I came here a lifelong Democrat, having always voted the party line. I was completely ignorant of politics.
What I’ve learned since August 14, 2005…
There are authoritarians on the liberal side of politics too. As Republican conservatives reject reason, empathy, and change, so do Democratic conservatives.
For the last 25 years, conservative policy has been passed, and progressive policy blocked or watered down, by Democrats. It couldn’t have been done without them.
9 out of 10 people are ignorant about politics. (It may be slowly edging towards 8 out of 10) If they vote, they vote for whom they have traditionally voted like they’re loyal to the local sports team. If you speak realistically about politics, policy, and the government, they shut you out, or glaze over, or think you’re nuts. They don’t know who or what to believe, so they stick with tradition. I believe this has been deliberately encouraged to discourage participation. Real change is difficult without overcoming this. That ignorance is easily exploited.
No corporate media outlet provides any useful information. Their only value is entertainment, and consumers are exploited for partaking. Their purpose is to restrict the options, topics, people, and perspectives that will be allowed into wider discussion.
Wealthy people have bought themselves a license to steal by purchasing politicians and policy. Corruption and propaganda are legal, and thus, apparently, OK. Laws to address these things occasionally are passed with great fanfare, but not enforced. The wishes of the huge majority of Americans have no effect on policy.
The hippies have always been right about everything. That’s why they’re kicked around and never allowed to have a say if anyone can help it. People in charge hate people who are right about things, but they pay them lip service, and are happy to have the hippie vote when they need it.
Progressives, like Bernie Sanders and his supporters, are in the traditional political center, and seek traditional Democratic policies. The Democratic Party has moved right of center. The Republican Party is to the right of them. There is no political left. Our choices emerge from a debate between the center right and the far right; the center is rejected as left wing radicals.
In our country, there is a non-factual version of reality that millions of people subscribe to.
All the problems of our nation, from poverty, to unemployment, to corruption, to inequality, to racism, and on and on, are a result of deliberate government policy, despite often being presented as merely unfortunate and/or unforeseen circumstances.
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With 100 diaries I’ve never written anything here that someone else hasn’t said better. I’ve never hide rated anything. I’ve found validation and fellow travelers and encouragement in discouraging times. The site seems to have fundamentally changed, but it may just be my perception of it that’s different. Certainly a long, strange trip. There are always people here worth reading, Like Meteor Blades, OPOL, bobswern, etc. which make It worth coming here.