honest question: why do some here use the term "left wing" as an insult?

[Lerkfish]

or use terms like "looney left" or "left fringe" or even "Marxist"?

I've even seem some say their mission here is to marginalize the left, or say that DU is irrelevant?

They even use the term "progressive" as a put-down.

I'm curious why that is.

[Hydra]

1. You have 3 camps

The people who want more authoritarianism and rights for businesses(the right), the people who are ok with things how they are(the middle) and the people who want less authority and more rights for people(the left)

IMO, the left gets smeared because people believe that with less state control, people will run amok or businesses will fail.

[Lerkfish]

5. thanks. I guess I don't get why that would happen HERE.

a site supposedly for progressive democrats.

I can understand someone disagreeing on issues, but I don't understand wanting to push out progressives on a progressive site.

Now, I say this as someone who is guilty of complaining about centrists or right wing democrats....but.... I'm doing that on a progressive site so it makes sense.

[Hydra]

8. Consider it the "dealbreakers"

when you have 3 camps, the two wings fight to gain the favor of the middle. Since the wings of the party are mostly stable, what the middle wants becomes more important. They become "The Kingmakers"...now what that leads to are major swollen egos. "You need us, so shut up and do what we want, or we'll support the other party!"

[QueenOfCalifornia]

10. there are a lot

of non progressives on this site. They are, for the sake of argument, pretty much okay with the status quo but would not vote for a Republican (unless they live in CA and like action films---)

There are people who are progressive liberals and are disgusted with the status quo and would rather be skinned alive than to vote for a Republican, even the California action film lovers.

And then there are people who are trying to make both of the camps above happy and do the Hokey-Pokey... 'cause that's what it's all about.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

28. I disagree

The degree to which the far left wants more socialism is what separates them from the middle.

I want universal healthcare and better funding for education, the physically and mentally disabled, etc., more low income housing, etc., fairer taxation, but I'm not in favor a radical revolution, which is what the far left seems to espouse around here. And what I consider "fair" taxation is probably not what some others here think.

[Hydra]

30. Well, I posted somewhere else

That the left gets smeared because people are afraid of us.

You seem to have proved my point.

Honestly, can we possibly do anywhere NEAR the amount of damage that Bush and his cadre have????

[againes654]

2. They don't know their left from their right?

:shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

3. probably for the same reasons

some use "centrist" or "moderate" as an insult.

[Lerkfish]

6. yes, but this is supposed to be a progressive site

do you see the point I'm making?

[MonkeyFunk]

7. Yes I see the point you're making

you wish to be immunized against all insults, while reserving the right to insult others.

[wyldwolf]

12. no it isn't.

As the rules page says, Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals.

Further, let's go back to DU's original charter, Feb. 2001:

Democratic Underground welcomes Democrats of all stripes, from centrist to liberal.

Finally, remember, DU was created in response to Al Gore (who was as DLC as they come in 2001) being robbed of the nomination.

[Lerkfish]

17. well, that only explains why non-progressives are welcome here, it doesn't explain

why progressives are not considered welcome here.

[MonkeyFunk]

19. If you think progressives are not welcome here

and only centrists are, you haven't been paying attention.

[wyldwolf]

20. well, that was a lame reply. Your contention now is progressives aren't welcome here?

[sniffa]

4. Look at the mouthes those insuLts come out of

and you have your answer.

[cali]

9. LOL.

It's a way of cutting off debate and there are many variations thereof. Like calling people 'DLC' who disagree with you.

[Lerkfish]

16. true

[MADem]

11. For the same reason people use the phrase Rightwingnut, far right, and

To the Right of Attila the Hun (or Hen, if it is a female).

It's a way of distinguishing those with LIBERAL and progressive views from those with unrealistic, utopian and impractical ideas.

Who are these "some" you see here, who declare that "their mission here is to marginalize the left." You need to name them.

WHO is using the term "progressive" as a put-down? Be specific, now. Otherwise, all you're doing is setting down the kindling and lighting a match.

You make a lot of pretty hideous accusations, but you don't back them up with anything but generalities and bullshit.

That "some say" shit you're tossing around is normally a RW trick. Bush uses it all the time in his speeches. The Punditry at CBS even did a piece on it: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/18/politics/main1419363.shtml

"Some look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day," U.S. President George W. Bush said recently.

Another time he said, "Some say that if you're Muslim you can't be free."

"There are some really decent people," the president said earlier this year, "who believe that the federal government ought to be the decider of health care ... for all people."

Of course, hardly anyone in mainstream political debate has made such assertions.

When the president starts a sentence with "some say" or offers up what "some in Washington" believe, as he is doing more often these days, a rhetorical retort almost assuredly follows.

