4 ms·

Because the left has gone so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively. So by having the left come more towards the center, the whole

Because the left has gone so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively. So by having the left come more towards the center, the whole political spectrum would shrink back towards the middle.

bergenty 4y ago
seizethegdgap 4y ago
Abortion is about to become illegal in almost half the country, police departments overwhelmingly haven't been defunded, congress didn't pass an infrastructure bill, the federal minimum wage is still $7.25, there's still been no repercussions for 1/6, trans kids can't get proper healthcare in 2 republican States (and growing), there's no universal healthcare or student debt forgiveness, and there's still no meaningful gun reform. Your claim that the left has gone "so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively" is detached from reality.
- Auracle 4y ago
  >Abortion is about to become illegal in almost half the country A Supreme Court decision reversing one that was dubiously made in the first place. It'll be interesting to see how many of those states will roll back abortion from being illegal to something more reasonable. >Police departments overwhelmingly haven't been defunded An incredibly far left idea >Congress didn't pass an infrastructure bill It's pretty far left to say we need to spend trillions on new projects at a time with high inflation and a shortage of workers >The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 Which we found out is largely inconsequential in a time when McDonalds is advertising $17 an hour. >There's still been no repercussions for 1/6 Some people are going to prison for the riot. What other repercussions should there be? >Trans kids can't get proper healthcare in 2 republican States (and growing) Alternatively, two states are protecting children before they have the capacity to make completely life altering decisions. >There's no universal healthcare or student debt forgiveness Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly far left idea >And there's still no meaningful gun reform Most of things you listed, like this one, are things that the left wants shifted to the left. The whole point is that the left has shifted left, and pointing out that things that they want haven't been accomplished doesn't dispute that. It just means the right has been fighting to maintain the status quo - and certainly doesn't show that they've shifted right.
  - travisathougies 4y ago
    > Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly far left idea Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly aristocratic idea by which the slowly establishing american aristocracy seeks to tax peasants for their failed lavish lifestyles. It's not 'far left', and it shows just how duplicitous the supposed 'left' in this country has gotten. They're openly advocating for wealth transfers from the poor to the rich, and are attempting to portray themselves as the sole party of empathy, working class sympathies, etc. It's really something to watch from the outside.
  - eli_gottlieb 4y ago
    >It's pretty far left to say we need to spend trillions on new projects at a time with high inflation and a shortage of workers No it's not. The high inflation is precisely because of underinvestment in fixed capital and infrastructure.
- aerostable_slug 4y ago
  Drag Queen Story Hour is pretty far left. So are our abortion policies. OTOH, Biden is the one increasing police budgets. Maybe the party is "spreading" on the spectrum?
pmoriarty 4y ago
"the left has gone so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively." When people say stuff like this I wonder what planet they're from. It's not like the US even has a viable Socialist party, never mind a Marxist or Communist one. I've never heard a Democrat call for the abolishment of private property or a revolution of the proletariat. In America, dreams of that sort died with end of the 60's and 70s with the destruction of the Weather Underground, the assassinations of MLK, Malcolm X, and RFK, the neutering of unions and the labor movement. The rise to power of Reaganism in the 80s and the switch of former leftists to Neo Cons sealed the left's fate. Now pretty much everyone in America in any position of power (Republican or Democrat) is pretty solidly capitalist, which isn't exactly a far left position. Most of the leaders are also pretty pro-war and happy to support the military-industrial complex, which are not traditionally leftist positions in the US. Republicans, on the other hand, have called for revolution, and some have even acted on it. The major terrorist attacks on America since Timothy McVeigh have come from the right (which includes not only "patriot" and "militia" groups and the "lone nut" inspired by the endless hatred and calls for violence on conservative talk radio, but also Muslim fundamenalists, who themselves are pretty right wing and have much more in common with right wing extremists because of their anti-women, anti-progress, and theocratic views than with the left). The left in America is a complete joke when you compare it to how strong it is in Europe, where you can actually find viable openly Socialist and Communist parties, very strong unions, and solid social safety nets. What passes for the "left" in the US would be considered right wing there. The only thing remotely left wing that I can see in mainstream American politics today is support for abortion and tolerance of minorities and people of different sexual identities/orientations. While important, that's a pretty small ledge for the left to stand on.
- junofan 4y ago
  Today’s focus on equity indeed fits many, many definitions of far left: radical abolition of class. But if you restrict far left to abolishing private property, then sure.
- mountainriver 4y ago
  That’s really just not true overall. Bernie Sanders policies would be considered far left by even European standards, and he almost won the nomination. The abortion and social justice positions are also far left compared to Europe
eli_gottlieb 4y ago
Does someone want to explain to me how a recall vote in San Francisco is supposed to punish radical Leftists who hold no elected office, refuse affiliation with a mainstream political party, and basically function solely to organize protests/pickets outside the offices of actual politicians?

bergenty 4y ago

seizethegdgap 4y ago

Abortion is about to become illegal in almost half the country, police departments overwhelmingly haven't been defunded, congress didn't pass an infrastructure bill, the federal minimum wage is still $7.25, there's still been no repercussions for 1/6, trans kids can't get proper healthcare in 2 republican States (and growing), there's no universal healthcare or student debt forgiveness, and there's still no meaningful gun reform. Your claim that the left has gone "so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively" is detached from reality.

