Why would anyone for Democrat?

[Tombs]

What does it matter if people can't even agree on what progress is.

You don't hate America enough to understand that progress is burning the American flag and banning air conditioning.

 

[Leadeye]

Voting R lets you keep your money. Voting D is to have other people's money given to you.

Lots of people earning a good living from dem supported and created programs, that's why they vote for dems. Foreigners support US government leadership that hands out cash and favors or bring jobs out of America to their countries.

Always follow the money

 

[PaulF]

Yeah. Just what you should expect to see here.

Go to "Anytown" and ask why anybody would want to own a gun...you'll get the same type of responses.

The opposition are idiots, they are insincere, they don't really understand the issue, they are corrupt...these answers are rote, verbatim partisan playbook responses.

Democrats vote Democrat because to vote Republican seems unconscionable to them, not because the Democrats are stalwarts of their personal ideology.

Just like the Republicans are to us...

 

[halfmileharry]

I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal, and used to vote R until the "christian" extremists took over the party 20-25 years ago. I was raised with Christian principles and try to practice them, but Republican policies are antithetical to everything that "love your neighbor" stands for.

Between hatred masquerading as religious freedom, racism and disenfranchisement under the guise of "preventing voter fraud", taking rights from women while pretending to "protect their health", attempts to deny access to health insurance, and the desire to destroy Social Security and Medicare, I couldn't take it any longer. And now they present a candidate for the most powerful position in the world who routinely insults almost everyone, has no grasp of how our system of government works, and has a temperament which is wholly unsuited for political leadership??

How on earth can anyone with a conscience support the Republican party?

For me it's to undo the damage the dems have done to this country and what they are proposing to do in the future.

 

[Maximinus Thrax]

What does it matter if people can't even agree on what progress is.

Having a conversation between two people who don't automatically assume the other is a complete idiot based on their political ideology would be a start. I've had a few conversations like that, it's amazing how two politically opposed people can have an intellectual conversation and both walk away having learned something about the other.

To be honest, I consider it a civil responsibility to engage in conversations like that. However, ANYONE who assumes that the other person is "miserable", "angry", "brainwashed", a "moron", or is simply a "gun grabbing libtard who wants to take away our rights" is completely incapable of engaging in intellectual conversation because their own prejudice and hatred will prevent them from allowing a two way conversation in the first place.

 

[dwagner3701]

You sound like a typical union guy
How about some facts for you....
The dems started every welfare progam out there.
Most of the dem voters are on those programs...that's why they keep voting democrat. They are the party of free stuff.
The amount of people on those programs has doubled under democrat rule.
There are actually fewer people with full time jobs and healthcare under the obamacare act.
The democrats are racist...they are the promoters of affirmative action BS. You have to hire minorities even though they aren't qualified.
Democrats are all about illegal immigration....not because we need the workers, but because they all come here and get on the govt. tit...and then vote democrat to stay there.
Democrats push the global warming scam because its about the taxes and money they get from it. Even the Brits. have given up on it.
Democrats want more and more power over the people, and they want (need) to take your guns away to get and keep that power.
Every city or state in this country that is run by democrats is a disaster and in financial ruin.
They aren't even calling themselves democrats anymore... they are socialist and communists
Take a good hard look a Europe or Venezuela ...that is whet socialism and communism gets you....and it's you future under the democrats

 

[PaulF]

You sound like a typical union guy
How about some facts for you....
The dems started every welfare progam out there.
Most of the dem voters are on those programs...that's why they keep voting democrat. They are the party of free stuff.
The amount of people on those programs has doubled under democrat rule.
There are actually fewer people with full time jobs and healthcare under the obamacare act.
The democrats are racist...they are the promoters of affirmative action BS. You have to hire minorities even though they aren't qualified.
Democrats are all about illegal immigration....not because we need the workers, but because they all come here and get on the govt. tit...and then vote democrat to stay there.
Democrats push the global warming scam because its about the taxes and money they get from it. Even the Brits. have given up on it.
Democrats want more and more power over the people, and they want (need) to take your guns away to get and keep that power.
Every city or state in this country that is run by democrats is a disaster and in financial ruin.
They aren't even calling themselves democrats anymore... they are socialist and communists
Take a good hard look a Europe or Venezuela ...that is whet socialism and communism gets you....and it's you future under the democrats

I'm sure you have loads of supporting evidence for these blanket statements, right?

Otherwise, this comes off sounding lite typical partisan partisan drivel, dismissed as easily as it is declared.

Any true-believer liberal could run off a rant against Repiblicans just as long, and with just as tenuous a grip on reality.

...and this is the problem I've been trying to illustrate. It's easy to cut cartoonish holes in the "other guy's" views, when you start from staw men.

Democrats do it to us all the time.

