I'd love to be a Democrat. This is my dream.
But guess what. It's just a word. And I'm afraid I've been bathed in way too much Orwellian language not to look at words twice.
SO Kos, I agree with you. The closest umbrella term to define the great variety of opinions your blog hosts is Democrat.
But I don't think we can be Democrats. Just because the Democrats don't know what they want to be. Just because Democrats could be the lesser of two fascist parties one of those days.
I can't seem to forget my history lessons, and how progress was made in our poor Western countries. I remember that although Jules Ferry reformed French education in 1880,1882, 1884 and made it public, as well as open for both men and women (OMG that was sooooooooo lefty at the time, limit revolutionary), he and I are obviously not on the same page on a great number of other issues.
I think one of the most dangerous message we can send the Democrats right now is: you guys can say whatever you want, because we know you're not the bad guys.
Sincerely, I wish I hadn't voted for Kerry by default. ANd I wish not to have to vote for Dean by default either. Please, don't have me vote Democrat by default...
The only way we can get the Democrats to move left right now, is to have them STOP MOVING RIGHT. Our country is taking such a right turn, led by neocons, that the Democrats are taking a turn with them, in the hope of somewhat being able to follow.
We need to reform our country. We need to reform the economy, reform wealth care, reform education, etc. But to do that, I'm afraid step 1 is going to be: reform the Democratic Party.
And have the guts to tell them we won't be Democrats NO MATTER WHAT. I'm sick of cleaning up the mess after them. Really. It's time WE told OUR REPRESENTATIVES to REPRESENT US.