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> The plurality demographic within that party is liberal Not the European kind of liberal. They are "liberal" in that they want to track the race of everyone i

> The plurality demographic within that party is liberal Not the European kind of liberal. They are "liberal" in that they want to track the race of everyone in the country etc. So not very liberal at all, in Europe those things are called extreme. Liberal means individualism, freedom of thought, meritocracy, Democrats are not very into those things, at least those things are not the strongest factions in the party today.

woodruffw 2y ago
Sure. I'm talking about US politics; do you do this to Australians too[1]? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Australia
- Jensson 2y ago
  The topic is how Democrats compare to politics in other countries, why do you bring up something unrelated? My point is that the Democrats are very left wing on some issues when compared to the world. Sure not all democrats are as hard into those things, but they are still very into it compared to what is normal in other countries. So cooperating with Republicans might not be problematic in an economic kind of sense, but given that Democrats are so strongly to the left on other issues its a no-go. That was the topic.
  - woodruffw 2y ago
    No, the topic is US politics. I don't think it's even remotely controversial to observe that the US uses "liberal" differently than other countries with less insane politics do. That's why Australia is being brought up: the way they use "liberal" as a conservative political demographic has as much to do with how the US uses it as European countries do. Which is to say zilch.
    - Jensson 2y ago
      I am not criticizing the use of liberal here, I am saying that American liberals are very left wing since it isn't the right wing kind of liberal the rest of the world has.
      - lanstin 2y ago
        I don't get this. Most of the rich world has universal health care, strong unions, shorter work weeks, longer paid vacations, uni seats for most anyone who can benefit, mass transit, even union reps on company boards, birth control, all that sort of lefty stuff.
      - smackeyacky 2y ago
        Outsider here. Democrats are largely regarded as “Center right” outside of the US. I.e not very “left” at all.
        trealira 2y ago
        I really don't think they'd be regarded as center right anywhere in the world. People said that the Democratic Party was centrist during Obama's years, during which period many Democratic senators were closer to Joe Manchin than Bernie Sanders in terms of policy alignment. Today, the Democratic Party today is economically left-wing: they're in favor of funding welfare, pro-union laws, protectionist economic policies (such as tariffs), rent control (not universally), and workplace safety regulations. They're socially left-wing: they're in favor of criminal justice reform (including abolition of the death penalty), racial equity, LGBT rights, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and access to abortion. There's not a thing about them that's center-right.
        setopt 2y ago
        Norwegian here. We consider Democrats center-right and Republicans far-right compared to our parties. Most of the things you listed are supported by most mainstream parties here, even the ones considered right-wing. In addition, both US parties are economically far to the right compared to all major parties here. Our largest far-right party uses the US as a role model for economic policy.
pstuart 2y ago
> They are "liberal" in that they want to track the race of everyone in the country etc The US Census has tracked race from the beginning. America has always been very race conscious. > Liberal means individualism, freedom of thought, meritocracy, Democrats are not very into those things Depends on your point of view. There's plenty of examples that refute that, and plenty that show those values challenged in the opposing party. More so, the word is a label, not a credo; the party is a big tent. There's plenty of issue of concern about the Democratic party but not what you listed. I'm not a party member but find them less objectionable than their opponents.

woodruffw 2y ago

Sure. I'm talking about US politics; do you do this to Australians too[1]? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Australia

Jensson 2y ago
The topic is how Democrats compare to politics in other countries, why do you bring up something unrelated? My point is that the Democrats are very left wing on some issues when compared to the world. Sure not all democrats are as hard into those things, but they are still very into it compared to what is normal in other countries. So cooperating with Republicans might not be problematic in an economic kind of sense, but given that Democrats are so strongly to the left on other issues its a no-go. That was the topic.
- woodruffw 2y ago
  No, the topic is US politics. I don't think it's even remotely controversial to observe that the US uses "liberal" differently than other countries with less insane politics do. That's why Australia is being brought up: the way they use "liberal" as a conservative political demographic has as much to do with how the US uses it as European countries do. Which is to say zilch.
  - Jensson 2y ago
    I am not criticizing the use of liberal here, I am saying that American liberals are very left wing since it isn't the right wing kind of liberal the rest of the world has.
    - lanstin 2y ago
      I don't get this. Most of the rich world has universal health care, strong unions, shorter work weeks, longer paid vacations, uni seats for most anyone who can benefit, mass transit, even union reps on company boards, birth control, all that sort of lefty stuff.
    - smackeyacky 2y ago
      Outsider here. Democrats are largely regarded as “Center right” outside of the US. I.e not very “left” at all.
      - trealira 2y ago
        I really don't think they'd be regarded as center right anywhere in the world. People said that the Democratic Party was centrist during Obama's years, during which period many Democratic senators were closer to Joe Manchin than Bernie Sanders in terms of policy alignment. Today, the Democratic Party today is economically left-wing: they're in favor of funding welfare, pro-union laws, protectionist economic policies (such as tariffs), rent control (not universally), and workplace safety regulations. They're socially left-wing: they're in favor of criminal justice reform (including abolition of the death penalty), racial equity, LGBT rights, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and access to abortion. There's not a thing about them that's center-right.
        setopt 2y ago
        Norwegian here. We consider Democrats center-right and Republicans far-right compared to our parties. Most of the things you listed are supported by most mainstream parties here, even the ones considered right-wing. In addition, both US parties are economically far to the right compared to all major parties here. Our largest far-right party uses the US as a role model for economic policy.

pstuart 2y ago

> They are "liberal" in that they want to track the race of everyone in the country etc The US Census has tracked race from the beginning. America has always been very race conscious. > Liberal means individualism, freedom of thought, meritocracy, Democrats are not very into those things Depends on your point of view. There's plenty of examples that refute that, and plenty that show those values challenged in the opposing party. More so, the word is a label, not a credo; the party is a big tent. There's plenty of issue of concern about the Democratic party but not what you listed. I'm not a party member but find them less objectionable than their opponents.