Finally! A coherent message coming from the Left. Let's have anti-corruption, END Citizen's United be our rallying cry.
I was so upset when Graham Platner was ousted from running for Maine. I thought he seemed like the real deal: a working class, educated, articulate individual who has served our country not to enrich himself but because he believes it is the right thing to do. Yes, I am a woman, and I have three daughters, all of whom have experienced sexual harassment from men. But I was willing to overlook his faults (we have a rapist criminal as our president and a beer-guzzling, frat boy, rape culture freak sitting on the Supreme Court, after all) before I understood that Platner had been "picked" or "pushed forward" to run by the Democratic Party Elites. Chuck Schumer and your old-school co-horts, please step aside and let new ideas prevail. We need to get behind a message. The people are hungry to run our country on OUR terms, not lining the pockets of career politicians. Political office needs to be time-limited (Supreme Court MUST have term limits) and be understood AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.
I am a community college teacher and several of my students (and remember that most community college students represent ordinary, grass roots Americans) have independently asked to research Social Democracy and what it would mean for our country to adopt systems more aligned with better protections for the people (universal healthcare, social security, a smaller military budget, companies held as cooperatives, employee owned, etc.). They are coming to this question on their own. They are interested. They see their parents struggling; they are struggling with uncertainty, they can't make decisions about their futures as they don't have the basic level of security needed to do so.
And we need to examine and articulate these terms (Democracy News, please help with this). I believe it is Social Democracy we are after, not Democratic Socialism, we can hash this out as needed, but the public wants to know what this path could be (thank you for getting the conversation started, Zohran Mamdani), and once we understand it, we can pursue it as a nation and end the era of big money in politics.
Sorry for the cut/paste definitions, but it is important that we are clear what we're after:
Social Democracy View of Capitalism: Accepts capitalism as the primary economic engine but believes it must be tamed by state intervention to prevent extreme inequality. Economic System: Operates a mixed market economy where businesses are privately owned, but the government heavily regulates industries and provides universal public services (e.g., healthcare, education, and pensions).Primary Goal: To manage capitalism in the public interest, creating a strong social safety net so all citizens can thrive. Real-World Examples: Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are widely cited as prime examples of social democracy.
Democratic Socialism View of Capitalism: Considers capitalism inherently exploitative and undemocratic, believing that wealth and power should not be concentrated in the hands of private elites. Economic System: Prescribes an economic model where major industries, utilities, and natural resources are brought under public, cooperative, or worker ownership. Primary Goal: To transition entirely away from a profit-driven capitalist system toward one driven by human need, equality, and workplace democracy. Political Strategy: Operates within a multi-party democratic framework rather than through authoritarian central planning. Organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America in the U.S. advocate for these systemic shifts.
AMERICA is a beautiful, amazing land of hope and freedom! It is so worth saving for all the people in the world. We have to fight for our dreams and the dreams of people all over the world.
Finally! A coherent message coming from the Left. Let's have anti-corruption, END Citizen's United be our rallying cry.
I was so upset when Graham Platner was ousted from running for Maine. I thought he seemed like the real deal: a working class, educated, articulate individual who has served our country not to enrich himself but because he believes it is the right thing to do. Yes, I am a woman, and I have three daughters, all of whom have experienced sexual harassment from men. But I was willing to overlook his faults (we have a rapist criminal as our president and a beer-guzzling, frat boy, rape culture freak sitting on the Supreme Court, after all) before I understood that Platner had been "picked" or "pushed forward" to run by the Democratic Party Elites. Chuck Schumer and your old-school co-horts, please step aside and let new ideas prevail. We need to get behind a message. The people are hungry to run our country on OUR terms, not lining the pockets of career politicians. Political office needs to be time-limited (Supreme Court MUST have term limits) and be understood AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.
I am a community college teacher and several of my students (and remember that most community college students represent ordinary, grass roots Americans) have independently asked to research Social Democracy and what it would mean for our country to adopt systems more aligned with better protections for the people (universal healthcare, social security, a smaller military budget, companies held as cooperatives, employee owned, etc.). They are coming to this question on their own. They are interested. They see their parents struggling; they are struggling with uncertainty, they can't make decisions about their futures as they don't have the basic level of security needed to do so.
And we need to examine and articulate these terms (Democracy News, please help with this). I believe it is Social Democracy we are after, not Democratic Socialism, we can hash this out as needed, but the public wants to know what this path could be (thank you for getting the conversation started, Zohran Mamdani), and once we understand it, we can pursue it as a nation and end the era of big money in politics.
Sorry for the cut/paste definitions, but it is important that we are clear what we're after:
Social Democracy View of Capitalism: Accepts capitalism as the primary economic engine but believes it must be tamed by state intervention to prevent extreme inequality. Economic System: Operates a mixed market economy where businesses are privately owned, but the government heavily regulates industries and provides universal public services (e.g., healthcare, education, and pensions).Primary Goal: To manage capitalism in the public interest, creating a strong social safety net so all citizens can thrive. Real-World Examples: Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are widely cited as prime examples of social democracy.
Democratic Socialism View of Capitalism: Considers capitalism inherently exploitative and undemocratic, believing that wealth and power should not be concentrated in the hands of private elites. Economic System: Prescribes an economic model where major industries, utilities, and natural resources are brought under public, cooperative, or worker ownership. Primary Goal: To transition entirely away from a profit-driven capitalist system toward one driven by human need, equality, and workplace democracy. Political Strategy: Operates within a multi-party democratic framework rather than through authoritarian central planning. Organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America in the U.S. advocate for these systemic shifts.
AMERICA is a beautiful, amazing land of hope and freedom! It is so worth saving for all the people in the world. We have to fight for our dreams and the dreams of people all over the world.
I believe in capitalism moderated by social needs. The unrestrained capitalism we have now is an abomination.
I am a Democratic voter, but I think all primaries should be open to everyone.
This is part of why I started Civic Independence / The People’s Declarations.
People need more than outrage. They need a way to stand together without being absorbed into another machine.
When public will is scattered, power manages it. When public will is clear, power has to answer it.