...lets try for a little more intellectual honesty from our side?

 

[eldirector]

Having a conversation between two people who don't automatically assume the other is a complete idiot based on their political ideology would be a start. I've had a few conversations like that, it's amazing how two politically opposed people can have an intellectual conversation and both walk away having learned something about the other.

To be honest, I consider it a civil responsibility to engage in conversations like that. However, ANYONE who assumes that the other person is "miserable", "angry", "brainwashed", a "moron", or is simply a "gun grabbing libtard who wants to take away our rights" is completely incapable of engaging in intellectual conversation because their own prejudice and hatred will prevent them from allowing a two way conversation in the first place.

I have had several really good conversations with a co-worker/friend who is 180* different than I in her voting. Turns out, we want many of the same basic things. We just have completely opposite ideas how to get there.

Example: to feed all the kids that go hungry, she would gladly tax everyone and provide 3 meals a day at school and more food to take home. Me? I'd end all school and government food programs, and instead focus on creating employment opportunities for their parents (and encourage BOTH parents to raise their kids).

In my humble little perspective, many Liberals want the "easy fix" to life's problems. Just throw more of someone else's money at it. Heck, even a lot of so-called Conservatives fall for that. Any candidate that promises to make things a little better with no sweat equity is a shoe-in.

I'm more for fixing the much harder root problems. Sure, it is hard, take's longer, and will make a lot of folks uncomfortable in the short term, but at least the problem will be SOLVED (for a while, anyway).

 

[halfmileharry]

I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal, and used to vote R until the "christian" extremists took over the party 20-25 years ago. I was raised with Christian principles and try to practice them, but Republican policies are antithetical to everything that "love your neighbor" stands for.

Between hatred masquerading as religious freedom, racism and disenfranchisement under the guise of "preventing voter fraud", taking rights from women while pretending to "protect their health", attempts to deny access to health insurance, and the desire to destroy Social Security and Medicare, I couldn't take it any longer. And now they present a candidate for the most powerful position in the world who routinely insults almost everyone, has no grasp of how our system of government works, and has a temperament which is wholly unsuited for political leadership??

How on earth can anyone with a conscience support the Republican party?

Where's the hatred please? I'd love an answer that doesn't sound like it came from the DNC or CNN.
Closing our borders? Common sense.
Not destroying Christian values but allowing preference to other faiths?
Racism on the top tier? How please.
There's nothing wrong in having ID to vote as you have to do to buy guns, cash checks, drive a motor vehicle.
I really do want to see your point but I'm having trouble understanding half truths and propaganda.
For the record.... I'm an Independent and haven't voted a straight ticket since Reagan vs Dukakis.
I try to listen and watch with an open mind and all I'm getting is emotional bs from both sides but I look to dig out the facts and truth when possible.

 

[jamil]

Having a conversation between two people who don't automatically assume the other is a complete idiot based on their political ideology would be a start. I've had a few conversations like that, it's amazing how two politically opposed people can have an intellectual conversation and both walk away having learned something about the other.

To be honest, I consider it a civil responsibility to engage in conversations like that. However, ANYONE who assumes that the other person is "miserable", "angry", "brainwashed", a "moron", or is simply a "gun grabbing libtard who wants to take away our rights" is completely incapable of engaging in intellectual conversation because their own prejudice and hatred will prevent them from allowing a two way conversation in the first place.

Goes both ways. I've posted before about conversations I've had with my wife's sister and her husband. They are lifelong Democrats. They're both very smart. She has a MS in analytical chemistry, and he's an architect. We get along well, and we've had many civil but lengthy political discussions over the past 30 years. Certainly I don't think they're democrats because they're stupid.

I've concluded that our differences stem from a fundamental disagreement on human nature. That gives them a different sense of morality, judgement of priorities, and naturally, their view of the purpose and role of government is much different. They think individualism is selfish, and that capitalism is so flawed that we should "try something else". They supported Bernie.

Egocentrism seems most intuitive, so people most naturally assume that if you don't think like they think, there's something wrong with you. And that's the reason for this thread. People don't understand how people could actually believe in the things liberal/progressives believe. But it works both ways. My SIL/BIL try to "tolerate" that I enjoy firearms, but they can't hide their sense that they think it's immoral. I have no doubt that they're less tolerant towards firearms enthusiasts who aren't relatives.

I've long thought that rather than liberal vs conservative, if we must use tidy dichotomies to pigeonhole ideologies, a more accurate division is the line between what we think about human nature, and the result of that tends to give us either an individualist or collectivist world view. And the problem is that the two world views don't live easily together because even when we agree on what the problems are, we have wildly different ideas about solutions.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

"Why would anyone for Democrat?"

