The 5 types of Democratic party activists: which type are you?

[eg101]

There are 5 types of Democratic party activists:

1. Those who want in on the game: the wannabe careerists, with visions of fame and wealth. They play along with the game and support the big players, hoping for a chance to get in.

2. The earnest followers who "love their country." THey usually like American flags and crap like that.

3. The dilettantes. Studiously politically correct. Soccer housewives "doing their duty", and because political activism has a particular cachet associated with it.

4. Those obsessed with a particular politician.

5. The "bombthrowers" (metaphorically speaking, not literally speaking). They somehow got a glance backstage and saw the party going on, they saw the faux confilct between the GOP and the Dems as the pro-wrestling show that it really is. And they want revenge....

[NYC]

1. Interesting classifications.

I won't say which I am.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I think there might be more than five categories

because none of those fits me.

[Rockerdem]

22. Right

What about the studious, well informed part-timers who arent particularly flag-wavers or dilettantes? Like about 85% of us.

[NMDemDist2]

3. i don't think I fit any of those. I am....

...passionate about my country and in fear of the direction I see it going.

I'd much rather not have to "find" the hours in the week to try and effect change, but can't look myself in the mirror if I stand idly by without trying!

[Connie_Corleone]

4. Other n/t

[chicagojoe]

5. A combination of #2 and #5.

[OnionPatch]

6. I don't fit into any of these

How about "Terrified that if I don't do something my children will be left in a world that I wouldn't want to live in."

[eg101]

7. well, I think many of us are a mix

mutts, as it were

[Atman]

12. I'm with this one

I have two teenaged boys, almost 17, and 19. This blazing fuckwad occupying the WH is planning on using my kids as cannon fodder for his messianic quest to bring Jesus to the muslims.

Plus he's a demonstrable liar, and a conniving, ignorant tool of the neocon cabal.

Which "category" does that fit in?

And which one do YOU fit in, eg101?

[StClone]

8. Why do all these seem like a put down?

None of those seem positive.

[eg101]

9. umm....because whatever we are doing is not working

pudding, meet proof....

[CBHagman]

15. And attacking people who are at least making the effort helps how?

I'm getting Cheneying sick of people who appear to have an obsessive zeal for putting down those whose work doesn't have the desired result in a certain amount of time. By these standards, Susan B. Anthony ought to be tarred as a failure because women didn't win the vote during her lifetime, Van Gogh was a hack because he only sold one painting, etc.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be self-examination and the constant pursuit for an effective strategy, but there's a huge difference between building up an effective team and making cheap shots.

In the meantime, please stay away from anyone on a diet, learning to dance, applying for a job, or trying to finish a dissertation. There's enough misery in the world.

[Cheswick2.0]

35. We? So which category of Democratic ativist do you fit into

?

[Laurab]

10. Yeah, interesting

Where'd they come from? I don't fit into any of them either. None of them sound very flattering, either. How about just everyday people, who are aware enough to see their democracy being taken away right in front of their noses, and what to do something to save it? Or, just a normal parent with kids, who doesn't want them to become cannon fodder for an idiot's war? Or anyone elses kids, for that matter. How about someone who isn't an activist at all, or, never has been, but just couldn't ignore the illegal, immoral things the present administration is doing? Nope, I don't fit into any of those categories, I just happen to like democracy.

[chicagojoe]

13. Why does every thing have to be flattering?

I do my best fighting with my ugliness. We all have some sort of ugly
side. That's the side you smack the opponent with.

[eg101]

33. very interesting response: "why does everything have to be flattering?"

There is a certain brand of underground, radical political thinking that goes something like this: the elite and powerful of any society enforces a certain castration of the public dialogue: profanity is outlawed. Politesse must reign. Here is the USA, it is certainly true to a certain degree: if you speak a certain way (not even using profanity, or even shouting) at certain forums, you can be arrested for "distrubing the peace."

I think your "Why flattery?" post is aligned somewhat with this radical sschool of thought: deliberately antagonize, break the spell of deliberately bland, neutered political discourse.

Now negotiating over the details of some implementation of some program is one thing: certainly opposing sides should be polite and genteel. But this same way of thinking should not hold sway when it comes to discussnig the fundamental and underlying questions of politics.

[Laurab]

36. Everything doesn't have to be flattering

I just couldn't figure out why all five categories seemed kind of insulting. I do my dumbest fighting with my ugliness I think, not necessarily my best. However, I do think you have a point. With THIS particular opponent, smacking the opponent with ugliness just might be effective. It's certainly the kind of fighting they understand.

[proudbluestater]

19. LaurelB, sign me up in YOUR category! That's the kind of Dem I am!

[Atman]

11. Those categories are lame

Sorry...they don't even sound that "democratic." Did you make this up?

Like, #3...you've listed three things that don't necessarily even go together. A "politically correct" "Soccer Mom" "doing her duty?" WTF is that?

And why is #2, loving your country, "crap like that?" The flag is supposed to bad now? Or loving your country?

Sorry...I don't buy any into any of these.

[CBHagman]

14. I don't think I fit in any of those categories either.

To be honest, I didn't start volunteering for the Democratic Party until the 2000 election, but before that I was did get involved in various issues (gun control, human rights, etc.) and did the phoning, letter writing, and demonstrating that goes along with it.

[MaineDem]

16. "There are 5 types of Democratic party activists"

Says who?

These are bogus descriptions. Sorry, I don't buy any of this.

[proudbluestater]

17. A couple of those categories better describe Rethuglicans.

Soccer housewives? Not too many Democratic women fit that description.

Flag wavers? Not us either.

[annabanana]

18. bogus list.......................

with odd frame

[marcologico]

20. hey you left out heroin-addicted child molester n/t

[eg101]

21. what are you trying to do, give heroin a bad name? n/t

[ernstbass]

23. I am #6 - none of the above

[w4rma]

24. None of your choices. (nt)

[WI_DEM]

25. I'm not sure any of your categories fit me

I'm not a careerist, I love my country but I'm not a flag waver, I don't consider myself politically correct, I'm not obsessed with any politician--I have many I like and many I dislike, but obsessed--no. I'm not a bombthrower. So there we are.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. The kind that's disgusted enough to switch to Green.

The Democratic Party has become little more than a facade that profers the illusion of democracy on an oligarchy run by fatcat Capitalists.

[lapislzi]

27. Right back atcha, big guy

Your choices don't put the party in a very flattering light. Personally, I found all options insulting. What's your point?

There are plenty of people who are committed to a better America, plain and simple. That doesn't make us opportunists, or dilettantes, or whatever. Most of us are just Trying to Get on with It.

Since you asked, which kind are YOU? (You have to pick one of your own definitions).

[eg101]

28. what kind am I?

Have ya got a match on ya? I gotta Molotov all ready to go here....

[lapislzi]

30. By your own definition, you're an opportunist

just ready to jump into the fray and take advantage of the chaos to lob a bomb or two. How does that help the party, exactly?

Or am I reading it wrong? (flipping through index of Anarchist's Cookbook)

[Progressive420]

29. None of the above

How about someone who wants in the game to change the way things are and to actually help people your categories are very narrow

[lojasmo]

31. This is bullshit, just like the one at the other site. N/T

[digno dave]

32. uh ,rethink this list

[Cheswick2.0]

34. The kind you don't have listed.... what a crappy list

Those are not the only choices.