The device usually is code for Democrats or other White House opponents. In describing what they advocate, Mr. Bush often omits an important nuance or substitutes an extreme stance that bears little resemblance to their actual position. .....

Shame on you. And how sad for anyone who took this flame bait.

[cali]

13. good post and you're spot on.

There is a portion of the left that's out of touch with any form of reality.

[Solon]

22. And there is a portion of the middle that is just as out of touch with reality themselves...

There are those who think its a good idea to increase the cost of business for Health Insurance companies, while at the same time subsidizing them with taxpayer's money, with no guarantee that every medically necessary procedure or treatment will be covered by them, and they claim it will save taxpayer's money!

There are those that want "some restrictions" on abortion, usually revolving around a fictional medical procedure they call Partial Birth Abortion, which was itself made up by the GOP as a talking point to help them win elections. The fact that such a procedure doesn't exist doesn't seem to be relevant to these people, nor the fact that the real procedure that does exist is only used when absolutely necessary, and any laws trying to restrict it would only lead to the injury or deaths of women who are at their most vulnerable.

There are those that believe the U.S. should leave Iraq, but still be capable, for an indefinite period of time, to have a "first strike" capability in the Middle East. In addition, they believe the military budget is just fine, disregarding the fact that we spend more on "defense" than the rest of NATO combined, and, to be frank, can't afford it anymore.

They want balanced budgets, claim to be fiscally responsible, but it seems that the first and third paragraphs seems to put a rather large dent in that claim.

Some believe creating artificial markets on goods that can't be traded in a free market is the best way to deal with pollution and/or global warming, such as carbon credits.

Some believe that Free Trade is some type of panacea that will lead to peace, harmony, singing kumbaya the world over. And these so called centrists call Leftists nuts! :eyes:

[Lerkfish]

14. knowing full well if I name them, I'll be deleted

:shrug:

if you'd like me to PM you the names and instances, I'd be happy to when I get a chance.

but I think that's an unnecessary rabbithole and allows you to deflect the question.

[MADem]

31. If people are saying things like that, you need to ALERT on them.

Not do the "some say" trick. That's what that ALERT button is for--so that the mods can 'correct' behavior that gets outta line.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

29. What You Said!

"It's a way of distinguishing those with LIBERAL and progressive views from those with unrealistic, utopian and impractical ideas."
"It's a way of distinguishing those with LIBERAL and progressive views from those with unrealistic, utopian and impractical ideas."
"It's a way of distinguishing those with LIBERAL and progressive views from those with unrealistic, utopian and impractical ideas."


Best definition I've seen!

[dionysus]

15. because they're on the right wing

if they're actually even Dems, they're conservative dems at best. They'd rather call it "centrist"

[sandnsea]

18. Same reason Dino, Pink Tutu, and Bush-lite

get used. Angry people say mean things.

[damntexdem]

21. I consider "left wing" to be a compliment.

But that's just "looney left, fringie" me.

[Lerkfish]

27. heh, right there with ya.

being anti-war makes you an enemy of the centrists.

[Stop Cornyn]

23. I use the term "left wing" to describe an idea supported by the left but which is not really

liberal or progressive. I think you could make the argument that immigration is an issue where the status quo is clearly not liberal, it isn't necessarily progressive either (I think there are good progressive arguments on both sides of the issue), but fighting against building a wall on our southern border is certainly a left wing idea. I might even go so far as to describe Ron Paul's opposition to the war as a "left wing" approach, but if you have ever heard him discuss ending the war, most of his reasons are neither liberal nor progressive.

Similarly, I use the term "right wing" to describe almost everything the current misadministration stands for because it certainly isn't conservative.

[Solon]

24. WTF? Opposing building a fucking wall is left wing? I thought it was common sense...

I mean, if you want to waste money, waste your own, not the money of the taxpayers.

[Stop Cornyn]

35. It is common sense. But it's neither "conservative" nor "liberal" but still it seems to be Democrats

who mainly oppose it so, since it is mainly associated with the left party despite the fact that it is not a "liberal" or "conservative" idea, I tend to refer to it as a left idea.

[rucky]

25. everything sucks n/t

[Perry Logan]

26. Haven't you noticed? The folks at DU can't resist Republican talking points.

To be fair: the right-wing echo chamber is awfully loud.

[slackmaster]

32. Left wing and right wing don't mean much to me

It's mainly authoritarianism I oppose.

[Forkboy]

33. Simple...because the ones using it aren't a part of it.

Their true disdain is for those to left of them, not the Republicans.

[Lerkfish]

34. "Their true disdain is for those to left of them, not the Republicans"

ayup.