This started out as a comment sort of in response to T-Clog on my most recent post, but got so long and off the original track that I feel it warrants its own post.
I may have sent out confusing messages in the past concerning my political leanings. Having voted nearly straight Green Party in 2000, I have come back to the fold of the Democrats, based largely on a couple conclusions I have made:
1. Seeing the damage that a spoiler can play (e.g. Nader in 2000). Understand, if we move to an instant runoff election system, I'm probably back in there voting Green and other "third party" or independent candidates very often in the first round. THAT should be what Nader should be pushing for-the fact that he is focusing more efforts at being on the actual ticket, rather than reforming the election process itself has got me thinking he most be either certifiably insane, or simply not the same man he used to be.
2. A recent philisophical realization (based on a position taken by a reformist Priest, Matthew Fox, that you can affect change on an organization more effectively from within, rather than if you quit). And I think it is a very, very powerful idea. Kind of what I was saying recently to T-Clog concerning his religion. It may well be that his calling is to be a credit to his religion-to challenge, where necessary, and reform. Stuff he would not be able to do as effectively if he renounced it over things he found irreconcilable with his personal beliefs.
Anyway, in response to comments in my last post (and this is also directed to Independent Aaron) I will absolutely agree that any political party is prone to corruption and human failings to which any organization is prone when it gets large and/or powerful enough. I think there was a lot of less-than-desirable crap going on in the Democratic party when they were the dominant party in Congress in the early 90s.
That said, I don't buy the "both parties are the same" thing purported by many independents and the Green Party folks. A quote from a "conservative" website going after liberalism in public education pretty such sums up the stance of the Republican party at large these days:
"...(sustainability) assumes we're burning too much fossil fuel, we're not eating healthy foods, we're not respecting workers' rights, we're wasteful, and we're spoiling the environment. Those are serious and controversial charges against our culture."
Anyone who considers those charges controversial is either in denial or a total bastard or both. And that is the reality of the Republican party in 2005. It is the party of instant gratification, judgment of others, and selfishness. Whether or not you always like the cast of characters and machinations of the establishment, the DFL is the party of the little guy and of freedom. I honestly don't see how a thinking man cannot see this.
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8 comments:
Dirty rotten mother fuckers!
Just needed to get that off my chest.
How can you change it without billions of dollars and influence? One man at a time is great, but you will expire before it really gets anywhere. If you were to do it full time and to quit yopu job to pursue it, then your in a pickle. I would give myself a Democrat title, but I don't agree on all accounts. There are one or two things that keep me from doing it. Why not develop an Independant Party that is 98% democratic and 2% republican? I here what you are saying, but I still want to vote my way and not have to vote another just because my party wants me to, or expects me to. UI am a little confused to who the mother fuckers are? Are they the Republicans or the Independents?
I'm cerain that Dan and I would not vote for someone simply because they have a D after their name. I'd vote for a moderate Republican if the situation made sense.
The rules are stacked against an Independent party, now more than ever. I can vote for whomever I want based on their views. The party system that we have controls the mechanisms of our government. A third party wouldn't improve that since it would erode more people from the Democratic party than from the Republican party, thereby giving more power to assholes.
I voted for John McCain in the 2000 MA Republican primary, in an attempt to derail W. I knew W was bad then, and he has exceeded my fears and expectations.
If we stop believing that one person caring makes a difference, then you might as well not vote at all. Or not contribute $50 for hurricane relief, or whatever.
I used to have that "new party 98% democratic and 2% republican" argument with respect to church. I thought that your views determined your religion (not vice versa) and therefore, by definition, if you didn't subscribe to 100% of the views of your church, then you were technically in a different religion.
I don't believe that anymore-for reasons of that "more power to change from within" argument. Same thing applies to what it means to mean an American. There's a lot of Republicans that are claiming that to criticize anything about our country is to be a traitor. On the contrary, only by people caring enough and being proud enough to be Americans to hold our government accountable, will we be able to live out the original vision of our founding fathers-a government by and for the people.
I think my politics would generally be considered to be to the extreme left-however, you might be surprised to hear some of my thoughts regarding abortion and even censorship. But my conclusion is that there's far too much at stake with respect to the condition of our country & world to break from a group that represents peoples' best interests more often than not.
Jesus may not have been pro-abortion, but he was without a doubt a progressive and a liberal in the truest sense of the words.
I completley understand your point of view. It is an honorable fight to change it from the outside, however, one man on a part time basis will not turn the tide. I am not saying that I have the answers. I am just stating that I would rather be an Independent that votes democratic and argues for a couple republican positions. I think that you are awesome for going door to door for JK. The best thing about GW is that he won't be president next time. Still want to know who the Mfuckers are. :)
Mixxy's "Mfuckers" were the Repubs. It's tough to vote on individual positions, unless there's a referendum (which is no longer representative government).
I thik a lot of our banter is because of symantics. We are closer thatn these blogs might indicate. I lay down my political sword to embrace my brothers in the good fight.
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