Auracle 4y ago
>Abortion is about to become illegal in almost half the country A Supreme Court decision reversing one that was dubiously made in the first place. It'll be interesting to see how many of those states will roll back abortion from being illegal to something more reasonable. >Police departments overwhelmingly haven't been defunded An incredibly far left idea >Congress didn't pass an infrastructure bill It's pretty far left to say we need to spend trillions on new projects at a time with high inflation and a shortage of workers >The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 Which we found out is largely inconsequential in a time when McDonalds is advertising $17 an hour. >There's still been no repercussions for 1/6 Some people are going to prison for the riot. What other repercussions should there be? >Trans kids can't get proper healthcare in 2 republican States (and growing) Alternatively, two states are protecting children before they have the capacity to make completely life altering decisions. >There's no universal healthcare or student debt forgiveness Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly far left idea >And there's still no meaningful gun reform Most of things you listed, like this one, are things that the left wants shifted to the left. The whole point is that the left has shifted left, and pointing out that things that they want haven't been accomplished doesn't dispute that. It just means the right has been fighting to maintain the status quo - and certainly doesn't show that they've shifted right.
- travisathougies 4y ago
  > Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly far left idea Student debt forgiveness is an incredibly aristocratic idea by which the slowly establishing american aristocracy seeks to tax peasants for their failed lavish lifestyles. It's not 'far left', and it shows just how duplicitous the supposed 'left' in this country has gotten. They're openly advocating for wealth transfers from the poor to the rich, and are attempting to portray themselves as the sole party of empathy, working class sympathies, etc. It's really something to watch from the outside.
- eli_gottlieb 4y ago
  >It's pretty far left to say we need to spend trillions on new projects at a time with high inflation and a shortage of workers No it's not. The high inflation is precisely because of underinvestment in fixed capital and infrastructure.
aerostable_slug 4y ago
Drag Queen Story Hour is pretty far left. So are our abortion policies. OTOH, Biden is the one increasing police budgets. Maybe the party is "spreading" on the spectrum?

pmoriarty 4y ago

"the left has gone so far left that everyone looks like they are far right comparatively." When people say stuff like this I wonder what planet they're from. It's not like the US even has a viable Socialist party, never mind a Marxist or Communist one. I've never heard a Democrat call for the abolishment of private property or a revolution of the proletariat. In America, dreams of that sort died with end of the 60's and 70s with the destruction of the Weather Underground, the assassinations of MLK, Malcolm X, and RFK, the neutering of unions and the labor movement. The rise to power of Reaganism in the 80s and the switch of former leftists to Neo Cons sealed the left's fate. Now pretty much everyone in America in any position of power (Republican or Democrat) is pretty solidly capitalist, which isn't exactly a far left position. Most of the leaders are also pretty pro-war and happy to support the military-industrial complex, which are not traditionally leftist positions in the US. Republicans, on the other hand, have called for revolution, and some have even acted on it. The major terrorist attacks on America since Timothy McVeigh have come from the right (which includes not only "patriot" and "militia" groups and the "lone nut" inspired by the endless hatred and calls for violence on conservative talk radio, but also Muslim fundamenalists, who themselves are pretty right wing and have much more in common with right wing extremists because of their anti-women, anti-progress, and theocratic views than with the left). The left in America is a complete joke when you compare it to how strong it is in Europe, where you can actually find viable openly Socialist and Communist parties, very strong unions, and solid social safety nets. What passes for the "left" in the US would be considered right wing there. The only thing remotely left wing that I can see in mainstream American politics today is support for abortion and tolerance of minorities and people of different sexual identities/orientations. While important, that's a pretty small ledge for the left to stand on.

junofan 4y ago
Today’s focus on equity indeed fits many, many definitions of far left: radical abolition of class. But if you restrict far left to abolishing private property, then sure.
mountainriver 4y ago
That’s really just not true overall. Bernie Sanders policies would be considered far left by even European standards, and he almost won the nomination. The abortion and social justice positions are also far left compared to Europe

eli_gottlieb 4y ago

Does someone want to explain to me how a recall vote in San Francisco is supposed to punish radical Leftists who hold no elected office, refuse affiliation with a mainstream political party, and basically function solely to organize protests/pickets outside the offices of actual politicians?