The Hierarchy Of The Left

[walldude]

How do you rank in the Gibby Rahmmy pseudo left wing hierarchy? Let's see...


Are you part of the "Loony Far left"? Many Socialist ideas, pro-Gay Marriage, anti-DADT, anti-war, pro-enviroment, pro-single payer, pro-union, pro-teacher, pro-constitution, anti-death squads, anti-torture, ? Congratulations, you aren't even on the fucking radar, go away.

Are you part of the "Far Left"? Some socialist ideas, pro Gay Marriage, anti-DADT, anti- war, pro-enviroment, pro- public option, pro-union, pro-constitution, anti-death squads, anti-torture? Congratulations.. you are a Fucking Retard.

Are you part of the "Professional Left"? Do you hold the same ideas as someone on the far left but are running a blog, or commenting on TV, or radio? Congratulations, you are in need of drug intervention.

Are you part of the regular old left? Anti-DADT, anti-war, pro-enviroment, pro-union, pro-teacher, pro-constitution, anti-torture anti-death squads? Congratulations, you can stay but shut the hell up because Dennis Kucinich will never be President.

Are you part of the new left? Anti-DADT(if we get around to it) Anti-Gay Marriage(can't be upsetting those Christians) pro-enviroment(unless it involves nuclear power and offshore drilling) anti-war(unless it's "necessary") pro-union(unless it gets in the way of corporate profits) pro-teacher(unless the kids are flunking) pro-constitution(as long as we get to kill Americans without a trial or jury on our say so alone)? Congratulations you fit right in, stand by the DLC will be calling you for donations.
If you could, make sure you give at least an extra 20% to make up for all the donations we won't be getting from the fucking retarded drug using Kucinich lovers.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I am loony, and hanging out here is making me even loonier.

[JoePhilly]

2. The more pieces we divide ourselves into, they weaker we become.

[elocs]

4. Congratulations! It's nice to read of someone who actually grasps this concept.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. It might be noted that it is the so-called 'mainstream' dems that are

declaring the left to be the "other", and saying they have no use for US.

Who is doing the dividing?

[JoePhilly]

9. Ummm ... no.

The folks that are dividing the Democratic party are those who use pretty much any issue as a litmus test.

I'll explain ...

I have always seen the GOP as being comprised of 4 roughly overlapping groups.

1) Extreme Corpratists
2) Extreme Neo-cons
3) Fiscal conservatives
4) Social conservatives

An individual on "the right" may identify or be farther to the right on anyone of these.

For example, a libertarian is usually considered to be "on the right" ... and yet, they tend to identify or hold more extreme positions only with groups 1 and 3. Libertarians are often against US military engagement, and socially liberal (usually).

If you apply similar dimensions to describe "the left", what do you get ...at the extremes you get something like this ...

1)The "all corporations are evil" group
2)Pacifists
3)Government has to provide all basics
4)Social liberals

People on "the left" will similarly vary across these dimensions.

And yet here on DU lately, what I see is that some folks seem to think you have to be at the extremes in all 4 dimensions to be considered "on the left", or "liberal", or "progressive.

Personally, I see these dimensions as representing a continuum. So you can personally describe yourself as a "moderate liberal", a "liberal" or an "extreme liberal".

A simple example, I was in a thread the other day in which it was proposed that a "true liberal" is against private property. You agree with them?

Because that's what it seems to have come to ... every issue becomes a litmus test.

[walldude]

17. It's not the issues that are a test it's the responses...

The "center-left" already has a seat at the table. The far left wants a seat but is not willing to compromise certain positions to do it. Tell me this, why is it that the people on the far left should be the ones to wait for their "pony"? Why should gays have to "wait" to get their equal rights? Because you already have yours? When you call a persons basic human rights a "pony" to be won in a game of politics, the person without those rights is going to be justifiably angry. The problem is the party doesn't see it that way.
Do you expect the gay community to keep on waiting, without being insulted? Ask yourself this, would you want to wait?

And this works with all the issues not just gay rights. You can't insult a person who is looking for help and then expect them to support you in the future.

[Individualist]

18. Ummm...yes.

DLC's objective was to divide and destroy the party. They've achieved that objective.

[EFerrari]

11. Precisely.n/t

[walldude]

8. Agreed, then can you explain why long time liberal Dems with legitimate complaints

are being forced out and marginalized?

[JoePhilly]

10. Who's been forced out?

[walldude]

14. Well maybe forced out is a bit harsh... how about "laughed out"

I and people like me have no desire to work for support or donate money to people who call us "fucking retards" and insist we need "drug intervention" because we happen to think the war in Afghanistan is a joke, or that Gay Marriage should be allowed or that DADT shouldn't be subject to the whims of a homophobic "poll".. fuck it lets go on, or that CIA Death Squads to kill Americans in a non-war zone without a trial should be illegal, or that the Patriot Act shouldn't have been extended, or that more money for nuclear energy is a mistake or that appointing a homophobic global warming denier to the panel working on the oil spill was a foolish decision.

People with these opinions are berated by the Administration, then they are maligned on places like DU. These.. these liberals that are going to cost us seats because they didn't get their pony. Well, I knew I wasn't getting any pony, but I had no idea that I was a fucking retard.

[EFerrari]

19. When you call someone crazy, drug crazed and retarded

what is it exactly that you intend to do?

[Raineyb]

13. Tell that to the White House. Apparently they didn't get the memo. n/t

[LWolf]

3. Loony here. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Well put.

And thank you for noting that Dennis is NOT way out in the looney left or even far left, but is simply an old style regular old left. There are simply so few of them (us) out there that he looks wayy left in comparison.

[walldude]

7. Yep.. we stand still and they keep moving the line...

eventually centrists are going to look like far left loonies.

[jillan]

12. Is there anyway you can change the wording "Fucking Retard" to something else?

It's very offensive.

Thanks.

[walldude]

15. I would but that is a quote from Rahm Emmanual.

Take it up with him.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. I think we can't let ANY democrats forget that is how Rahm thinks of the left.

I intend to use that term whenever I talk about Rahm.

Just as i used it when sending back to the DNC their request to donate.

I will never send any more money to any politician who thinks I am a fucking retard.

[Poboy]

20. "fucking retard' over here. -nt

[librechik]

21. Why do you have to put it so clearly and succinctly?

I want to fool myself that Democrats still stand for a few things that Republicans don't.
So shut up, please

(jk--keep screaming and never give up)

[Greyhound]

22. Pretty clever. K&R.

[rasputin1952]

23. Locking

For quite some time, we have discouraged the use of the word "retard", we maintain that regardless of the source, it will not be tolerated here on DU.