LightfighterThis is a very accurate graph of anything in my lifetime in the US.
Paul Rietschka@Lightfighter The worst part about this is the Reaganites, today, are the establishment Democrats, and they control the Democratic party and make damned sure that nothing progressive ever makes it into policy. All against the clear wishes of Democratic voters. The US governing system is so captured that nothing short of revolution can seemingly fix it.
@prietschka Amen. Burn it all fucking down.
@Lightfighter Yeah, but it's a big, ongoing problem.
Obama, Clinton, Biden, Harris. Since 2008 (and before, but let's just go back to there) the Reaganite establishment has successfully shoved useless chud candidates down our throats and, when they win, given nothing but austerity excepting Obamacare, which is a high-price-tag POS and failure.
It's depressing turnout because, understandably, people ask "why even vote?"
There is no compelling reason!
@prietschka Absolutely. The ADA was initially proposed as an alternative to Single Payer that Clinton was working on by Newt Gingrich. Obama repackaged it and sold it to us. The Dems just give the illusion of being an opposition party. Both sides are backed by the same money. When in doubt, class is usually the driving force. And our political class has sided with capital.
Danny Boling ☮️Y'all win the thread and both earned a new follower just for having this small exchange. Everything you've said is a truth lots of people won't admit to.
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter Americans need to get serious about what politics today looks like. We have essentially three groups:
1.) Fascists in the GOP
2.) Reaganite Republicans in the form of the Democratic establishment
3.) Democratic voters who want social democratic policies like M4A, progressive taxation, better service provision generally
The last group is not represented in terms of getting policies implemented, at all.
It's a major, major problem.
Osteopenia Powers ;@prietschka
What can Group 3 do about this? Organize, contribute, work, volunteer, and vote in the primaries!
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
What can Group 3 do about this? Organize, contribute, work, volunteer, and vote in the primaries!
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
@Osteopenia_Powers @IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter I mean, I don't know, I don't really have answers.
Never vote for an establishment Democrat again? Run for office?
The conservative movement slowly took over the GOP in the 70s, then ruthlessly killed (politically) everyone who opposed them. It was a slaughter once they gained enough power.
That's what's needed on the left. But that's a multi-decade project, and requires being mean, and not the kumbaya nonsense the left loves a bit too much.
@prietschka
I think this refusal to make alliances will not get us to a better place, rather a worse one.
If more people had seen a difference between Al Gore and GW Bush, we would never have had Citizens United for example. Purity pledges are pledges to lose. If we want people to vote for our candidates it is our responsibility to persuade them. If we want candidates to respect us, we have to start getting more votes.
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
I think this refusal to make alliances will not get us to a better place, rather a worse one.
If more people had seen a difference between Al Gore and GW Bush, we would never have had Citizens United for example. Purity pledges are pledges to lose. If we want people to vote for our candidates it is our responsibility to persuade them. If we want candidates to respect us, we have to start getting more votes.
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
@Osteopenia_Powers @IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter No, what you're suggesting feels good but is the problem.
You're say "big tent," but in practice that tent stands for nothing. The left cannot contain everyone from social democrats like Sanders/AOC to conservatives like Joe Manchin, it's incoherent.
It leads to a party with no ideology or principles, but it's ideology that informs policy choice.
What you're arguing for is a movement that stands for nothing, does nothing.
This is the problem.
@prietschka
Here are some things my party has stood for, and continues to stand for.
*the right of asylum seekers to stay in our country
*the right of Iranian girls to go to school without being dismembered by bombs targeted by AI
*the right of millions of people receiving USAid not to die of AIDS
🧵
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
Here are some things my party has stood for, and continues to stand for.
*the right of asylum seekers to stay in our country
*the right of Iranian girls to go to school without being dismembered by bombs targeted by AI
*the right of millions of people receiving USAid not to die of AIDS
🧵
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
@prietschka 🧵
*the right of millions of people not to die of hunger because President Moron caused Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz and cut off the fertilizer that grows food for half the world.
*the right to have our government agencies staffed by competent people rather than loyal party stooges.
*the right to a minimum wage.
*the right to have that minimum wage be a living wage.
*the right to clean air, water, and food.
@prietschka
🧵 * the right to vote in fair elections and have our votes counted accurately
*as you pointed out, the ADA was originally a Republican plan. All but a few turncoat Democrats wanted a true national health plan. Then Republicans decided not to let the Democrats have any wins at all. They opposed everything. The ACA passed with 1 R vote in each house, all the Senate Dems, and the vast majority of House Dems.
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
🧵 * the right to vote in fair elections and have our votes counted accurately
*as you pointed out, the ADA was originally a Republican plan. All but a few turncoat Democrats wanted a true national health plan. Then Republicans decided not to let the Democrats have any wins at all. They opposed everything. The ACA passed with 1 R vote in each house, all the Senate Dems, and the vast majority of House Dems.
@IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter
@Osteopenia_Powers @IAmDannyBoling @Lightfighter I don't know why you're listing this stuff, but it's not germane to what I was speaking about.
Good luck, ttyl.