar.

Blogger said...

We want to join you and Blue Lyon in saying kiss off to MoveOn.org. Somehow they broke into Nevada party headquarters and pushed the self destruct button. Nothing will satisfy them. They win, and Democrats lose. All they are left with are the jackrabbits, as you say.
The wild burros won't follow them, they know a jackass when they see one.

Not Your Mama said...

Somehow they broke into Nevada party headquarters and pushed the self destruct button

I hope you mean that figuratively but the way things are going I have to ask.