On being a moderate Democrat

8 Sep 2017

Double post

A little kindness can be so valuable, yet costs almost nothing

In many countries being gay is a crime, and even in modern societies, politicians try to legalise discrimination. Your voice can make a difference. Have a look at All Out to find out how.

Hey... pssst.... that's an l (as in luscious) at the end of my name, not an i

8 Sep 2017

Quote by JustSomeJoe
Wow. I understand the purpose of the "Spa", and if the mods here [s]were so offended by[/s] believed that what I wrote did not align with the nature of The Spa, then of course it's perfectly within their right to [s]delete[/s] adjust what I've written. But I don't [s]appreciate having words put in my mouth[/s] like having my words changed to those that are less inflammatory than what I originally wrote. I believe that [s]Censorship[/s] removing a post entirely is more acceptable than [s]distortion[/s] editing them. Although I'd like to continue this conversation, I won't be visiting the "Spa" again.

*Edited by moderator. Original post did not align with the nature of The Spa.

For once I agree with you. There was nothing offensive in my previous post, and I wasn't stating my view on capitalism and fascism, but widely accepted definitions (look them up in merriam-webster or any decent dictionary) that I choose to use to support my opinions. I don't mind if my posts are deleted if they violate the forum rules, but do no like it when their meaning and intention is altered to something more palpable and inclusive. It is my opinion that it's not moderating but [s]meddling[/s] tinkering. I will go on debating in this forum, but I expect to be treated as an adult and not as a child, [s]who needs to be corrected[/s] whose posts need happier, more inclusive alterations every third sentence. Embarassed

*Edited by moderator. Original post did not align with the nature of the The Spa.

A little kindness can be so valuable, yet costs almost nothing

In many countries being gay is a crime, and even in modern societies, politicians try to legalise discrimination. Your voice can make a difference. Have a look at All Out to find out how.

Hey... pssst.... that's an l (as in luscious) at the end of my name, not an i

8 Sep 2017

I, for one [s]cower it utter terror[/s] dance like a child in [s]torturous frustration[/s] wondrous rapture at the prospect of visiting the [s]repressive gulag[/s] delightful utopia of this [s]dystopian nightmare[/s] wonderful corner of [s]hell[/s] heaven.

*Edited by [s]moderator[/s] Verbal. Original post did not align with the nature of [s]The Spa[/s] my opinions.

Seriously, the Spa is a good idea, and I understand the need for edits, but I think someone got a little over-zealous in their policing (I appreciate that some of it was light-hearted). I suggest that deleting, rather than inserting alternate wording, might be the best route.

10 Sep 2017

It seems this thread has died. Is there nothing more to say about being a moderate democrat?

A little kindness can be so valuable, yet costs almost nothing

In many countries being gay is a crime, and even in modern societies, politicians try to legalise discrimination. Your voice can make a difference. Have a look at All Out to find out how.

Hey... pssst.... that's an l (as in luscious) at the end of my name, not an i

10 Sep 2017

Quote by JustSomeJoe
The Nazis were Fascist. The word "Nazi" is an acronym (in German, obviously) for National Socialist Workers Party. How on earth can Socialists be "right-wing?"

Socialists are not right-wing. National Socialists are. National Socialism has as much to do with Socialism as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has to do with democracy. Choosing a name is often part of the propaganda.

PS: please quote the person you respond to. They get a notification that way.

=== Not ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER ===

10 Sep 2017

I get this thread was on being a "moderate Democrat", but what about just being a decent human being. Like others, I'm no fan of our current POTUS. I will not vote for him should he choose to run for reelection in 2020. I was once a Republican, but I left when I still lived in California and was harassed about why same-sex marriage was a bad thing (which it's not, for the record.) The insane arguments I heard were enough for me to say enough. I now have no party affiliation and I intend to keep it that way. I've always felt that we should vote for the best candidate, regardless of what party they are connected to. Even if Trump had run as a Democrat, I still would not have voted for him becasue I didn't feel in any way he was the best candidate (more like the worst). I feel history will not reflect kindly on him and he could become the worst president ever.

10 Sep 2017

Quote by JustSomeJoe
The very far left end of the spectrum: total government control over all facets of our lives, from education to employment to healthcare to personal relations.

The very far right end of the spectrum: total anarchy, where there is no government at all to control any facet of our lives, and we all must survive on our own.

Total control of every aspect of our lives is as much a far-right as a far-left mode, and probably more. Leftists don't care about who you have sex with, for example, or who you worship (if anyone), whereas right-wing authoritarians certainly do. The left are more likely to want to exercise control over matters that affect someone else, whereas the right wants to exercise control over things that don't.

Really, you can map it out like this:

Chaos - Radical - Liberal - Moderate - Conservative - Reactionary - Chaos.

If you go too far in either direction there's chaos, albeit perhaps of different kinds.

10 Sep 2017

Incidentally, I'm not a moderate Democrat, although I once thought myself so. Today, things that seem utterly reasonable to me [pollution controls, universal health care, civil liberties] have been abandoned by the Overton Window, to the point that I'm pretty far out on the left end of the spectrum. To me, I'm entirely reasonable, and have thought things through to a reasonable conclusion, but the zeitgeist says I'm not reasonable, I'm a flaming liberal (used as a pejorative). So be it.

10 Sep 2017

The whole political spectrum in Canada is to the left of that in the US, so it is easy to classify myself as a moderate Democrat were I an American. I do not believe in the GOP's tax cuts for the rich and trickle down economics. I am for gender equality including equal pay for equal work and all that is outlined in most human rights legislation. I do not believe that religion should be mixed into politics and that the values of one group should be forced on all. There should be a strict separation of church and state. I am for freedom of choice regarding abortions. I am against capital punishment. I think that health care should not be a for profit industry and there should be a single payer system that covers everyone as in Canada. If you want more than that coverage, you should be able to buy insurance that covers that. I think that no one should be bankrupted by a catastrophic illness in their family and that seniors' drugs should be covered by a government program. I believe in much more stringent gun control than is the norm in the US. No one needs an AK47 to go hunting. I believe that there should be more control of political contributions in elections.

So, I am a moderate Democrat Canadian.

10 Sep 2017

Quote by principessa
The whole political spectrum in Canada is to the left of that in the US, so it is easy to classify myself as a moderate Democrat were I an American. I do not believe in the GOP's tax cuts for the rich and trickle down economics. I am for gender equality including equal pay for equal work and all that is outlined in most human rights legislation. I do not believe that religion should be mixed into politics and that the values of one group should be forced on all. There should be a strict separation of church and state. I am for freedom of choice regarding abortions. I am against capital punishment. I think that health care should not be a for profit industry and there should be a single payer system that covers everyone as in Canada. If you want more than that coverage, you should be able to buy insurance that covers that. I think that no one should be bankrupted by a catastrophic illness in their family and that seniors' drugs should be covered by a government program. I believe in much more stringent gun control than is the norm in the US. No one needs an AK47 to go hunting. I believe that there should be more control of political contributions in elections.

Yes, all of this, including the political spectrum here in the Netherlands being mostly to the left of that in the US. What they call far left in the US is just center left here I'd say.

=== Not ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER ===

12 Sep 2017

I'm a little concerned about the level of micro-aggressions that have been circulating in the spa. Perhaps we could create another forum that prohibits micro aggressions as well as celebrates religious tolerance.

Someone used the term "Hallelujah" which is an obviously culturally and insensitive attack on non Judeo-Christian religious beliefs.

If someone uses such a culturally insensitive word then they should be forced to offer alternatives, such as equivalents in all the major world religions.

I suggest the creation of a "safespace" forum where we can all feel safe from these intolerable micro-aggressions.

12 Sep 2017

Quote by DamonX
Someone used the term "Hallelujah" which is an obviously culturally and insensitive attack on non Judeo-Christian religious beliefs.

Isn't that just the town next to al-Fallujah? dontknow

=== Not ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER ===

12 Sep 2017

Quote by Verbal
I've thought about talking about this on the Think Tank, but figured it would devolve quickly, and turn into a shouting match. Let's try it here.

I'm a moderate Democrat. I believe in the idea of moderate politics, that don't swing too far in either direction. I was a big fan of Bill Clinton, Hillary less so, but I thought she'd make an adequate President (Trump I will not budge on, he is a ** Edited by Moderator. POTUS name-calling not allowed.**)

These days, in this politically polarized environment, I find very few people who I agree with politically. Once upon a time I was probably mainstream, but now I get grief from both sides. Those I know who are conservative (mostly relatives) think I'm a flaming liberal. Most of my friends, though, are significantly more liberal than I. So I end up disagreeing with them on several fronts:

- that I voted for Hilary, and still defend my vote
- that Bernie's ideals are great, but fiscally irresponsible (though I am a big believer in single payer health care)
- that I am a pretty big defender of the second amendment (ALL the amendments actually)
- that I don't think the left should be violent in protests (like the antifa), even while protesting Nazi rallies
- (this one has gotten me into the most debates) that I don't think all Confederate statues are automatically racist and should be torn down, but that they be considered case by case. I do think it's a part of our history. I have no problem with adding materials to place them in context, but a wholesale erasure seems like a knee-jerk reaction (the Confederate flag is different, it is a traitorous flag defending slavery, but a statue is a person, with a past and a family and a complex set of beliefs).

Don't yell at me. But discuss, please. Anyone out there in the center feeling left out of political debate today?

I don't know where you go. The Democrat Party is no longer left, centre left, not even centre. It's to the right and needs to find it's way back if it is to win in 2020, not mentioning 2018.

12 Sep 2017

Quote by hayley
The Democrat Party is no longer left, centre left, not even centre. It's to the right and needs to find it's way back if it is to win in 2020, not mentioning 2018.

I agree. But then again we use "Liberal" for center-right/right-wing parties here (as in classical and conservative liberalism).

=== Not ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER ===