Are you afraid of this administration?

[msgadget]

[Kahuna]

1. I am very afraid. They will do what all repuke administrations have done

during my lifetime. They want to divide and conquer. Whether it be by race, socio economic, religion or sexual orientation. In *'s case, it's all of the above. He could start a civil war. It may not come during his administration. But if the repukes keep control, and it's hard to imagine that they won't (thanks, Ralph Nader! - Not!), things could get very ugly.

If you've watched them during the past 20 years, you can see that by sewing division, they wreck havoc on the populace by inacting legislation, under the radar that is regressive to all middle class Americans.

For anyone who thinks there's no difference between the repubs and dems, I can tell you, having been born pre civil rights movement era, you're wrong. And a lot of repukes seem to want to move American culture to pre civil rights era norms.

[msgadget]

2. So, you can still see a difference

between the two parties? Is there a particular person (Wes Clark, maybe?) who currently represents Democratic ideals?

[Kahuna]

3. Of course Clark espouses the Democratic ideals I hold dear..

for the most part. But so do most Democrats. When it comes to elections, the individual running is only a representative of the party platform. The party platform is what I vote for in November. People who say they vote "for the individual" haven't a clue. You don't vote for the "individual." The individual represents the party's ideals. When a person cast a vote it is for the party's ideals. The individual is merely a spokesperson.

[msgadget]

4. Okay, I get that,

but (and I'm not asking a rhetorical question or starting a debate, trust me, I'm just way too curious for my own good) what was the clear party platform you saw during this presidential campaign?

[Kahuna]

5. I understand your question. I don't think that the party went out..

of its way to articulate its general platform. Generally, the Democrats stand for enforcement of civil/equal rights for American citizens. Generally Democrats believe in a safety net for citizens who are experiencing hard times, or who are economically disadvantaged. Generally, they believe in social programs to help uplift under-educated and under-employed citizens. Generally they don't believe in state sponsored discrimination. Generally, they don't believe in using government agencies to persecute private citizens because of the personal behaviours and beliefs. Generally they believe that by lifting up the least among us, the rest of us are lifted up also.

I do believe that the Democrats are taking all voters for granted when they fail to openly announce their support for the above positions, for fear that the bigoted Republicans will use their words to sew dissent. The Democrats know full well how the Republicans use "civil rights" to sew division. Which is totally ridiculous because "civil rights" don't apply just to black folks. Civil rights apply to all Americans. But somehow, a lot of white Americans take their civil rights for granted (they shouldn't). And they associate the term with "special rights" for blacks.

Democrats do a very poor job of educating Americans on where they stand. That's why we lose. Clinton was a great communicator. He knew how to explain these things to white people in terms that they could respect and understand. And in terms that if they didn't agree they would be shamed. Clinton knew how to shame bigots.

[msgadget]

6. That's what I thought this year too, Kahuna.

And, you know, with the other so blindly loyal and fervently victorious, being as steadfast might be the only way to regain a majority. The responsibility to advance Democratic ideals falls on us individually until candidates wake up because I haven't seen any indication that business will be conducted other than usual.

Voters like you can save the Democratic party, which I hope will come to deserve the support again.

[Karenina]

7. They do NOT care

and will kill anyone in their path assuming impunity.

[msgadget]

8. Who doesn't care?

This administration or pols in general?

[Swamp Rat]

9. The worst is yet to come... n/t

:(

[Huckebein the Raven]

10. Yes indeed

:scared: :scared: