Has anyone noticed how veering to the right is never considered "too far," but even the slightest move to the left...

[AStern]

... is treated like radical overreach?

From tax breaks for billionaires to book bans and draconian abortion laws, the right can push extremes and still be called “mainstream.” Yet when Democrats propose universal healthcare, tuition-free community college, or raising the minimum wage, it’s instantly labeled as “socialism” or “too extreme.” The Overton window has shifted so far right that even modest progressive reforms are painted as dangerous, while authoritarian creep from the right is just another policy debate.

Just thought I'd ask. This is especially for those losing their shit over the Zohran primary victory.

EDITED to add that this is also intended for conservative Democrats that insist on moving the party platform to the right.

[people]

1. Good Observation

[markodochartaigh]

2. It's like

the authoritarian reich-wing are using an anti-empathy kkkompass to guide them as they goose step towards fascism.

[MiHale]

3. Playing hardball usually...

Breaks a few windows…need a ball to sail through that window and let the left breezes blow again.
First a breeze, then strong wind, always blowing left.

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. Yea, because the ruling class sets the narrative.

Anything that even slightly changes the balance in favor of the workers is “destructive” and “dangerous”.

If we can get people off of all the stupid, divisive so-called wedge issues and just make it all of us against these billionaire scumbags, we’d have something going.

But that’s easier said than done.

[kimbutgar]

5. It's another example of IOKIYAR It's ok it you are a Republican/rightwinger

I get so tired of the hypocrisy of this authoritarian rule.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Yes I've noticed...I think Zohran, followin Bernie's playbook, has captured people's attention on how to win elections!

[vanessa_ca]

7. Oh yeah. You see it all over the DNC supporting sites

to include DU. And people wonder why voters insistent on changing things and doing so, especially the younger ones, don't come here.

I had to register at DU to see posts calling Bernie Sanders an antisemite. Repulsive and absolutely shameful!

There were days I just wanted to delete my account and forget about this place, but I'm glad I didn't because there seem to be more and more people pushing back against the old guard here now.

[AStern]

12. Progressive/New Deal initiatives seem to get a lot of backlash.

That's how far to the right this country is.

[Bettie]

34. Come sit next to me

we can be all progressive together. There's a good handful of us around, maybe not a majority, but a growing number.

[vanessa_ca]

46. Thank you. I will. And you're right that it's a growing number.

[Magoo48]

63. Yes, a strong progressive agenda delivered by enthusiastic next gen. Politicians.

Because, in these times, sitting on the fence that runs down the center of the road is capitulation.

[ck4829]

8. Great question!

[Duncan Grant]

9. I could learn to ride a bicycle, but I'd rather crawl.

Let me sternly warn you, a bicycle is incredibly dangerous!

[blubunyip]

10. The so called Left

ie. democratic socialism—has never been represented in America. The Democrats have always been centrist. As long as these labels —left, right, center —are used to distort public opinion, we can’t come together. I don’t use these terms. As you say anything labelled “left” is trashed immediately even if it’s part of a very positive agenda. The terms conservative vs progressive vaguely work — but sane vs insane is what it really is. There is no opposite to MAGA. And all Trump voters are MAGA.

[markodochartaigh]

41. I agree with you generally.

However, Henry Wallace, FDR's first vp would have fit very comfortably with today's definition of democratic socialism. And on the local and state level there were a number of similar elected politicians in the early 1900's, even in the Midwest.

I think that the muddying of terms is an inherent part of the process of mal-education, lies, and celebration of ignorance which is necessary to keep us divided and conquerable.

[blubunyip]

101. But then

Baaad Socialism. “Socialism” = Baaad. And that has been ironed in over and over. Yep all about keeping us divided and easier to control. And easier to steal from.
We no longer have a common language.

[soldierant]

50. Part of the problem is that the labeling we use is inaccurate.

Or maybe I should say it's accurate as far as it goes, but it's incomplete.

Left and right refer to economic theories. But there is more to politics than just economics. There is also the dichotomy of authoritarian and egalitarian. The last election was not about left and right, it was about autocracy and democracy, and the left and right labels obfuscated that reality.

The Political Compass (https://politicalcompass.org) goes into more detail on this than I have time to (when I discuss it, I substitute "egalitarian" for their "libertarian" because that word has been appropriated, and I feel "egalitarian" better expresses what they mean). I recommend it. It will expand your concept of politics in multiple ways.

