Politics & News

Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

To be more competitive, Democrats should…

Poll - Total Votes: 28

Move to the center on economic & cultural issues

Move to the left on economic & to the center on cultural issues

Move to the left on economic & on cultural issues

Not change any of their positions

Show Results

You can only vote on one answer.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

CedricH · M

I‘ve made this poll because after every considerable defeat a party and their aligned pundits and analysts try to turn inwards and interpret the loss in a way that best suits their preferences. So a progressive Washington Post columnists or Bernie Sanders are naturally inclined to argue that the Democratic platform wasn’t economically left-leaning enough while more moderate voices will criticize how Democrats have steadily moved to the left on economics and social issues after Al Gore lost in 2000.

I fall into the latter camp. I have no doubt that America would choose Donald Trump over Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren every time. America is a center-right country. A center-right candidate could’ve won an actual landslide in this cycle, Trump, however, won by meagre 2% of the popular vote.

People voted for him not because they thought Harris was economically too moderate, they voted for Trump who‘s agenda was built around comprehensive tax cuts, deregulation, endorsed and funded by prominent and popular billionaires such as Elon Musk and Trump, in fact, ran on reducing the size of the government (except for the DoD budget) so the cuts will automatically affect the level of social spending. He ran on repealing Biden‘s climate legislation and he certainly didn’t promise more public spending on welfare or a higher minimum wage.

Americans still opted for him. They approved of his ideas and disapproved of the Democratic alternative.

It‘s time to realize that the Democratic Party should return to the successful triangulation of the 1990s under Bill Clinton, reclaim the center and restore their credentials for sound economic management in the eyes of the public.

View 1 more replies »

CedricH · M

@beckyromero I meant in a general election, not in the primaries. The GOP is no longer a center-right party, they still get center-right votes though.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@CedricH

Well, guess what? The Democrat Party primaries work the same way only in that candidates to the left generally get nominated.

CedricH · M

@beckyromero That‘s the problem with the primaries. The base of each party is further away from the center than the median voter or me for that matter.

Shaveit · 61-69, M

How about quit lying and deceiving

View 2 more replies »

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

MasterLee · 56-60, M

@CedricH so you really aren't interested in anything but rhetoric

ViciDraco · 36-40, M

I think moving towards the center on economic issues is a big reason for the loss, other than general misogyny. I, sadly, do actually know people that say a woman is not psychologically fit to be commander in chief so I count misogyny as a factor.

I believe democrats need to move left economically. More strongly embrace unions and labor the way Biden had started doing. Harris kind of shied away in the latter half to appeal more to the center and corporate donors. I feel Walz was leaning into the left, but VPs have little electoral influence.

I do not believe we should give ground culturally. But I think we may need to put a stake in the ground and focus on protecting what we've gained for a cycle or two. Absolutely continue to work on improvements, but be more incremental. We don't want to lose ground, but broader society needs a little time to adjust. Being too loud and moving too quickly causes more severe backlash. It feels evil to say we need to moderate the progress of cultural rights, but I do think it's pragmatic for a time. It's not a forever stance. Think of it more like catching our breath before the next sprint.

I marked that as moving to center culturally, but it really is more about establishing our current place as the norm before continuing left again.

View 5 more replies »

ViciDraco · 36-40, M

@CedricH I came to my positions not through predisposition but through consideration over time. I have moved left economically throughout my life because I don't see right wing economics as being sustainable long term. In my 20s I was Libertarian. I even voted for Bob Barr over Obama.

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

Pro-labor policy married to traditional values would be a powerhouse combination in the US.

One of the main reasons Trump crushed it.

@ViciDraco

CedricH · M

@ViciDraco Your consideration over time is your predisposition. It‘s just changed over time. I‘m an enthusiastic neoliberal on economic policy, that being said, from an analytical point of view 62% of the electorate considered the Democratic Party to be the more union-friendly party to 27% who thought the Republicans deserved that title. And yet… they didn’t win.
Over 40% of the country think that unions do more harm than good and over 60% of Republicans and or conservatives think that. Compare that to German poll numbers on the favorability of unions. The US electorate is thankfully not craving for so called (though mislabelled) pro-labor policies if they can get tax cuts, growth and macroeconomic stability instead.

DunningKruger · 61-69, M

The problem with moving to "the center" is that "the center" is now where the right-wing lunatic fringe used to be.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

ElwoodBlues · M

In the summer of 2023, Pew Research polled people about women in politics. And although the answers aren't self-reporting, it's true that many people will impute their opinions and motives to "others." So I take this question "Many Americans aren't ready to elect a woman to higher office" to mean being female was a major reason people voted against Harris.

