# I have left the Democratic Party. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 6, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140 "2019-06-06T20:39:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/121 "2019-06-08T22:30:53Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > What significant policies that disfavor the rich and favor everyone else have the democrats passed in the last, oh, 30 years? > > Sure, you can point to bills they tried to pass and never got anywhere - and they may have actually tried to legitimately pass such things - but who knows? Maybe it’s like the Republican charade where they tried to repeal the ACA 50 times for show. The medicaid expansion as part of the ACA is the only thing I can think of. The ACA itself as a whole really wasn’t destructive towards the rich and existing profiteers in the insurance industry. > > At best, you can say the democrats are wildly incompetent. Aside from a small minority, I’m leaning more towards it all being theater. “The fact that the Democrats are trying and getting shut down by Republicans is proof the Democrats aren’t doing anything and won’t stop talking about bathrooms!” Feel free to keep ranting at clouds, but I’m still going to be pointing and laughing when you realize that isn’t rain falling on your face because “both sides are the same”. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/122 "2019-06-09T22:07:59Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Perhaps he merely meant that you should apply your knowledge with greater force, to ensure that it gets into the minds of those trying to resist it? I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/123 "2019-06-10T19:53:36Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Can you point to an area, on the doll, where the Party hurt you? I almost feel like I should not be laughing at that, but I can’t help myself. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/124 "2019-06-11T05:37:00Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > And yes, we made a lot of progress in a hurry on gay rights. Fantastic. What else have democrats done? This country has more wealth inequality than it ever has. Labor is the weakest it’s been in a century at least. Public policy almost never lines up with public desires. Our government is not really a democracy. Is that all worth gay marriage? This is a pretty naive take on the factors affecting the success of various liberal causes. It’s not that Democrats and liberals in general (especially the growing contingent of Democratic Socialists) haven’t been supporting worker-friendly and environment-friendly policies at least as strongly as so-called “identity politics” causes such as gay and trans rights. No, it’s that the “cultural” causes like minority rights are the only ones that don’t get massive pushback from the American corporate establishment and other wealthy elites. Modern plutocrats mostly don’t care about denying rights to minorities, but they care a great deal about not increasing the power and autonomy of workers, or social safety nets for the non-wealthy, because that might interfere with their undemocratic exercise of power. So the so-called “identity politics” causes are the ones where liberal support actually entails some genuine progress, because wealthy elites mostly have little interest in trying to sabotage them. And naive people interpret that to mean that the “identity politics” causes are the only ones that Democrats/liberals are actually supporting, and blame Democrats/liberals for the lack of progess on the other types of causes. Open your eyes and take a look at who the opposition is. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/125 "2019-06-11T17:39:26Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I am only affiliated for the primary vote. That’s the sole good reason for party affiliation in my book. In 2016 I changed my registration to Republican, making it possible to vote against Trump in the Ohio presidential primary. There was little downside, except now I’m getting fundraising letters from Ivana Trump. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/126 "2019-06-11T21:12:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > That’s the sole good reason for party affiliation in my book. Good, because it’s the only time it ever matters in the US system. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/127 "2019-06-12T02:03:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Good, because it’s the only time it ever matters in the US system. Nitpick: I can think of another time, at least. It provides data to political campaigns (general or primary) as they decide whether and how to target you with ads, canvassing, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/128 "2019-06-12T02:47:59Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Nitpick: I can think of another time, at least. It provides data to political campaigns (general or primary) as they decide whether and how to target you with ads, canvassing, etc. The grand old party sends me a reminder to vote in the general election, although the supervisor of elections already sends me a reminder. Oddly enough, the GOP only reminds me to vote in the general election while the supervisor of elections gives me dates for the primaries and instructions to obtain a sample ballot too. I haven’t gotten any fundraising solicitations, but I’m sure it is just luck… ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/129 "2019-06-12T02:59:17Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Nitpick: I can think of another time, at least. It provides data to political campaigns (general or primary) as they decide whether and how to target you with ads, canvassing, etc. I get plenty of ads, direct mail, canvassing, email, etc. from both Democrats and Republicans. And the NRA. And I don’t even live in a swing state! Or own a gun. I think all anyone needs is to show a passing interest in politics online, and we’re in everyone’s crosshairs. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140/130 "2019-06-12T18:41:38Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > **QuickSilver** , it’s just backing up on me, the way the Dems are so hell-bent on impeaching Trump, they’re not accomplishing anything. Whoever gets the nomination next year will be running solely to beat Trump, not because they want the job for its own sake. Do you like always like to wear your ignorance like a shiny crown, or is this new? > [@](#): > > "Leader McConnell has turned the Senate into a legislative graveyard for priorities the American people care about,” Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. > > McConnell grinned at the characterization that House bills were going nowhere in the Senate. > > “I think that’s pretty accurate, yeah,” he told The Times. > > Democrats flush with a new House majority after nearly a decade in the minority are sending over a rash of bills most political watchers believe have little chance of passing the Senate, such as universal background checks for gun purchases, net neutrality, climate change, congressional ethics, expanding voter access, raising the minimum wage and more. > > [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-congress-divided-house-senate-passing-few-laws-20190415-story.html) But yeah, the Democrats are only talking about impeachment. But even as McConnell laughs, he appreciates your support. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-left-the-democratic-party/835140.md?page=6)