Because they're better than the Republican option. Why else? Not that that's necessarily the case at the moment. But I could name a few non-Clinton Democrats that I would happily vote for in 2016.

 

[spec4]

IMO a large amount of Dem voters are, to use a cliche, "low information voters". I've had many discussions on politics with Dems over the years and have found this to be true. When I point out some of the stunts the Dems have pulled, it is news to the listener. My family was all blue collar Dem. They considered the GOP to be for the rich. I heard this as a kid and it took me some time to figure it out for myself. I was white collar, did OK, and never had anything handed to me.

Funny thing, sis in law a dyed in the wool Dem. Thinks if we were all in unions there wouldn't be any unemployment. She called my wife after Trump's speech and said she agreed with everything he said. I am still in shock. Her husband also Dem. He once told me the reason he is Dem is because they "look out for the little guy".

Nowadays I am reluctant to get into political discussions with Dems, just not worth it. Although because I have a low tolerance for BS I will occasionally jump in.

 

[david890]

Voting R lets you keep your money.

So, who is paying the $660B defense bill this year? That's $2200 for EVERY American...

 

[Dead Duck]

I have been pondering for quite awhile why a person would vote Democrat. I would really like to have an adult conversation of why someone would believe that the Democrats and their values are the right direction for America. Basically, give me your best sales pitch on leftist thinking...

Well.......

Oh- "An Adult Conversation".....Pffftt

Nevermind....

 

[bobzilla]

the ideas that they are supposed to be championing are noble and will appeal to a certain group of people. Helping the working class, fighting for rights of hte minorities, expanding the safety net to help families get back on their feet etc. I can understand that. IT's the responsible thing to do. Just like the the ideas the republicans are supposed ot be championing: less gov't, strong defense, supporting the constitution etc.

Sadly neither party is really supporting ANY of those ideas anymore and the most recent events have just shown that. So I can understand why someone DID vote D(or R). The bigger question NOW is why would anyone CONTINUE to vote D (or R)? When they have (both sides) gone above and beyond to show the entire world they don't give 2 ****s for their core values that brought them to where they are. When they have shown repeatedly that they really are a "class" above us peons and the rules they make don't apply to them at all.

So that is the biggest question of all. Why do people CONTINUE to vote for the people that have shown they really don't care about your values or the values that they are supposed to represent?

 

[HoughMade]

Because the Executive VP of their local told them too?

I'm in NWI- does it take more than that?

 

[david890]

Closing our borders? Common sense.

But generally unenforceable. Folks have been crossing EVERY border of EVERY country for millenia. Heck, a friend of mine accidentally SKIED into Italy from Switzerland. Seems he wasn't the first, as it took no more than a valid lift ticket to ski past the border guard back into Switzerland.

Not destroying Christian values but allowing preference to other faiths?

What Christian values have been "destroyed"? What if someone ISN'T Christian? Shouldn't government respect the Establishment Clause?

Oh, and Matthew 6, 5 & 6.

Racism on the top tier? How please.

I'm not sure what this means....

There's nothing wrong in having ID to vote as you have to do to buy guns, cash checks, drive a motor vehicle.

No, there's nothing wrong with having an ID to vote. There is, however, something VERY wrong when you require people to jump through many hoops - be it time invested, travel, other paperwork, etc. - in order to obtain an ID. Especially when there's little or no evidence of voter fraud. We could dispense with IDs and merely use an indelible dye on a finger; if your finger is inked, no more voting for you. How hard is that, given that's how democracies like India do it (and they handle 3-6x as many voters as the US).

 

[jamil]

So, who is paying the $660B defense bill this year? That's $2200 for EVERY American...

Not that defense spending shouldn't be cut to a reasonable level, National defense is a legitimate role of the US government. Wealth redistribution is not.

 

[printcraft]

....No, there's nothing wrong with having an ID to vote. .....

Glad you see it that way.

......There is, however, something VERY wrong when you require people to jump through many hoops - be it time invested, travel, other paperwork, etc. - in order to obtain an ID. Especially when there's little or no evidence of voter fraud. ...........

Wait..... What's wrong with the hoops AMERICAN CITIZENS have to jump through to get an ID. I did it, you may have done it.
I'm pretty sure I invested time, travel, other paperwork, etc. to get my I.D. Yep, as I recall I did all of that. Now, where is my crying towel?

......We could dispense with IDs and merely use an indelible dye on a finger; if your finger is inked, no more voting for you. How hard is that, given that's how democracies like India do it (and they handle 3-6x as many voters as the US).

India have a problem with illegal, non-citizens trying to vote?

We can just dispense with ID's so illegal aliens get to vote as long as they just dip a finger in the ink. Solid plan for the demoncrats.

 

[jamil]

Somebody rep that man. My wealth must be redistributed before I can.