Can The Democratic Party Offer a Political Alternative for the Blue Collar

[The Whiskey Priest]

If so, then what are the points of the argument for that alternative?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[The Whiskey Priest]

3. I must ask, is that truly how you view the blue collar working class?

as "a beer drinking, white trash red neck?" I think that the party should not expect a mad rush of support from the blue collar.

[ixion]

11. no, it's not

I'm not from the wealthy, east coast elite. I'm from the midwest middle class.

I was being flip. ;-)

[QC]

6. Gee, I wonder where people could possibly get the impression

that liberals/Democrats look down on "regular folks."

That's one of the most effective pieces of propaganda that the Republicans have thrown at us all these years and yet a lot of people here seem to do everything they can to validate it. Dumb.

[ixion]

10. okay, should have added the 'sarcasm' icon

sorry.

No, that is NOT how I view the blue collar class at all. I was joking.

[Deja Q]

2. For a start, find the ones who

voted NAY on bankruptcy "reform" bill.

[Skidmore]

4. Sure they can, if they have the will to do so.

That is why there needs to be a renewed and organized labor, women's, and civil rights movement now. People must quit looking to "leardership" for direction and become leaders themselves. We have created a society in which only the wealthy can become political leaders. We need to join our resources and put forward our own leaders and define the agenda. Forget the existing power structure--it is corrupt.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. They should start listening to what blue collars want and what their...

concerns, issues, hopes and fears are. And stop listening to the corporate masters who provide handsome campaign contributions.

[QC]

7. Wow! Listening to constituents! What a concept! n/t

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. Innovative, isn't it?

Job security, access to affordable healthcare, the ability to raise their families and live their lives without fear of financial ruin in old age, to name a few.....

[sugapablo]

8. Hmmm...

[blindpig]

12. trade&jobs

The Democratic party has effectively abandoned the working class. This nonsense about the inevitability of world trade, as defined and practiced by the multinationals, has left workers without their primary reason for supporting the party. Economics is not physics, damn near everything is subject to varying definition and opinion. We could have and should have maintained our manufacturing base. The people were sold out. For that they got $30 DVD players. Same with health care. Seems like the only prominent Dem who really gives a shit is Dennis Kucinich, and he can gain no traction cause he"looks funny".

All of the rest is secondary, abortion, gay marriage, guns, all will take a back seat to good jobs and affordable health care. But the Democratic Party will not deliver because it is utterly corrupted by an upper class bent on class warfare.

[solinvictus]

13. A real labor party..

That's the only alternative, to start a genuine worker's party. I'm not talking about neo-Marxism, but a party that addresses the genuine economic and social concerns of workers: jobs, stagnant wages, unfair trade agreements, education/vocational training, and access to healthcare. The Democrats have too many traitors in their national leadership to effectively take up these issues. The bankruptcy bill, elimination of overtime pay, and tort "reform": these bills make it clear that the working class is not a priority in this country. Unfortunately, within the Democratic Party, there are many who consciously support cheap labor because they enjoy the cheap commodities and goods that are on the market.