What is the single most important issue that makes you a Dem?

[TeamsterDem]

For me it's unions, but not just because I've been in one all my life. It's because unions can help people obtain the wages they deserve and is the great equalizer in terms of wages of women and minorities. All of that means a bigger middle class which can afford education for their children. The educated child can then potentially move from the middle to the upper class, all thanks to their parents being in a union. And since Republicans wouldn't cross the street to piss on our heads if our hair were on fire, it's pretty obvious which party I should belong to (there are many more reasons. this is just my single most important one).

How about you folks?

[Warpy]

1. The focus on human beings instead of institutions

which is something the party has lost since the liberals went out of power in 1969 but seems to be on the verge of rediscovering.

We've learned once again that institutions don't take very good care of us unless we either run them or heavily police them.

The conservatives have had nearly 40 years of having everything go their way, and I think we can all agree they fucked up royally.

[opihimoimoi]

7. Yup...ya got it....them Pubs don't have altruism one iota

[The Diest]

13. I will second this. nt

[Inspired]

2. The right to choose.

Someday I hope this includes the choice of same sex marriage.

It's hard to pick one issue. There are so many.

[TeamsterDem]

3. I know. Believe me I know.

I've got a laundry list but that one just stands out for me.

[xchrom]

4. all of the issues surrounding the health, safety, and equality of lgbtiq people.

poverty, unions, reduction in the size and scope of the pentagon, expansion of social aid programs, etc come in after that.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. The New Deal

Social Security
Right to Organize
Worker Safety
Government Funding of the Arts

and more, much more

[remember2000forever]

6. A Return To A Legitimate Democracy And Legitimate Voting!

All other issues are moot if the people can't express their wishes and rights!

[bowens43]

8. for me there is no single issue.

I disagree with nearly everything the republicans do and I agree with the vast majority of the things that the Democrats do.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Social Justice

For me - We stand for Social Justice, the Human Condition, Humanity, harmony . . .

[michreject]

10. It was the UAW for me

Now everybody wants to drive these ^&%$#* non union imports.

[Gman]

11. For me, Unions

The first issue you vote on should be your paycheck and benefits. Everything (I mean EVERYTHING) else is secondary.

[H2O Man]

12. Family values.

There are a wide range of issues that my family values, upon which the democratic party offers leadership. In some areas, of course, we have to pressure the party's leadership to take more progressive stances, but our party offers the best bet for individuals, families, and communities across the country.

[JackRiddler]

14. The lack of an alternative in a pretend-democratic system

with

- no representation whatesoever for anyone other than the plurality in a vote

- highly manipulative corporate-owned media

- a thoughtless, self-congratulatory universal marinade of patriotic faith

- the equivalent of a one-dollar, one-vote system in terms of actual say

- and most questions of note settled in advance by bogus consensus (starting with the "free market" system in which private owners of capital determine how it is invested).

From experience, Tweedledee is going to allow 90 outrages, but Tweedledummer will guarantee at least 111; so one chooses Dee. Also because the rhetoric is so much nicer.

Before you have your fit, please note those who have trouble distinguishing between the parties in terms of results, or differences on certain key issues, constitute a large, swing voting bloc who decide elections.

[suegeo]

15. Goose stepping gives me vertigo

[JackRiddler]

18. Or I could have gone for simplicity, like you.

Yup.

:hi:

[alarimer]

16. Not a Democrat anymore-They are far too corporate

and centrist for me. Maybe if we had a REAL (meaning true progressive) candidate, I might switch back but as long as the media chooses our corporate/centrists candidates and as long as they keeping moving right, I am not voting Democratic.

The Democratic Party has betrayed unions and working people with NAFTA and "welfare reform". And our current corporate candidates will be no different.

[Berry Cool]

17. The focus on interdependence and cooperation to help all, as opposed to self-reliance

as opposed to counting on the largesse of the most successful in a laissez-faire society to trickle down to those in need as a result of noblesse oblige.

I think it has been proven time and time again that if you have a society in which raw unfettered competition between corporations and individuals is the order of the day, all you get is a cruel, brutish Darwinian society in which the biggest and toughest and nastiest win, and the weaker and gentler and kinder are left behind. A society with winners and losers, in which it's winner take all. Most of the winners don't feel obligated to share any of their bounty with the losers or to help them become winners, even when they lost through no fault of their own, even when they show signs of someday being able to be winners. They would rather feather their own nests with their winnings, or pass them on to their descendants, so their descendants can have even more advantages and perhaps can avoid competition altogether.

The society of self-reliance and unfettered competition is the Republican society. The society of interdependence and cooperation and fairness to everyone is the Democratic society.

[sallyseven]

19. I am a democrat because I find all

republicans are very mean spirited. Some like the pretend democrats on General Discussion Primaries. No true democrat could be as nasty and self involved as they are.

[leftofthedial]

20. the only issue left that makes me a Dem

is that they aren't repukes

Dems have pretty much abandoned me and my class on all other issues.

[trof]

21. Theft of elections by repugs.

That's what brought me here and what made me a yellow dog for life.

[LynnTheDem]

22. "Live and let live". I am so NOT authoritarian.

I am not interested in ordering consenting adults to do/not do things, nor am I interested in anyone ordering me to do/not do.

I also don't do the lockstep march the rightwing does so well.

[Zynx]

23. The general recognition that without the government helping to create an equality of opportunity

that society would become feudal.