[blubunyip]

100. Agree

We do need new terms. Left vs Right is not working. Sadly yes, the last election is more clearly defined by ‘autocracy’ vs ‘democracy’ as you say— only a fool could deny that after what we’ve seen. But at least now it’s clear to more people that egalitarian democratic principles are at stake and we cannot afford to look away.

[W_HAMILTON]

11. The Overton window is bound to shift when those on the left sit out elections and let extremist Republicans win.

Furthermore, when the most progressive administration in decades watches as many progressives turn their backs on it, and then we all watch as Republicans win election after election on their way to sweeping control of the federal government, you think the reaction is going to be, "hey, let's double down on winning over notoriously fickle and unreliable voters that are quick to abandon us" or is it going to be, "hey, let's try to win over those voters that voted for Republicans and actually propelled them to victory?"

Yes, the Overton window has probably shifted rightward in certain regards here in the U.S., but it's because in the face of ever-increasing Republican extremism, a sizable segment of the left chose to not fight back or -- even worse -- fight back against those that are also on the left.

Our nation would be quite different today had those on the left that could have voted for Gore, Hillary, and Kamala did so rather than Nader, Stein, and others that had zero fucking chance of becoming president.

[Cirsium]

13. Blame the progressives?

So divisive and destructive. You feel free to bash and malign and blame progressives, but object to any criticism of conservatives in the party.

You would have us believe that people advocating left wing positions cause the voters to move to the right. That is pretty illogical.

[W_HAMILTON]

21. I am a progressive, so I am """cleaning up my own house""" here.

And I have plenty of complaints about the handful of conservative Democrats that have thwarted Democratic policy, e.g., Sinema (once Green Party member, former progressive), Fetterman (former progressive), Manchin, etc.

Those are deserving of blame, just as those on the left that kneecapped Gore, Hillary, and Kamala are.

And advocating leftwing positions while never actually accomplishing turning any of those leftwing positions into enacted policy, all the while you act as useful idiots to the Republicans and Russians that are cheering you on because they realize that you are driving a wedge between those on the left so they and their extremist rightwing buddies can more easily win elections -- that's not illogical, it's what's been happening for damn near a decade now.

[Cirsium]

48. I see

I am not talking about Sinema, Fetterman, Manchin (or any other politicians as far as that goes.) I am objecting to the ideas you just expressed.

I strongly disagree with the idea that the left kneecapped Gore, Hillary, and Kamala and "advocating leftwing positions while never actually accomplishing turning any of those leftwing positions into enacted policy" or "act as useful idiots to the Republicans and Russians." I do not think that we are driving wedges merely because we don't agree with the moderates, centrists and conservatives.

That is usual attack line that is constantly leveled at progressives and at the Left. Starting off with "I am a progressive" doesn't change that.

[W_HAMILTON]

65. You claimed that I "object to any criticism of conservatives of the party," which was wrong.

I can tell you paint people with a broad brush, so I explained to you how wrong you were.

And it's not just about disagreeing with moderates, centrists, and conservatives -- there is a subset of progressives that ascribe evil intentions to ALL those in the party that have differing viewpoints. And whether you agree with my comment that Republicans, Russians, etc. have used certain progressives and progressive issues to divide the left so as to help right-wingers win elections, it matters little to me because it is a proven fact, regardless of whether you believe it or not.

Do you not think we progressives should put forward candidates that are capable of winning on their own, on their own merits, rather than whining about """rigging""" when they can't convince enough voters to vote for them? Because I do. In fact, when progressive policy polls so well yet progressive candidates often fail at the ballot box, I think that is a sad indictment on the progressive candidates that we are promoting.

Again, I mentioned Sinema and Fetterman, because these both were once hailed as up-and-coming progressives -- not because they had many (any?) progressive accomplishments to their name, but because they were deemed not to be part of """the establishment""" and because they called themselves progressives. That's it. And then they win their elections, get into office, and are complete failures from a progressive viewpoint.

We progressives need to put more value on actual progressive credentials and achievements rather than having it reduced to just someone we like/young/not """establishment""" or else we will be doomed to watch the progressive movement continue to falter and not achieve much. Progressives say that Democrats needs to give people a reason to vote FOR something rather than AGAINST someone -- well, let's take our own advice and stop blaming others for our failures to convince the electorate that our progressive politicians and their policies are what's best for them.

