The Democrat's way of life can be summed up with one phrase.

[demgurl]

There but for the grace of God go I.

Everything we do encompasses this one phrase. OK, substitute your own word for 'God' but the sentiment is right.

We vote for people who will put into effect social programs to help ourselves as well as others.

We try to stick up for the little guy when we see him run over and down on his luck.

We volunteer to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

In short, we help others because we know that some day one of our own (possibly even us) may need that help as well AND it is nice to help out a fellow human being.

We vote the way we do because it is best for the overall interests of the people of this country, not because it may directly benefit us right now. Although being in a country where everyone is much happier is a nice benefit all onto itself.

I wish that all the people seeing * for what he is will not vote Democratic because of that but rather because now they see the light. They see they may have their jobs outsourced and that now they may go looking for programs that we wanted established for the good of all of our country.

I am a Democrat who has never used one of the social programs. I am a Democrat who has never had to get a school loan. I am a Democrat who has always voted Democrat. I am a Democrat who believes in helping others. I believe in our people as well as our country.

There but for the grace of God go I.

[niyad]

1. beautifully expressed and thank you. it's all about the golden rule (of

whatever belief system) isn't it? "do unto others" in all its many forms, because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

[demgurl]

14. You are welcome.

It is how I and, I hope, most of the DUers feel. I just could not help but read all those repug fed up with * letters and how they will have to go on the social programs when he outsources and I felt sad. I was sad that even though all the trees were right there before them, they still could not see the forest. I was sad that they should not join our party just to vote against the other party. Most of all I was sad because this could be such a great learning tool for them but I am afraid it is not turning out that way.

[ArbustoBuster]

2. Kicked and recommended.

[WLKjr]

3. It's the way I try to live

It's why I align myself with the Democrats.

It's because I care and feel empathy towards those worse off than me.

It's because it makes me feel human to help someone else.

[demgurl]

15. I do it to help others AND set an example for my kids.

It is very important to me that they grow up feeling it is their obligation to help others.

[understandinglife]

4. K&R.

Peace.

[femrap]

5. It seems that some people have the ability to

empathsize with others....I wonder if that is genetic???

However, if this economy doesn't start to pick up, my words to live by may become.....'Eat the Rich.' lol.

[demgurl]

17. I do not think it is genetic - unless I am adopted.

My Dad was a staunch Republican. My mom might as well be a republican. She ended up being executrix of a family estate and people had to sue her to even get their inheritance. 12 people ended up having to sue her and some of them were only owed $2,000!(it took over two years to get their money!) No, I don't think it is genetic but I hope it comes with a lot of examples as that is what my husband and I are trying to set.

[Booster]

6. Same here. I have been fortunate enough not to have to rely on

help, but I believe when people get in a desperate situation not of their own making, a little helping hand is all they need to get back on their feet. I always sing to myself "there, but for fortune, go you or I" by Joan Baez. Powerful song, powerful thought.

[demgurl]

21. I will look that song up tomorrow.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[Booster]

35. You're welcome. It's my favorite of all of Joan's songs.

[electropop]

7. Did you go to public school? Take any school loans?

Drive on any public roads? Ever call a cop? Do you have clean water and clean air available to you? Then you have used government-sponsored social programs. :-)

Of course, Republicans never do any of these things, so they don't need any of our bleeding-heart do-gooder programs. :sarcasm:

[demgurl]

8. Yeah, yeah....

of course I drive, etc, etc.... But you knew what I meant - and I know what you mean. Yes, we all benefit from these types of things. I think the main difference is we get it.

[DemReadingDU]

9. Indeed, we do get it!

Thanks, appreciate your original post.

[electropop]

10. Of course I know you get it, making the point that if we can easily

forget those things, imagine how easy that is for selfish Repugnicans. It's a very good argument to use on them when they need a little humbling and reminder of reality.

:grouphug:

[demgurl]

22. electropop, point well taken.

Thanks for the reminder.

[seito]

11. Well said

K&R

[demgurl]

23. Thank you, seito.

[1monster]

12. Yes. I use this phrase quite often. And I think it when I see homeless

people along the roads. When I have any cash, I give it to them.