ViciDraco · 36-40, M

@ElwoodBlues You don't need a majority to be misogynist, you just need enough people that would have voted for your side to not vote. Discrimination doesn't need to be super wide spread to tilt an election.

meJess · F

Actually listen to what voters want and clearly lay out their intentions to meet those wants.

Left or right is not relevant, you represent what the majority of your citizens want to see done.

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

Close up shop and let a new party that cares about patriotic US citizens replace it.

View 1 more replies »

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

No biological men in women’s sports
Seeks in states only abortion laws that permit abortion for any season up to a certain time (half way through? I can’t say) and after that only to save the life of the mother
No chickenhawks
End foreign war support
Pathway to citizenship for tax paying illegal aliens here for five or more years and no criminal record
Tight borders - reasonable pathway to citizenship for worthwhile legal immigrants
Smart tariffs
Let the free market decide energy issues and support more small nuclear power plants
Term limits
Defund NPR
Prevent opinion being labeled as news
Race and gender neutral employment and education rules
Defund government run universities pushing political issues
No PACS
Enforcing a max $3M budget for a presidential campaign and $750K max budget for Senate House or statewide office campaign
Continue DOGE and see if it produces results
Increase military compensation
Upgrade benefits for current veterans
No social security or Medicare cuts affecting anyone over 50
Go back to original IRA distribution rules for non spouse beneficiaries
Voter ID and same rules nationwide for federal elections. Brazil has that and gets final results two hours after polls close
Move towards a consumption tax

There are a few to start with

@CedricH

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@jackjjackson

No biological men in women’s sports
AGREE

Seeks in states only abortion laws that permit abortion for any season up to a certain time (half way through? I can’t say) and after that only to save the life of the mother
DISAGREE - restore Roe

No chickenhawks
DISAGREE - national security is paramount

End foreign war support
DISAGREE - that depends on the war

Pathway to citizenship for tax paying illegal aliens here for five or more years and no criminal record
AGREE - but how does that happen if they're all deported?

Tight borders - reasonable pathway to citizenship...
AGREE

...for worthwhile legal immigrants
What does that mean?

Smart tariffs
What does that mean? - I favor revoking PTNR for China

Let the free market decide energy issues and support more small nuclear power plants
What about the "edge" that big oil has because of PAST subsidies?

Term limits
DISAGREE

Defund NPR
DISAGREE

Prevent opinion being labeled as news
There's something called the First Amendment

Race and gender neutral employment and education rules
Explain please, especially on "education rules"

Defund government run universities pushing political issues
Explain please; don't faculty members have "free speech"?

No PACS
AGREE

Enforcing a max $3M budget for a presidential campaign and $750K max budget for Senate House or statewide office campaign
Would need a Constitutional Amendment

Continue DOGE and see if it produces results
LOL! Like hell!

Increase military compensation
AGREE

Upgrade benefits for current veterans
AGREE

No social security or Medicare cuts affecting anyone over 50
AGREE - but those under 50 are paying into those programs; you going to give refunds to them from the general fund? (and if so, how are you going to pay for those refunds?)

Go back to original IRA distribution rules for non spouse beneficiaries
Explain please.

Voter ID and same rules nationwide for federal elections. Brazil has that and gets final results two hours after polls close
AGREE - except for poll closing times and no cost for photo ID; we have more time zones than Brazil

Move towards a consumption tax
DISAGREE - You sound like Jerry Brown.

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

No biological men in women’s sports
AGREE

Seeks in states only abortion laws that permit abortion for any season up to a certain time (half way through? I can’t say) and after that only to save the life of the mother
DISAGREE - restore Roe

THINK ABOUT THAT. THE LIBERALS THST DECIDED ROE V WAD COULD HAVE DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLACE IN ABORTIONS AT ALL PERIOD. THE FACT THAT THE LIBERAL COURT PLACED IN EFFECT A SET OF RULES STARTED THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF ENDING IT WHICH THEY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN SMART AND DONE THAT.