Again, let's clean up our own house first, shall we?

[Cirsium]

73. We disagree

We disagree on every point you just made.

I find it odd that while you claim to be a progressive, you repeat every argument that is commonly used to discredit and malign progressives.

[aocommunalpunch]

14. I'd argue it's worse.

We have folks telling us pushing for our principles is a purity test. We're being kneecapped.

[rurallib]

15. Guess who owns the media that propels the propaganda

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Mostly Workers

Mountains of media stock is held in retirement funds.
And, there are seldom holdings out of single digit percentages in said companies
It's media management that is the problem, because they're busy protecting their cushy overly compensated gigs and the truth & public trust be damned.

[leftstreet]

23. +1

[Wounded Bear]

16. Been happening for decades...

The Overton Window has shifted so far to the right it's unrecognizable.

[Karasu]

38. To the point that they have completely normalized fascism. There is no longer any point in distinguishing between

the "right" and the "far right" in this country anymore, and it pisses me the fuck off whenever anyone (especially the MSM) still does that shit. Anyone who is still in that party after the events of the last decade alone (or hell, even just 1/6/21) has lost their fucking mind.

[BadgerMom]

17. Republicanism is mainstream-that's what everyone is supposed to think.

The more Democrats are painted as radical, the easier it is for authoritarians to do as they wish.

[Karasu]

36. Yep. Conservatism is seen as the "default" in American society.

[edhopper]

19. Have noticed this

since Reagan.
Our "Liberal" Media at work.

[HarryM]

25. Exactly.

Ronnie Rat Raygun was the start of things. It started with his October Surprise, where he cheated to win the election to get into office.
He destroyed the Fairness Doctrine, which led to the rise of Fox "News." The HUD grant scandal, the Superfund scandal, the S&L crisis, The military contracts scandal, were some of the worst things he was guilty of officiating.
The lobbying scandal which started the revolving door from government to lobbyists, back to government led to the eventual overseeing of agencies by former corporate executives that were regulated by the same agencies that they were leading. Then when they left, they went back into that industry.
He led the country into two of the worst recessions in history (at the time). While he robbed Social Security of funds. This made it "necessary" for him to double contributions to the fund.
The grade-B actor managed to convince people that he was a great leader, when all he was doing was following the orders of his corporate bribers... I mean donors.
This may not be all of how it started. There was much more.
However, what got me so extremely pissed off, was the fact that he rejected early funding into the AIDS pandemic. He even called AIDS a "gay cancer." This hit home with me, in that I lost my younger brother to AIDS in the mid 80s. Had there had been funding for AIDS, they would likely have found the drugs that helps many survive. It still tees me off to this day.
And the Dems believe that they have to compromise with this evil crap. I guess it went crazy when Dems discovered that they could get in on the corporate grifting soon after Raygun's time.
I am sure that there is more. Like the welfare moms driving Cadillacs. Sheesh. I can't keep writing about all this, it gets me so angry.
And the Dems still believe that they have to compromise with this.
Why not call them out, and give solutions? It is how to win over the people.

[Mr.Bee]

20. SOCIALISM!!

That Horrible Word!!
To them it sounds like communism!
To me it sounds like 'Ice Cream Social',
Public Libraries,
Social Security,
Pot-Luck,
Y'know, things social...

[Scubamatt]

22. Totally agree.

That's why I've tried to advocate on this Board for leaders who know how to better message and use social media to capture the public's , and some of the media's, attention. We have to change the framing of the debate/discussion, otherwise it gets progressively harder (no pun intended) to return us even to middle of the road policies. I have encountered many on this Board who flame any notion of expecting our leadership to be more aggressive, generally ending with the self defeating observation that we don't have the numbers to impact policy and its better to just lie low and hope Trump implodes. As they say in business, hope is not a plan. People are thirsty for leadership and real alternatives, and until we start messaging that more consistently and more smartly, they will not hear those alternatives and the framing of the debate is going to continue to shift to the right.

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. I have been screaming about this Overton Window shift for what feels like eons now.

It is positively maddening!!!

[Bettie]

35. Me too!

I feel like I've been screaming into the void for years.

