The Sad Case of DU's Wasted Potential: LET'S SHAKE THIS PLACE UP!!

[ulTRAX]

As possibly the premier forum for Progressive Left politics on the web... what should DU's role be? Is this just an information site? A place to rant or discuss events/ideas? A place to network? Or should DU should aim higher? I believe it should aim high.... to use grassroots energy to reshape American politics and our political system. It needs to explore the potential of becoming an on-line Progressive Think Tank. But the frantic pace here prevents ideas from ever being fully developed. Yes there are articles posted here and as we've seen from the Campaign Underground.... a collective project that turned out an actual "product", structure can yield results. I believe can do more to create an institutional memory... a "product".

I believe that can be accomplished by 1: revamping the topics of the forums. 2: use a mechanism that can provide continuity in brainstorming. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page It's a community encyclopedia. Anyone can edit it or return it to a previous state. It seems chaotic but it does work. Check out some of the articles. I think such a feature here in each forum could help in developing more focused strategies, talking points, ads, whatever. I proposed such changes last week: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x24383

I know, some forums were recently added but the new topics FAIL to reflect the range of Progressive thought. They merely mirror the ideological limitations of a Democratic Party... a party I consider to be ideologically bankrupt. I know... this board reflects the left wing of that Democratic Party. But it's foolhardy to encourage discussion along traditional lines while ignoring the BIG issues.... issues such as: constitutional reform, federalism, property rights, corporate rights, wealth distribution, taxation, markets, democracy, morality, US role in the world. Most other issues are basically subsets of the above.

Some will live in denial that the Democratic Party is just fine it's the nation that's stupid. Some will be content to blame an intellectually bankrupt DNC/DLC for the string of recent electoral losses. Some can blame a dysfunctional 2 party system or cling to a conspiracy theory that the election was stolen.

But this is the stark choice: unless places like the DU step up to the plate and help in developing a compelling Progressive message that sells well to the average American, then 10-20-30 years from now the Progressive movement will STILL be on the retreat, relegated to tweaking a dysfunctional political and corporate system created by the Right instead of trying to reform it.

[ulTRAX]

1. I want to propose a collective project: a new Common Sense

In keeping with my proposal... I'd like to propose a collective project. I'd like to create a new Common Sense for the Progressive movement... one that deflates the Right's Big lies but also make proposals that are need not be from the Left or Right... but just make... well, common sense to the average person... or will make sense after 5-10 years of persuasion. Many of the issue are NOT things the Democrats now talk about. Here's some a few issues of how the ideological pie can be sliced in any number of new ways...

To borrow from the Libertarians... citizens have the right to do anything that does not harm others. Government has, at times, a legitimate interest in curbing rights... but any laws that exceed legitimate intent are an abuse of power. Citizens will have the right to sue politicians for such abuses of power.

Laws shall be written to maximize freedoms not to needlessly restrict them.

Criminals owe debts of restitution to victims not society. Such restitution will be part of rehabilitation.

The free market does NOT always produce the best products at the best prices. Often the market is exceedingly wasteful. Government will encourage standardization whenever feasible.

The US has public lands that it does not need. Land that is too difficult to manage will be sold off but ALL proceeds will be used to purchase sensitive lands in other states.

Government will fund outreach to pregnant teens to promote adoption.

The must be rules changes in the House and Senate to curb abuses of pork being added to bills. The President needs the line item veto.

It's not an income tax. It's an opportunity tax. No one truly gets rich on their own. A good idea in an impoverished 3ed world nation where there is no infrastructure will not produce wealth. Taxation is the price of government services. Those who are enriched off social investments should pay.

[molly]

2. This is an email I recieved last week in response

to my email concerning voter fraud. This guy is extremely intelligent and hates *, so read this carefully before you flame him.

"MAYBE THE REAL CONSPIRACY IS THAT MICHAEL MOORE IS A CLOSET REPUBLICAN!!!

As a strong John Kerry supporter, and as this election unfolded, I sat in front of a TV early Wednesday morning in shock as it became clear that Ohio was a lost cause.

There was not a shadow of doubt in my mind that if this election came down to Ohio, then John Kerry would be sitting in the oval office. In a state where so many jobs have been lost overseas, how could it be otherwise?

Well, as reality set in, it became clear that those long lines of people were there not to oust the current administration, to to repudiate the Democratic Party. This, despite massive job loss, and a war which is slipping out of control.

How does such a thing happen???

Well, election fraud and voter miscounts have yet to be proven, but when all is said and done, I don't think that will be the case.

There is another reality here, and it is not necessarily a pretty or attractive one.

Leon Panetta summed this up nicely when he stated that Michael Moore has become the new face of the Democratic Party. And guess what, America repudiated that face.

Let's face it. Michael Moore, and issues such as gay marriage, etc. did more to lose this election than anything else. Middle America doesn't identify with Hollywood or Michael Moore. It's that simple. So, we as Democrats imploded on issues of social change and perception.

Going forward, we need to fight the battles that we can win. We need to take our case to the American people persuasively. The face of this party needs to change.

So, maybe Michael Moore and all are closet Republicans. When all is said and done, the perceptions created by that wing of the party did more to lose this election than anything else.

Maybe we need to face that..."

[ulTRAX]

3. michael moore

While I think there may be a bit of distaste with the elitist nature of the Hollywood crowd, I don't think it can be demonstrated that there was a real backlash that cost Democrats the election. I personally blame Kerry for running a terrible campaign... and the DNC for failing to see the difference between principle and mere pandering to a core constituency.

[tavalon]

4. I blame Diebold and EE & S

and the American people for ever allowing e-voting without an easily verifiable paper trail. If that isn't the definition of insanity, I don't know what is.

Maybe, just maybe, GWB actually did win this election but the likelihood is we will never know.

The UN observers who oversaw our election process and said it was worse than in Serbia. How many of you think Serbia might be the bench water for a fine and fair election system. I don't think so. That our potential and likely fraud is higher than Serbia is not good! Not even an approximation of good.

[ulTRAX]

5. I guess everyone misses the point

Voter fraud was never the topic of this thread. Helping reinvent the Democratic Party by rethinking DU was.......