And I tell them, "There but for the grace..."

[demgurl]

27. I sometimes give them more than cash,

I had a six pack (soda) in my car and it was hot out. I only had a few pennies so I offered the guy some soda and he gladly accepted it. You have to give what you can when you can.

[1monster]

38. My husband had a paper route (110 miles every night) during the first

Bush recession. He saw a lot of homeless people on his route. Quite often they were huddled up in doorways trying to keep warm. (Yes, it does get cold in the winter in Florida, it just doesn't stay cold all winter.)

So we bought as many blankets as we could afford, and loaded up on those silver survival blankets. Whenever he saw a homeless person after that on his route, he would give them a blanket.

[tgnyc]

13. The Republican phrase: "Thank God That Ain't Me"

[demgurl]

29. But with * in office it may well soon be most of us! eom

[benburch]

16. Wow, that was really good! nt

[demgurl]

28. Well I admire your posts, too! Thank you. eom

[arendt]

18. "Show me the prison. Show me the jail. Show me the prisoner...

with his face so sad and pale.
And I'll show you a young man, with so many reasons why...
There but for fortune go you or I...you or I"

- Phil Ochs


Same sentiment, set to music.

arendt

[Laelth]

19. Generally, those of us on the left ...

... are we people and not me people. We're equally selfish. "We" just tend to believe that "we," individually, will be better off if all of "us" are doing well. The "me" people assume a zero sum game. If everyone else prospers, the "me" person assumes he or she has become less prosperous by comparison. It's competition vs. cooperation.

just my 2 cents ...

-Laelth

[demgurl]

31. Nicely put. eom

[Sheri]

34. You're right.

We're always fighting to balance the competitive instinct (capitalism) with the collectivist instinct (socialism). Being liberal, to me, means finding a healthy balance somewhere in the middle.

[leftchick]

20. beautifully said demgurl!

:hug:

[Starfury]

24. Empathy is the defining difference between the left and the right - nt

[UrbScotty]

25. Amen. Thank you, demgurl.

;-)

[RareLubbockDem]

26. Wow

that's really, really beautiful.

Thank you.

[never_get_over_it]

30. I use three words to express why I'm a liberal

People over profit

[Laelth]

32. Hope!

(a picture to go with your sentiments, demgurl)



:toast:

-Laelth

[Sheri]

33. Yoda is too cool!

n/t

[nonconformist]

36. Well said. nt

[BuyingThyme]

37. Sorry, I don't like your post.

You sound like you live in an elitist dream world.

Do you really think you haven't "used one of the social programs?"

Get off your high horse, for God's sake.

[demgurl]

39. I am sorry if you feel I am elitist.

I truly did not mean to come across like that. The whole thread only came about because I was reading all of those anti-bush letters the freepers were writing. They said how they hate him and how they will have to take advantage of some of the social programs because of the economy and/or outsourcing. They voted against us because of these programs and the fact that they did not need them at the time. If they did not need them then it did not matter whether someone else needs them including you or me.

I really try to keep my posts positive just because it is so easy to fall into a pattern of negativity. I am sorry if it came off as being elitist, that is not how it was meant.

[OnionPatch]

40. I think you're right

that this is probably one of the main differences between us and them, at least it sure seems that way to me.

BTW, I am a Dem who has been in both places. My younger childhood was upper-middle class but we fell onto hard times and lived in poverty for several years during my teens. (I might add this was during the Reagan era.) All of us made it through, were educated, etc. because of that little extra help we received from good old Uncle Sam and also from the availability of good union jobs. Now all of us are hard-working, successful people and liberals every last one of us. We know from experience that hard times can fall on anyone so we don't begrudge any help our government gives them.

[adwon]

41. No

That phrase is a prayer of thanksgiving to God for favor shown to the speaker that was not shown to the other person. It contains a great deal of unconscious arrogance, in that, God has chosen the speaker for some special life while ignoring the other (I'm not imputing arrogance to you, but to the sentiment expressed in that one phrase).

[IronLionZion]

42. As demgurl gets sent to Camp X-ray

For such blatant anti-American pinko commie sentiments!

jk

Well said. Everybody does better when EVERYBODY does better.