I am a Democrat

[Tom Rinaldo]

38. Thank you. Some most excellent thinking out loud. Certainly no apology called for.

I decided on my part for this OP not to make a direct case for how Bernie helps advance a progressive agenda in association with Democrats. I kept it to stating what to me should be obvious. In a nation where there are more Independents than Democrats, saying that someone is not a Democrat is not grounds to be dismissive. Democrats don't hold a patent on the truth. You make some good points and raise some good questions. Like I said above, noting that someone who shares common ideals with many progressive Democrats is not him or herself (as the case may be) a Democrat should not end a discussion. It is a starting point for exploring how Democrats can secure a stable working majority of the electorate with fewer than a third of it identifying as Democrats. And also if and when pressure from the outside can be productive.

By the way I agree with a whole lot of what you said. This is not a topic that is exhausted with a single thread. Here is an OP I posted in April. I haven't revisited it since then so I can't promise in advance that I still hold to every opinion that I expressed at the time:

"I Support Bernie Sanders Remaining an Independent"
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028949746