Reply #1604: Some thoughts:

[LWolf]

First of all, you should know that my decrease in the amount I donate is directly related to changes in my financial status. For me, that downturn began in 2005, with some family crises, and has been made dire by the subsequent collapse of the economy. I don't find DU to be as friendly or welcoming as I did in the past, but that's not the reason why I'm not donating more. I donate what I can, based on what's in the bank, once a year.

Secondly, I KNOW that you don't much appreciate my contributions. That's why I can't even post a sig-line anymore. We've talked about it. Sort of. What is to the point is that the very situation that brought about the removal of that privilege is the same as what divides DU today. I dared to point out the divide in 2008.

We are divided. It is a deep divide. And I saw it coming. While I think your "center of gravity" metaphor works, I think there is another issue at the core of the divide. One you built into the site, and have not wanted, to my knowledge, to acknowledge:

The identity of DU as a "left-wing" message board and a partisan board. The Democratic Party is not "left wing." It is inevitable that there will be conflict between partisans whose goals are to advance the interests of the Democratic Party, regardless of ideology, and actual "left wing" people, whose goal is to advance left-wing positions on issues.

As site owners, you've made sure that, when push comes to shove, party will trump issue. But still, there's the "left-wing message board." The left is still allowed, as long as we are careful not to use the site to campaign for the downfall of a Democrat. Except, perhaps, for this November's Senate race in Florida.

"Left-wing" and "Democrat" can be broadly or narrowly defined. It has seemed to me that "left-wing" is narrowly defined to mean "left wing of the Democratic Party," which is not very "left-wing," and "Democrat" as been defined as anyone registered with the Democratic Party, whether or not their words or actions fit the party platform. A much broader definition.

The Democratic Party, and therefore DU, is in the midst of a Civil War (and mostly not so civil) to determine the identity of the party. Who, and whose values, does the party represent? Is it the "old" Democrats, who include labor, education, the poor, the disenfranchised, as an important part of the base, or is it the "new" Democrats, who are economic neoliberals, who downplay the contributions and values of those who have gone before, whose ideology bears more resemblance to Republicans of a few decades ago than Democrats? For some of us, it seems that this administration, and the party, are burning bridges to "old" Democratic blocks as fast as they can. It's not about "pragmatic, sensible" liberals vs idealists. It's about the evolution of the party into something new, and very different, from what it has been, and about what direction it will evolve.

Is there room for both?

I don't have the answers. I don't know what kinds of ideas you've got. Some changes have been, imo, counter-productive. The Rec/Unrec situation, for example, where unrecs (and sometimes recs) are used by organized groups as a guerrilla warfare tactic. I think it's led to furthering the divide, and making respectful discussion and disagreement more difficult.

As the Democratic Party goes, so will DU. Because, as we are constantly reminded, it's DEMOCRATIC Underground.

How will DU evolve? As a forum for policy issues, or a wing of the party's message police? Or something else? As site owners, you will determine the direction the site is allowed to grow. While I completely understand your reluctance to take sides, I'm racking my brain to try to remember some Civil Wars where no side, or all sides, "won." There may be some, but they aren't coming to mind this morning. If you don't take a side, I think the battles will get uglier, and bloodier, until one side gives up and goes elsewhere. If you do, the result will be the same. I think it's time for the site to evolve, and as owners, it's up to you to choose the direction.

I'll be here until you decide you don't want me.