Why are we comparing a different countries politics to ours?

[TCJ70]

Is it a valid comparison of electorates?

[BeckyDem]

1. Because then you don't have to defend your lousy policies.

You can replace them with fear. Don't go left! lol

[wcast]

3. +1000

[House of Roberts]

2. It's not even a valid comparison of issues.

[Fresh_Start]

4. how about both countries are fighting similar battles

disinformation
foreign influence
right wing protectionist policies
federal government hiding facts from the electorate

[crazytown]

5. Because simplistic talking points are easier

than analysis.

[elleng]

16. Thanks

[LanternWaste]

6. As in most analogies, there are relevant similarities as well as critical differences.

I haven't really seen any "they are precisely the same, so..." posts.

Just posts pointing out relevant similarities.

[TCJ70]

9. Here's one:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=379503

[OldRed2450]

7. Many on the left here in USA were comparing Corbyn to Bernie.

Now that he lost they want distance. AOC, the Bernie's campaign and others were pretty public about it.

[TCJ70]

10. Do you have examples of those campaigns comparing themselves to Corbyn? N/t

[OldRed2450]

11. Well, AOC endorsed Corbyn and so did Bernie's campaign

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

8. It's a stupid comparison.

[PhoenixDem]

28. Only because Corbyn lost very badly

If Corbyn had won, the very same people who are complaining about comparisons would be dancing in the street saying "this is an indication that Bernie is electable."

[rogue emissary]

12. I wish people would ask those same questions.

Especially when certain candidates use those arguments to justify their ideas on universal health care etc.

[The Valley Below]

13. It is only a "stupid" comparison when a populist-socialist gets crushed

in the worst wipeout for Labour since the 1930s.

Had Corbyn won we'd be hearing how populist-socialism was the wave of the future.

Be real.

[Skya Rhen]

18. This... a million times, this!!!

[PhoenixDem]

29. ++++++++

[TidalWave46]

14. Points are often made by way of comparisons.

"Is it a valid comparison of electorates?"

That is a valid question and it is up to the people supporting the main argument to make the case that it is a valid argument. On face value your question can go both ways. It is dependent on what is being argued. It cannot be broad brushed as your query outlines.

[dewsgirl]

15. I think a small part of it is, the fact that Russia is manipulating

both of our countries. That and Boris Johnson appears to be Trump lite.

[Mike 03]

19. That's my view too.

There are similarities. There's the foreign interference, the contamination of social media by disinformation. Another is that populism is spreading like a virus in traditionally deeply Democratic nations, and a lot of us (me) don't fully understand why voters are making the decisions they are making, against their own self-interest. British voters chose austerity after complaining against it since Cameron was PM. My interest isn't about beating up on our candidates (who I really like), it's about trying to understand what's going on and how to staunch this virus to prevent 4 more years of Trump.

EDIT: There's also the problem of large segments of our respective countries believing things that are easily disprovable and making important decisions on the ballot because of it (i.e., Brexit).

[comradebillyboy]

20. Because Corbyn is called the British Bernie and both Bernie and

AOC vocally endorsed his candidacy.

[booley]

21. It was inevitable

IF Labour had won, people would still be making comparisons.

Its just noise. As far as I am concerned Labour's loss just means there's more work to be done. As much bluster as Centrists seem to be doing, they have to yet to come up with any real policies that will fix the problems.

[PhoenixDem]

30. It is over for Bernie

No amount of "more work to be done" will prevent him from going Corbyn's way.

[DavidDvorkin]

22. Because American Exceptionalism is a foolish belief.

[TCJ70]

23. What does that have to do with anything?

I wouldn’t compare theirs to anyone else’s or ours to anyone else’s.

[DavidDvorkin]

24. That's what underlies this discussion.

[Spider Jerusalem]

25. Not remotely.

Nor is it a particularly valid comparison for other reasons: Corbyn was not popular and has not been popular. The single largest reason cited by people who didn't vote Labour in a post-election poll was "the leadership". A month out from the election a majority of poll respondents said Boris would be a better PM than Corbyn. For comparison purposes, the RCP polling average has Sanders up 8.4% on average over Trump: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html

[Renew Deal]

26. Because humans look for patterns?

And the platforms between Labour and Democrats in primaries are comparable. And because the election was such a blowout that it is noticeable.

[Mike Nelson]

27. There are valid comparisons...

... "All politics is local" is a good rule, but there are exceptions to rules. There is a worldwide attack on liberal democracy, by foreign and domestic authoritarian figures. The worldwide immigration issue is one of the things they are using most effectively. Looking at other countries - Turkey and the UK, for example - can help us formulate a plan and meet challenges.