General Discussion

I have only been here for about 1/2 a month (though I used to lurk back when Double Dumb got selected till Kerry lost) But I have been made to feel extremely welcome one moment, and absolutely hated the next.

I have read thread after thread saying if you believe this or that you are not a "true" liberal, and threads that say the "far fringe left" are destroying the party. I have seen people use the terms Obama-Haters and DINOs thrown around like candy. I have seen threads trying to be constructive, and those whose only purpose is to troll.

It seems like there are some people here who are more interested with scoring points with certain "cliques" here rather than actually having any type of discussion. Otherwise, why the insults? Since when has an insult ever made a person on either side MORE willing to listen to someone? Insults make people cling even tighter to their beliefs. Telling someone they are wrong as opposed to simply mistaken only serves to end the conversation. So why do this?

These people are not interested in facts and when confronted by them blow them off because they dont confirm their pre-determined conclusion. This is true of both sides.

I would think the best way to have a "civil" discussion is to realize there are people of a plethora of political beliefs and views here and that they are all here to discuss what they believe is best for the nation. Specifically, we are all people who for various reasons support the democratic party AND liberalism. We need to to listen (to really listen) to each other and understand where we are coming from and why we believe what we believe. We need to realize we can disagree without calling the other wrong and to tell our views to each other with compassion. And we need to accept that just because someone comes to a different conclusion than us they are not stupid.

I believe that is the best way to foster civil discussion.

As for the 2nd part of your question:

I believe the best way to promote liberalism is to unite behind the democratic party no matter how how much they may disappoint us. To promote democratic nominees so that we can take back the house and senate and elect another dem president in 2016. With that we can do 2 things, get liberal judges appointed to the SCotUS (This is KEY!) giving us all three branches of government and then start pushing for more liberal candidates once we have a stranglehold on the government.

Without the Judiciary on our side, the SCotUS will simply throw out any progress we make. WE HAVE TO GET IT BACK!!! Even FDR knew how important the Judiciary was and fought hard to get it on his side. Once we have all three branches we can start pushing for more liberal legislation and start lobbying for more liberal candidates. By seeing the effects of these policies the rest of the country will realize how they benefit the country as a whole and will then support even more liberal policies. We will then be able to push this country back to the left and pass things like a living wage, a true single payer healthcare system, secure reproductive and equal rights for all, and much more!

The country is changing for the better, and the demographics are now on our side. But we can't do diddly squat if we don't win elections! The last thing we need is for the repugs to get back in power and destroy the political coalition Obama has thrown together. We got to be patient and do what we can to get democratic butts in congress. Every time a repug gets a seat that slows things down even further.

I don't expect you to agree with me. But that is how I believe we can move the party to the left. That is how I believe we can take back the country.