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2016 Postmortem

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Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
Thu Mar 10, 2016, 07:00 AM Mar 2016

I have examined where my loyalties lie, you judge, I'll explain my position. [View all]

Last edited Thu Mar 10, 2016, 08:47 AM - Edit history (1)

From my perspective, the party I joined thirty nine years ago was a party I believed in and so gave my loyalty, It was the party of The New Deal, The Great Society and at the time I joined also the party of civil liberty, equal rights and a war against poverty. I see a party in 2016 that is not that party. The question of my loyalty now becomes murky. I think my loyalty now only belongs to my class and because Bernie Sanders shares this loyalty to my class, I must support him every way possible.

So many in the party leadership and the party overall are comfortable and this place of comfort has made them cold to the reality that is daily life for a great many people.

They make many assumptions from ivory towers of middle class or wealth with little awareness it would seem of those that are lower middle class (quickly falling into poverty even tho they work harder with multiple McJobs than they did before lower middle class meant poverty).

As to the poor - they seem completely oblivious to them and convince themselves that welfare reform didn't harm anybody, I know Hill and Bill believe this, but it did and does to this day I assure you, it was not a pragmatic solution to a "welfare queen" problem handled well because a Democrat helped to all but destroy it. It will not be a brave pragmatic solution to "earned benefit queens" they will likely label SS beneficiaries, as they collude yet again with republicans to begin to shred these last vestiges of the new deal and great society.

They cause the poor to become poorer still while so many in the party applaud the politicians responsible. Their applause and support are what make them just as responsible as their political idols.

They think this is a game, or a sport with my team and their team, not realizing or caring that the ball that is tossed around in this sport is a child that only gets to eat at school and will soon lose that food, or the ball is an elderly widow or widower that can only afford to take their medicine every other day or maybe will freeze to death in a small flat during a winter they could not pay their gas bill (this happens ALREADY where I live).

There are many other balls tossed around for their sport and amusement, too many to list them all here, some are dead or dying, some are living under a tarp in a vacant lot hoping the cops don't roust them or the suburban teenagers don't decide to slum it and amuse themselves by assaulting them while laughing and taunting the "bum" for cell phone footage. Some of these comfortable people give advice to "the poor that in fact do OK" as a famous DLC Democrat once said. One of the Conservative DU posters once even suggested dumpster diving as a viable and reasonable option.

Too many of them applaud policies and politicians that make all these problems worse, they need to get it through their heads, many are dying and more will die of poverty, this is no game and the poor aren't doing OK, they are doing worse all the time with less help available all the time.

It is not serious, pragmatic, or brave to cause more people to suffer and die in poverty because it is referred to flippantly as "eating peas" or "being adult". It is not pragmatic even when the ones shipping away the jobs or destroying welfare "feel your pain". It never was bravery, but cowardice. It is not balanced when an increasing number of people fall into poverty and die while others become wealthier at an exponential rate.

The punditry, politicians, and comfortable may think it is a fun sport full of serious brave adults that make hard decisions.

Cowards all really, making easy decisions, easy because their decisions don't harm them, but rather the poor they barely acknowledge exist for the profit of the wealthy.

Sometimes they even have the gall to pat themselves on the back and reassure each other "the poor in fact do OK".

I feel very sincerely about these class and poverty issues, I give my loyalty completely to the forgotten, struggling and increasingly poor working classes that birthed me. You decide if that makes me disloyal to a party that has all but forgotten us save for donations and Pyrrhic election victories, because I will fight tooth and nail against any one of them or any elected Democrat that is harmful to my class, in other words harmful to most of America.

For these reasons and others, my loyalties now lie only with Bernie Sanders, politicians that share his views, and the revolution that is necessary if we are to fight and win against overwhelming odds, a fight I take on for my class, the very survival of countless people, and for a better future to leave behind for our younger generations.
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This thread needs a kick. longship Mar 2016 #1
Because it was posted at 6 AM? Nitram Mar 2016 #30
Today's Democratic party doesn't really represent me either. PatrickforO Mar 2016 #2
Here-here. K&R Kittycat Mar 2016 #78
I have to second that Ferd Berfel Mar 2016 #82
It is funny, but the funniest part is that I believe he calls himself a Democratic Socialist Dragonfli Mar 2016 #97
K&R! yellerpup Mar 2016 #3
The experiences growing up as we did give us a perspective many lack Dragonfli Mar 2016 #55
Empathy and compassion are necessary to lead yellerpup Mar 2016 #58
K and R...one important note on this.. Stuart G Mar 2016 #4
Before I crash, the answer to your question is they can't be Dragonfli Mar 2016 #7
Well Gwhittey Mar 2016 #18
I've been up all night, lots to think about so I need to crash for a few hours Dragonfli Mar 2016 #5
Pretty much my attitude also. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #6
K&R well said! Mbrow Mar 2016 #8
K & R Petrushka Mar 2016 #9
What they said. / nt renie408 Mar 2016 #10
Most eloquent and moving post I've read on DU. Hope Skinner reads it. Divernan Mar 2016 #11
That they threw the mentally ill out on the street during Reagan's terms and they are Dustlawyer Mar 2016 #31
Mentally ill are a great source of income for private prisons! Divernan Mar 2016 #35
And how much does it cost us taxpayers vs a proper nursing home and treatment? Dustlawyer Mar 2016 #40
It had to cost more - adding in that layer of profit for privatizing. Divernan Mar 2016 #46
Thanks for this substantive post dreamnightwind Mar 2016 #48
Excellent post! monicaangela Mar 2016 #73
Excellent Post on a topic that needs more light shed on it, I agree with monicaangel make It an OP! Dragonfli Mar 2016 #90
Heartfelt kick warrprayer Mar 2016 #12
The Tea Party exposed the Democratic Party WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2016 #13
I think you're right LiberalLovinLug Mar 2016 #107
It's not a game. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2016 #14
My reply to anyone who says "Your going to take your ball and go home" is Waltons_Mtn Mar 2016 #17
No it's not a game, it's life or death, we have choices to make Dragonfli Mar 2016 #110
Revolution JGug1 Mar 2016 #15
Good points, jgug. nt Nitram Mar 2016 #32
You do not think, or you do not LIKE to think, that Obama would hurt the little people? Coincidence Mar 2016 #42
Sanders has only push Clinton's rhetoric to the left. It's impossible to push her rhett o rick Mar 2016 #99
2 things, a focus group can push Hilary's rhetoric to the left, but she remains a Goldwater girl Dragonfli Mar 2016 #103
He is talking about political revolution, the alternatives have historically led to much worse Dragonfli Mar 2016 #104
A resounding K & R... N_E_1 for Tennis Mar 2016 #16
Fine post, Dragonfli Aerows Mar 2016 #19
Thank you for saying what I feel. raging moderate Mar 2016 #20
K&R The applause helps a little. The Wall St money helps a lot. raouldukelives Mar 2016 #21
K&R! dchill Mar 2016 #22
My loyalties are aligned with yours. nt LWolf Mar 2016 #23
Thank you for this, Dragonfli. democrank Mar 2016 #24
K&R Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #25
I joined the party 45 years ago Pakid Mar 2016 #26
Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast Mar 2016 #27
Wow! that must be the equal of at least 2 "by a whole bunch" kicks, I feel greatly honored. /nt Dragonfli Mar 2016 #65
K&R...societies always, or nearly always, develop a ruling class, regardless of the political islandmkl Mar 2016 #28
Yes, they do, I hope our political revolution succeeds, History shows what happens when Dragonfli Mar 2016 #50
The sleeper must awaken... Maedhros Mar 2016 #60
Indeed an Extinction Level Event is already in play WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2016 #84
Kick for the alert Jokerman Mar 2016 #29
Thank you for this eloquent post. chervilant Mar 2016 #33
Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT. Jokerman Mar 2016 #34
I couldn't believe it. stage left Mar 2016 #38
Wow. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2016 #44
Have to wonder chervilant Mar 2016 #45
I don't, for the life of me understand why someone alerted my post Dragonfli Mar 2016 #56
This was one of the most egregious alerts I've ever seen. Jokerman Mar 2016 #63
Thank you for your jury service, I'm just glad I didn't get a jury of trolls Dragonfli Mar 2016 #64
I'm new around here so I don't fully understand the jury system, but wow wtf!? Coincidence Mar 2016 #69
This was one of the saddest alerts I've seen. Kittycat Mar 2016 #80
I didn't know DWS hangs out here at DU just to flick boogers at the liberal party infiltrators. Coincidence Mar 2016 #68
Huge K&R ...I agree pinebox Mar 2016 #36
We have allowed the Republicans and the Third Way faux Democrats to LondonReign2 Mar 2016 #37
What a beautiful well thought out post dr60omg Mar 2016 #39
Had to log in just to rec this PowerToThePeople Mar 2016 #41
K&R amborin Mar 2016 #43
It makes you wonder how they sleep at night. DemocraticWing Mar 2016 #47
Thanks Dragonfli, another excellent post from you! - eom dreamnightwind Mar 2016 #49
Kicketty Kickin' Faux pas Mar 2016 #51
Recommended me b zola Mar 2016 #52
Agreed! nt WDIM Mar 2016 #53
Clinton is alienating droves of life long democrats with her dirty tricks campagin Cheese Sandwich Mar 2016 #54
And I with you. Kicked. mariawr Mar 2016 #57
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Mar 2016 #59
knr nt retrowire Mar 2016 #61
The poor and working poor in America Utopian Leftist Mar 2016 #62
That's pretty much it, Dragonfli Jack Rabbit Mar 2016 #66
Beautifully written. davidthegnome Mar 2016 #67
Wonderful discussion, dpatbrown Mar 2016 #70
K&R! monicaangela Mar 2016 #71
As one of the "working poor" bullsnarfle Mar 2016 #72
K&R zentrum Mar 2016 #74
K & R!!! Thespian2 Mar 2016 #75
Beautiful post. And true. djean111 Mar 2016 #76
Nah I don't think there will be a purge. Kalidurga Mar 2016 #102
This message was self-deleted by its author DUbeornot2be Mar 2016 #77
Whose side are you on? WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2016 #79
Which side Indeed! (sorry had a long day at doctors, then needed sleep) Dragonfli Mar 2016 #89
K&R stranger81 Mar 2016 #81
The DLC usurpers are increasingly unwelcome in the party they corrupted stupidicus Mar 2016 #83
My belief is they were never with us in the first place, I see them as Republican infiltrators Dragonfli Mar 2016 #94
me too stupidicus Mar 2016 #115
People suffering and dying from lack of healthcare, even in the wake of the ACA, are not political Dont call me Shirley Mar 2016 #85
I joined the same Democratic party you did years ago. creatives4innovation Mar 2016 #86
Loud DURec! bvar22 Mar 2016 #87
Thanks for the eloquent OP, and thanks for all the posters in this thread that bbgrunt Mar 2016 #88
In the end, we NEED to come together to win the Revolution and with it Bernie's Vision Dragonfli Mar 2016 #91
Great OP. KICK! Juicy_Bellows Mar 2016 #92
My loyalty is to a cause, not a person.... Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2016 #93
That peace can only be won by kicking out the military industrial political neocon machine Dragonfli Mar 2016 #96
Kick. & Rec. John Poet Mar 2016 #95
Sleep tight, Dragonfli Iwillnevergiveup Mar 2016 #98
I disagree with not one single word sammythecat Mar 2016 #100
Your loyalty lies with people, not profits, nothing radical about that :) nt slipslidingaway Mar 2016 #101
What a great post! Very encouraging, and truedelphi Mar 2016 #105
Thank You! /nt Dragonfli Mar 2016 #106
K&R. This evening, on my way back home from a meeting, I passed a tent JDPriestly Mar 2016 #108
Strange how there is only one politician even talking about poverty. Dragonfli Mar 2016 #109
a heartfelt thank you for this azurnoir Mar 2016 #111
Most excellent! DissidentVoice Mar 2016 #112
We share a great many views in common, reading your reply reminded me a bit of many thoughts that go Dragonfli Mar 2016 #113
Thank you DissidentVoice Mar 2016 #116
You have always been one of my favorite DU posters, Dragonfli Oilwellian Mar 2016 #114
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