# Democrats Leaving Party Over "Socialism" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 28, 2019, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651 "2019-03-28T07:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/41 "2019-03-29T14:30:47Z")
I have mentioned this before, but Democrats don’t have to worry about moderates voting for Trump instead of some extreme progressive - they need to worry about them not voting at all. The Trump faction in the GOP will vote for Trump no matter what. The anti-Trump faction in the Democratic party will vote for the Dem no matter what. Moderate Dems who can’t bring themselves to support Trump but also can’t support a socialist stay home. Moderate Republicans who can’t support a socialist will IMO be more likely to vote for Trump. I didn’t vote for Trump. If the Dems nominate Sanders or someone like that in 2020 (I don’t think they will, but they might) I probably will vote for Trump. Because it \*is \*possible to have a worse President than Trump. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/42 "2019-03-29T19:00:39Z")
This smells a lot like astroturfing. I dont believe a word of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/43 "2019-03-29T19:53:43Z")
> [@leavesoflight](#): > > I currently volunteer for an organization that helps elect Democrats. Every day I come in I get about 2-3 calls from “life-long Democrats”, often older retired voters, that either tell me they’re leaving the party in protest, or numerous acquaintances of theirs are thinking about it. Not to an independent, like switching affiliations to Republican and voting Trump. And it’s always out of fear of either the opioid crisis (apparently Democrats encourage addiction??), or Bernie’s “Socialism”. They really think Bernie is a full-blown Communist. > > I voted for Bernie in 2016 and plan to do so again, but I can’t believe how much hate from those “life-long Democrats” he’s getting (along with AOC and the like). Of course, the people calling in are going to be those with the strongest opinions and I’m not using them to generalize the party too much. > > BUT, is there a chance the Democrats really are losing the more centrist, Clinton voter, block of voters? I don’t think nominating someone like Beto would do any good based on what I read and the calls I get. > > It might be worth noting I live in an R-leaning state, but I’ve had people call across state lines, for reasons unclear. Redirect them to Andrew Yang ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/44 "2019-03-29T20:09:38Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Redirect them to Andrew Yang Not sure directing old retirees to a con man is the socially responsible thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/45 "2019-03-30T06:07:36Z")
The radicals hack out the path and clear the camp site. The progressives build the cabins and the liberals show up when the hot showers are installed. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/46 "2019-03-30T13:59:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Depends if people believe $275 billion is enough to pay for free tuition and M4A. (It won’t - it won’t even eliminate the current deficit.) > > Regards, > Shodan We’re aware it isn’t. M4A is funded by a payroll taxes and progressive taxes. The savings from not paying premiums, copays, deductibles, etc will offset the 6-12% payroll tax that is split between employer and employee. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/47 "2019-03-30T14:00:41Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The radicals hack out the path and clear the camp site. The progressives build the cabins and the liberals show up when the hot showers are installed. Is there a difference between progressives and liberals? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/48 "2019-03-30T19:50:22Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > We’re aware it isn’t. M4A is funded by a payroll taxes and progressive taxes. The savings from not paying premiums, copays, deductibles, etc will offset the 6-12% payroll tax that is split between employer and employee. We’ve gone over this several times. Doubling federal personal and corporate income taxes will not pay for M4A even if major cuts in spending are implemented and significant administrative savings are realized. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/49 "2019-03-30T20:51:37Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We’ve gone over this several times. Doubling federal personal and corporate income taxes will not pay for M4A even if major cuts in spending are implemented and significant administrative savings are realized. > > Regards, > Shodan How about a payroll tax set at the same level as company paid health insurance premiums? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/50 "2019-03-30T21:03:37Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ve gone over this several times… Well, that certainly settles\* that\*! ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/51 "2019-03-31T01:24:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I have mentioned this before, but Democrats don’t have to worry about moderates voting for Trump instead of some extreme progressive - they need to worry about them not voting at all. > > The Trump faction in the GOP will vote for Trump no matter what. The anti-Trump faction in the Democratic party will vote for the Dem no matter what. Moderate Dems who can’t bring themselves to support Trump but also can’t support a socialist stay home. Moderate Republicans who can’t support a socialist will IMO be more likely to vote for Trump. > > I didn’t vote for Trump. If the Dems nominate Sanders or someone like that in 2020 (I don’t think they will, but they might) I probably will vote for Trump. Because it \*is \*possible to have a worse President than Trump. > > Regards, > Shodan Aw look, a “fiscal conservative” caring about the deficit again after Republicans spent another two years blowing it up to give the rich a tax cut. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/52 "2019-03-31T02:07:36Z")
