I saw a rant on here about Democrats and Repubs not being the same or something. I'm tired of these rants and wanted to respond and talk about what I think are liberal political views, and that I think those who are more centrist should work with, and not against us. It seems the diary in question has been deleted, but since I already wrote this, I might as well post it.
People that I and others would see as centrist actually see themselves as liberal. But, a vocal group of them seem tho think that people to their political left should take their shit to Redstate. But I think that's a destructive message, and a losing one. We face an entrenched, destructive, determined, well-funded enemy that's hell-bent on the destruction of the middle class and social mobility in America as we know it, and it will take all of us working together to beat them in the 2014 elections or at any time.
Democrats and Republicans are not the same. Republicans cheer the destruction of the middle class and see nothing wrong with the plight that the millions of working poor in this country. “Learn some skills” they say. What we see as economic injustice, Republicans see as the free market punishing people they see as lazy or undeserving.
But Democrats do things that are bad and hurtful too, perhaps inadvertently, or out of sheer ineptness. The attacks against peaceful Occupy protesters were ordered and presided over by Democratic mayors in Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and countless other cities. NSA spying was presided over by a Democratic-led executive branch. Obamacare was a start, and saved many lives and allowed millions to get coverage, but millions of others like me fell through the cracks. The fight for justice in the healthcare system is just beginning. A public option or single payer is needed. Action to control artificially inflated costs is needed. That could be a whole diary in itself. Democrats voted for SOPA and CISPA. But they changed their mind when we spoke up.
That's the key. We can support Democrats and criticize them at the same time. There's no need for “rox vs sux”, Democrats rock and suck at the same time. They have accomplished a lot, but have a long way to go. Painting Obama and the Democratic party as cartoon villains does nothing to help, but neither does saying those who dare criticize them should just get the fuck out. We can put Democrats in office and pressure them to remember who put them there at the same time. Multitasking, people.
So what is a liberal? What is a centrist?
You're mileage may vary, so I'll say what I think.
A liberal tends to think police brutality is out of control. Police that kill unnecessarily are murderers and should be punished like any other murderer. Cops that cover for those murderers are accessories to murder. Brutal crackdowns on Occupy and other peaceful protesters are wrong. Not having permits doesn't justify it. The First Amendment is our permit. The DHS coordinated with city police departments in some ways, and that was wrong as well. The justice system fills jails with nonviolent offenders and is out of control, and is corrupt and can't be trusted.
A centrist tends to think that most cops are good, although the bad ones should be punished of course. Occupy should have gotten a permit. Because they broke some law somewhere whatever happened to them was their fault. What the hell did they even accomplish anyway? Cops are just doing their jobs and protecting themselves. We have to trust the justice system because if we don't, law and order breaks down and there will be chaos.
But both agree that we need a functioning justice system that protects us and promotes law and order. I think both agree that Stop and Frisk and racial profiling is wrong, too.
A liberal tends to think government works for its citizens. It should be transparent and shouldn't spy on us. Secret operations and intelligence gathering targeted at American citizens are wrong, and trample on the basic rights we should cherish as Americans.
A centrist tends to think that intelligence gathering by the government isn't a big deal. Governments in other countries do much worse to their citizens, so criticizing our government for what they're doing is a privileged view. Intelligence gathering keeps us safe in ways we don't completely understand.
A liberal tends to think that the rich are at fault for the economic difficulties Americans face right now. They concentrate all their wealth at the top and keep everything for themselves while the rest of us suffer.. They choose to lay off workers and move factories overseas and pay low wages out of sheer greed. They played roulette with our 401k's and crashed the economy. They should be punished, taxed, regulated, and some of them investigated and charged. Income inequality needs to be addressed now, and aggressively.
A centrist tends to think that we shouldn't bring such blanket condemnation down on the rich. True, a lot of the rich do terrible things, like polluting our environment and committing greedy acts that hurt workers. But many rich folks work hard and deserve their wealth. There are some legitimate job creators in there. We have to be careful about “punishing” the rich because there could be unintended economic consequences.
But both agree that we have to protect the middle class and create opportunities for the working poor to move up the economic ladder.
Liberals tend to think that Democrats shouldn't be afraid to present a liberal, populist message. People will respond positively to it, if that message is presented with strength and courage. Democrats lose because they play to the center, and Americans tend to elect decisive leaders, not those who waffle around saying whatever will get them votes.
Centrists tend to think that there aren't enough voters out there that will respond to a liberal, populist message. It's been said on comments on this site that Elizabeth Warren running for President would guarantee a GOP victory. Democrats need to do what it takes to win. Keeping Republicans from doing further damage is more important than presenting and implementing a liberal, populist agenda.
But both agree that rightwing economic policy is destroying this country.
The words “liberal” and “centrist” are nebulous. They mean different things to different people. Many people with views I describe as centrist call themselves liberal. It doesn't mean they're not real liberals. It doesn't mean people to their left aren't real liberals either. Rants about how horrible people with left-wing views are aren't helpful. But neither is responding in kind. While writing this it occurred to me when someone asks me “why are you here” because I'm too far to the left, I should just ignore them and turn my attention to more constructive things.
I'm here because I think we have to address income inequality and help the working poor. Because anyone who works full time shouldn't live in poverty. Because everyone has the right to an education. Because when a loved one is sick, how to pay for care should be the last thing anyone should have to worry about. Because I want to be able to trust cops and the justice system someday. Because corporate America should be held accountable for their wrongdoings, just like everyone else.
I won't get everything I want. But we need a big tent to accomplish anything. Everyone has to be in. Everyone should feel welcome. If you cut off the left half of a big tent it's no longer big. We can argue about issues, but should be able to do so in good faith, without being divisive and telling people we disagree with on some issues to just get the fuck out already.
If we alienate half of the people on our side, can we still win? Or is it worth it to lose, just to not have to work with people we disagree with?