Democratic Primaries

I have been posting on DU since 2003. I used to support the site frequently with donations. I no longer do so because the conversations are frequently toxic, especially since the data breach in 2016. According to research I've read, 20% or so of posts on a site like this are likely to be troll farm creations, and the treatment of Sanders supporters on this site is certainly in line with turnout suppression tactics that benefit Russia and Republicans.

I have always enjoyed vigorous debate during the primaries, and that's why I've persisted here despite the constant scapegoating of left candidates, especially Sanders. But this forum no longer reflects or respects the diversity of opinions among Democrats. A small number of high volume posters intentionally seek to dominate conversations, and there is no longer any effort on the site's behalf to enforce the TOS.

There are some quality news sources linked to this site and there are posters I respect and learn from. Still, I am thinking lately that I need to trade the time I spend here for visiting my local Democratic office. Also, I'd like to spend some time working with younger voters, who are also bashed here constantly and ridiculed for supporting Sanders, the candidate who has most boldly spoken up for the failures of our currently disastrous policy directions in many areas.

Since I have always maintained connections to local and state officeholders and policy groups, those ties have fed my enthusiasm for working on behalf of strong progressive policies. Meanwhile, for almost 20 years DU has been my go-to place to learn about national trends, and it was actually the first blog I ever posted on, back when blogs were a novelty. Unfortunately, the high volume, one trick posters, like the one you corresponded with, won't own up to the toxicity they generate in a once-inclusive discussion forum. The best we can do is to avoid allowing this toxicity to contribute to a second Trump win in November.

I continue to post in the primaries forum mostly so lurkers, especially young lurkers, do not get a false impression of how Democrats think and act. Also, we on the left need to keep raising attention and support for structural change. We're already in deep water on issues of wealth inequality, climate change, and health care access, and if the left doesn't stay strong, structural change will not happen.

Thanks for fighting the good fight. Let's make sure Biden is elected in the fall, notwithstanding the counterproductive internet behavior on this forum.