So, answer this in your own words, WHY ARE WE RIGHT?

[MrScorpio]

It's a simple exercise.

Rather than assuming that you're right, by building one's position on rhetorical unstable clay, or via a singular source of misrepresented ancient manuscript, present some quantifiable and empirical evidence which supports your position in a way that reflects the strength of your approach.

Quite appropriately, your position should stand the test of time, be it well documented human behavior throughout human history as well as its appropriateness and applicability in the modern era.

You may use any number of methods to support your position, including those from philosophical, sociological, scientific and spiritual sources.

Examine your convictions and share them with us.

I suggest that we practice non attribution, as each of us have our own unique perspectives to protect and/or share.

So, again I ask, WHY ARE WE RIGHT?

[Burma Jones]

1. We may very well not be completely Right, but we sure aren't wrong.....

And our opponents have a long track record of dismal failure


and that's more than good enough for me.

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

2. Because ours is the way closest to the nation's founding principles.

Ours is the way of democracy. Theirs is the way of authoritarianism. Ours is the way of " e pluribus unum"...of diversity...from many, one. Theirs is the way of uniformity. Ours is the way of freedom in the best sense of the word. Close enough?

[last1standing]

3. You want a dissertation on why we're right on every possible topic?

You couldn't cover that in 100 books, let alone in a forum entry.

How about I say that history has proved to be an excellent role model for what works for the betterment of society and what doesn't. The Democratic platform is generally on the right side of history.

[MrScorpio]

5. I was considering suggesting that answers be succint,

As, I'm not looking for exhaustive comprehensive dissertations


I just didn't want to inhibit any elaborative creativity in the answers.


However, your answer fits the criteria well without being ridiculously verbose.

[BeatleBoot]

4. Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Laissez-Faire Capitalism assumes men and women will act rationally.

Well, guess what?

They don't.

They act irrationally selfish (Lay, Kozlowski, Ebbers, Stockman, et al)

Therefore, we need regulation in the market. Certain industries more than others, but definitely some sort of oversight.

We are right because we have demanded regulation for the past 25 years of Reagonomics and now the right's chickens have come to roost - to everyone's demise.

We are right, they are wrong, and I would rather have a beer with any DU'er and discuss rather than type this.

Especially since I am smoking some chops right now and they need some attending.

[4 t 4]

8. I think you could say

we are right just even based on one thing alone, Pro Choice. I don't care what anybody says some pasty old white guy has no right to tell me what I can do with my body! How's that? - it's a start.

[chowder66]

6. Who says we are right?

When trying to acknowledge what is wrong (and hopefully offer solutions) we do not become right. If someone deems you right because they agree with you then I suppose in their eyes you could be right. It's a question I have been pondering recently and while my response may seem "lite" the question you pose is, as I am sure you well know....complicated.

[MrScorpio]

7. I'm looking for proof of results

Got any?

[4 t 4]

9. You want proof of results

how about the Clinton years? How was your wallet then?

[MrScorpio]

16. In case you haven't noticed, we're building a manifesto

No challenges to any of our beliefs are implied

[kimmerspixelated]

17. Right, except for that little Nafta thingy.

[chowder66]

24. More specific please.....

Proof of results for what?

It appears that benefiting for the good of many has been a fairly stable formula for progress as opposed to benefiting the few which causes instability and stagnation in some ways. However, while benefiting all would be preferable we just don't agree on everything.

In essence, it comes down to each person's understanding of the issues, research, personal interpretation and comprehension of the facts, histrionics and the documented or proven results (as you mentioned) of methods & practices that have achieved the goals of those who it is intended to benefit.

Also, there is the issue of "ideas"; ones that have not been tested or proven. With that said I think people are hungry for new ideas... something to possibly move us forward beyond the "stuck in the mud" issues. This is where belief, values, etc come into play but hopefully an educated opinion is based on both sides of the argument(s) using some variant of the method I mentioned above.

[chowder66]

26. Not histrionics....

History...got a little ahead of myself....

[MrScorpio]

28. Thanks for the clarification

You threw me a bit there

[chowder66]

30. Thanks for the challenge...

Doubt I got anywhere close. Oh well.

[Poseidan]

10. We are right...

Because they are wrong.

If by us vs. them, you mean D vs. R, the fact is, their way is a proven failure. Proven by history, religious government... political religion; a system of fantasy. They don't learn real lessons, through actual events. They prepare their lives for a fictional after-life. They thrive through placebo's.

We learn the reality of this world, of this universe, we learn the lessons, we remember the lessons, so future generations do not have to endlessly re-learn what has already been ascertained, halting evolution in its tracks, creating perpetual non-motion. We progress from one phase of evolution to the next, as per natural law.

[onethatcares]

11. because we care about all of us, not just those with money, not

just those with homes, cars, boats, 401ks, bank accounts and those other accountraments of society. We realize we are on this planet together, together we survive or together we die. Together we can overcome every obstacle, divided, we fail at accomplishing anything. We realize the togetherness of it.