Totally Obama’s fault. Things got so bad, the Waltons moved to California! “Good night, John-Boy.” “Yo.” ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/53 "2019-03-31T15:18:42Z")
“Socialism,” huh? Even if it were true that what _some_ (not all!) Democrats are trying to peddle is true socialism (which I don’t think it is) - even if that _were_ true, that would be worse than what Republicans are doing to us all right now, in what way(s), hm? Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/54 "2019-03-31T19:31:41Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > “Socialism,” huh? Even if it were true that what _some_ (not all!) Democrats are trying to peddle is true socialism (which I don’t think it is) - even if that _were_ true, that would be worse than what Republicans are doing to us all right now, in what way(s), hm? Please explain. I dont believe a word of what the OP is trying to sell. Us democrats dont use “socialism” incorrectly like the republicans do. And afaik the Dem party is increasing. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/55 "2019-03-31T23:06:47Z")
> [@leavesoflight](#): > > I currently volunteer for an organization that helps elect Democrats. > … Can you tell us the name of the organization? ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/56 "2019-04-02T13:01:37Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > My favorite is, “I didn’t leave the Democratic party; the Democratic party left me.” 30 years ago the Democrat party was generally viewed as the working class party. Truck drivers, factory workers, and plumbers. Doctors, lawyers, and the wealthy were the Republicans. Today, the working class are Trump voters and the wealthy Bezos, Gates, and Buffet are the Democrats. So when someone like a plumber says the Democrat party left him, it’s pretty much true. The Democrat party shut down the government to help illegal aliens enter the country not to help rein in the cost of healthcare or fight the opioid epidemic things that the working class care about. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/57 "2019-04-02T13:04:10Z")
When did that happen, before or after Trump shut down the government to violate his primary campaign promise, because he wanted the US taxpayers to pay for his grift? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/58 "2019-04-02T13:09:14Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > 30 years ago the Democrat party was generally viewed as the working class party. Truck drivers, factory workers, and plumbers. > > Doctors, lawyers, and the wealthy were the Republicans. > > Today, the working class are Trump voters and the wealthy Bezos, Gates, and Buffet are the Democrats. > > So when someone like a plumber says the Democrat party left him, it’s pretty much true. The Democrat party shut down the government to help illegal aliens enter the country not to help rein in the cost of healthcare or fight the opioid epidemic things that the working class care about. The polling statistics do not support this. While working class white people have tilted a bit more towards Trump/GOP than in past elections, working class black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian people (and other non-white categories) have tilted strongly away from Trump and towards the Democratic party, resulting in somewhat of a wash when overall working-class statistics are looked at. And your assertions about the Democratic party (it’s Democratic, not “Democrat party”) are also false. The government shut down occurred because the President said he would shut down the government, then actually did what he said and shut down the government, at the same time that the Democratic party was passing bills to open the government that had past support from both parties. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/59 "2019-04-02T14:43:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The radicals hack out the path and clear the camp site. The progressives build the cabins and the liberals show up when the hot showers are installed. Then the Trumpers build a wall around the site, and let the cabins fall into disrepair. Then they blame the liberals,and swear they have a plan to fix things which they will unveil in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651/60 "2019-04-02T14:49:20Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > 30 years ago the Democrat party was generally viewed as the working class party. Truck drivers, factory workers, and plumbers. > > Doctors, lawyers, and the wealthy were the Republicans. > > Today, the working class are Trump voters and the wealthy Bezos, Gates, and Buffet are the Democrats. > > So when someone like a plumber says the Democrat party left him, it’s pretty much true. The Democrat party shut down the government to help illegal aliens enter the country not to help rein in the cost of healthcare or fight the opioid epidemic things that the working class care about. You misspelled “Trump shut down the government to force the American people to pay for the wall he said Mexico was going to pay for”, but even with that, you’re still largely wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-leaving-party-over-socialism/831651.md?page=4)