No chickenhawks
DISAGREE - national security is paramount

DIFFERENT THING. CHICKENHAWKS AND RINOS TALK A BIG AGGRESSIVE GAME AND DO NOTHING EXCEPT MEDDLE AND DITHER. THERE IS NO REASON TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY WAR UNLESS THE ONLY GOAL IS TO WIN. TIME HAS PROVEN RINOS AND CHICKENHAWK DIMS ARE ONE AND THE SAME. TEDDY R HAD IT RIGHT. CARRY A BIG STICK AND ONLY USE IT WHEN YOU MEAN IT.

End foreign war support
DISAGREE - that depends on the war SEE ABOVE

Pathway to citizenship for tax paying illegal aliens here for five or more years and no criminal record
AGREE - but how does that happen if they're all deported? CRIMINALS ARE BEING DEPORTED. READ MY QUALIFIERS.

Tight borders - reasonable pathway to citizenship...
AGREE

...for worthwhile legal immigrants
What does that mean? IT MEANS THEY WILL BE PATRIOTIC CONTRIBUTING US CITIZENS.

Smart tariffs
What does that mean? - I favor revoking PTNR for China APPLIED CORRECTLY. CHINA HIGH. CANADA LOW. CASE BY CASE BASIS DEPENDING IF AND HOW A COUNTRY IS SCREWING US.

Let the free market decide energy issues and support more small nuclear power plants
What about the "edge" that big oil has because of PAST subsidies? AT THAT POINT ALL HAVE SUBSIDIES. WE ALL KNOW SMALL SAFE NUCLEAR IS BEST.

Term limits
DISAGREE

MISTAKE. LEADS TO GRAFT WHICH WE ALL SEE. UTAH HAS FIFTY OART TIME LEGISLATORS.

Defund NPR
DISAGREE

GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER PAY FOR BIAS. MAYBE UNBIASED FACTS.

Prevent opinion being labeled as news
There's something called the First Amendment. ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS DO NOT VIOLATE THAT.

Race and gender neutral employment and education rules
Explain please, especially on "education rules" SCHOLARSHIPS ADMISSIONS ETC

Defund government run universities pushing political issues
Explain please; don't faculty members have "free speech"? SURE BUT NONE ATE ENTITLED TO TAXPAYER MONEY AS AN ABSOLUTE

No PACS
AGREE

Enforcing a max $3M budget for a presidential campaign and $750K max budget for Senate House or statewide office campaign
Would need a Constitutional Amendment MOST WESTERN DEMOCRACIES HAVE THIS

Continue DOGE and see if it produces results
LOL! Like hell!

YOU KNOW IT WILL HELP

Increase military compensation
AGREE

Upgrade benefits for current veterans
AGREE

No social security or Medicare cuts affecting anyone over 50
AGREE - but those under 50 are paying into those programs; you going to give refunds to them from the general fund? (and if so, how are you going to pay for those refunds?)

NO REFUNDS. THOSE UNDER FIFTY CAN OPT OUT OF PAYING AND RECEIVING LATER.

Go back to original IRA distribution rules for non spouse beneficiaries
Explain please.

PRIOR TO THE 2022 FALSELY TITLED SECURE ACT A NON SPOUSE BENEFICIARY COULD SPREAD TAXABLE DISTRIBUTIONS OVER THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY. NOW THE MAX TIME IS TEN YEARS. SO WE FUNDED IRAS UNDER ONE SET IF RULES THEN DURING BIDEN TIME THE RULES WERE CHANGED AND SCREWED ALL OF US.

Voter ID and same rules nationwide for federal elections. Brazil has that and gets final results two hours after polls close
AGREE - except for poll closing times and no cost for photo ID; we have more time zones than Brazil

SURE A FREE ID HAS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WITHOUT PASSPORTS AMD DRIVERS LICENSES. TIME ZONES CONSIDERED IF COURSE

Move towards a consumption tax
DISAGREE - You sound like Jerry Brown

THE MORE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAXES THE FAIRER IT IS. A CONSUMPTION TAX HITS THE WEALTHY HARDER

@beckyromero

lpthehermit · 56-60, M

listen to fox news for how the real people view them and what we expect from our elected officials

gregloa · 61-69, M

Become Republicans

TrashCat · M

@gregloa Exactly. They should become a RINO and bring some integrity back

gregloa · 61-69, M

@TrashCat
Or they could all move to California and stay there and Trump could send all the illegals there and build a wall around California and they could live happily ever after.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

PeterF15 · 13-15, M

Maybe they have already moved too much on the left side...

thisguy20 · 41-45, M

Promote better / stronger candidates

MasterLee · 56-60, M

Abandon the progressives

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Add a comment...