Peace

[4 t 4]

13. That's another thing our party

is all about the little guy. That's enough right there!

[Duer 157099]

12. Right about what?

I'm game to play, but have to know what particular thing I'm supporting.

[MrScorpio]

15. Your beliefs

At least the ones that you find are shared with others

[notaboutus]

14. Because by every economic indicator

democrats govern the country better. Looking at their record on votes and legislation democrats hearts are in the right place.
For me personally they are the better example to the following question.
What Would Jesus Do?
They try not to judge others based on their beliefs. They care about the less fortunate, the elderly and most importantly children. They our concerned about the welfare of our country and others. They our a diverse group of all ethnic backgrounds. They at least try not to fight or place blame with the other party.

[Stump]

33. This is what led me to become a Democrat...

Instead of the "fuck you, I got mine" attitude of many Republicans I know.

[HughBeaumont]

18. We're the party of WE, not the party of ME.

We're the party of HEALTH, not the party of WEALTH.

We're the party of CARING, not the party of SCARING.

We're the party of NUMBERS, not the party of NUMBER ONE.

We're the party of STRENGTH THROUGH PEACE, not the party of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.

Economics, diplomacy, security, constitutional rights, human rights, labor rights . . . all areas where we've been stellar at championing throughout history while the Repukes want every privilege and advantage to go to the upper middle class and the wealthy. White males, specifically.

[SammyWinstonJack]

27. !

:thumbsup:

[kimmerspixelated]

19. You pose an interesting philosophical question, really.

One I often ask myself, not in a lazy sunday hammock kind of day way, but one asked with genuine presence.

We are more about the collective soul, mostly. What effects one effects all of us, and it has turned out to be so true.

Even condemning the greedy bastards to lifelong hell, hurts us in the long run. It's complicated but simple in a zen kind of way. Love each other as you love yourself.

We're the party of Peace and Love, mostly.

[deutsey]

21. You're right...it's an interesting (and excellent question)

You do a nice job of touching on my own response to the question.

If I find a moment to articulate my own rationale, I'd like to build on what you've said.

:thumbsup: to you and the the OP.

[kimmerspixelated]

31. By All means!

[NV Whino]

20. Because I'm the Mom and I say so.

Disclaimer: I'm not really a Mom... unless you count the cats. But I still say so.

[TygrBright]

22. Waitaminnit... Thought we were left? ...confuzzled... n/t

[Bandit]

23. Why was Jesus Right?

Is the Golden Rule right? We need to follow that rule as a nation and a people. Would Jesus bomb a hamlet killing women and children? Would Jesus support the wealthy? Probably a majority of Liberals will say they are not religious but would probably agree with most of what Jesus taught.. or Mohammad...It is all about how you treat people. Respect for all...Republicans know deep down they are superior and deserve better than most...That is why we are right....

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. Shortest answer

Remember what life was like in 1999?

Peace, prosperity, optimism.

[butterfly77]

29. Here's one way to look at or maybe two...

Mcain is living in 1929 and Obama is living in 2008. McCain is living and thinking 20th century and Obama is living and thinking in the 21st century.. And of course we are right because we and Obama are thinking about all of America not just some and its about ...


WE THE PEOPLE!WE THE PEOPLE!WE THE PEOPLE!WE THE PEOPLE!WE THE PEOPLE!

[ColbertWatcher]

32. Because we support education.

Democracy cannot survive without an educated populace.

Even if we're eventually found to be wrong, by supporting education, we can help improve on our mistakes.

We support education, therefore we're right.

[guitar man]

34. I don't know if my own words would ever suffice

But the best I've heard it put lately was in Michelle Obama's speech at the convention, when she talked about the way things are and the way things should be.

Probably the biggest head-butting arguments I've had with RW family and friends is when they come across with the old tired "that's just the way things are, tough shit, you can't change anything, stop whining and blah blah blah"

It takes vision to think we can change things and courage to try. I don't know if that makes us right, but I certainly hope it does.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

35. I've always thought it was more important to be...

...inclusive, i.e., a philosophical approach to government that addresses the needs of the many. Rs have the luxury of exclusivity, i.e., a philosophical approach to government that advances the aspirations of the very few.

I hope I found good company here :)

[Rocknrule]

36. Because...

We don't hate people for being of a different race, religion, political party, or sexual orientation
We don't want to control other people
We uphold the Constitution, not just the 2nd Amendment
We don't solve political disputes with violence
We don't use religion to excuse bigotry and violence
We acknowledge that Iraqis are people too
We don't want to force our beliefs on everyone else
Our political ideology doesn't revolve around hating everyone else

And, not to sound immature and freeper-like, but...

we're not a bunch of cross-burning, sister-marrying, Confederate flag-waving, book-burning, Constitution-hating, war-loving, white sheet-wearing, sheep-fucking, gay-bashing, white supremacist, Christian supremacist, nationalistic, rape victim-blaming, goose-stepping, gun-loving, hate-mongering, education-lacking, Bush-idolizing, Democratic candidate-threatening morans