[BaronChocula]

26. conservatives/republicans get the white man's pass

This is what the republican party looks like.



This is what the Democratic Party looks like.



Even the most unsophisticated voter knows the difference in the demographic makeup of each party. America has been based on giving white men passes, credit, and benefit of the doubt not afforded to others. Women and minorities have always received more doubt, more skepticism, fewer passes, and less credit. This is the same bias that affects how people view the two parties to the degree that even white male Democrats don't get the same passes, credit and benefit of the doubt that republicans get.

To boil it down, American conservatives can get away with way more because of our racial history.

[IronLionZion]

27. Remember when leftist Dems sent armed masked goons to snatch people from their workplaces?

No, that is GOP. And somehow the right forgot to stand up to big government tyranny because they are the ones doing it.

Always projecting. Every accusation is a confession.

They bloviate lies about far left because they are pushing us far right. It really is dangerous and authoritarian and very obviously deliberate.

They jail women under abortion laws when they just want life saving medical care. They use "DEI" as a bogeyman to fire lots of qualified minorities and replace them with these idiot bros sharing classified war plans on Signal between shots at the bar.

[EnergizedLib]

28. Thank You!

I’ve noticed this for a while.

There’s never a too far to the right, only a too far to the left.

I’m a leftist, and I’m proud of it.

[mjvpi]

29. I'm 67. This has only been true for my entire adult life.

[EnergizedLib]

42. During the 2020 election season

I saw someone on Twitter say they’d rather live under a Great Depression than under socialism, hence their support for trump over Biden.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

30. For some reason they fear equal distribution of wealth more than a nuclear holocaust.

They've got an iron grip on than pendulum to keep it from swinging even slightly to the left.

Is that corruption or ideology on roids?

[senseandsensibility]

31. Yes, I've noticed

It's part of the way the corporate media is failing.

[Cha]

32. Then there's Overkill.

[Karasu]

33. The Overton window in this country is ABSURDLY far to the right. A Democrat wouldn't be able to last anywhere near 5

months doing a fraction of the illegal and unconstitutional shit Trump has done every single fucking day, even if for some reason they wanted to.

At this point I'm convinced a Republican could initiate a modern genocide in the US and still get 40% of the vote. Maybe a 35% floor at the very lowest.

[leftstreet]

37. DURec

[enid602]

39. Spending vs taxation

Has anyone ever noticed that booming deficits and government debt are invariably caused by ‘out of control’ spending, but not affected by successively higher tax breaks for the rich during the Reagan, Bush and Trump administrations?

[Wiz Imp]

97. Exactly

Remember when Clinton balanced the budget and reduced the debt, a huge part of the reason why was taxes being raised on the highest earners. And while the "right" argued this would destroy the economy, instead it helped it to boom the last half of the decade.

[Vinca]

40. Absolutely. It's always said Dems need to move to the center, but no one ever suggests Republicans do the same.

They just get crazier and crazier and it's crickets.

[Jirel]

43. Yup, and I'm sick of those who pretend otherwise.

Wake-up call, conservative Dems (a/k/a old-style Rethuglucans): the ways the Dems win and walk back the horrors of this fascist government is by running no-nonsense, serious left-wing people who EXCITE VOTERS. Absolutely nobody but you and your fears are excited by the Dem politicians who want to keep expanding the tent rightward.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

44. Yes, because money is God in this country.

And Republicans are still the party of the wealthy, even if some poor MAGAts are too brainwashed and don't realize it.

[berniesandersmittens]

45. We need to take a hard left turn. Nt

[Karasu]

51. Anything less isn't providing an actual alternative to modern conservatism anyhow. Running a bit to the left of a

fascist party doesn't count for much. At that point all you're doing is standing for a slightly more palatable version of the status quo...and no one likes the status quo.

[Skittles]

47. the GOP is treated like white men

Democrats are treated like women / POC

we are ALWAYS held more accountable

[JanMichael]

49. Yep even on DU

[Irish_Dem]

52. It is fine for the GOP to be ruthless psychopaths and a crime syndicate.

With brain dead cult members. All of them focused on destroying Americans and the US.

But the Dems talk about helping the American people and this is a bridge too far.

[SSJVegeta]

53. I mean even republicans called trump "too far right" at the beginning

Once they realized it works for them, they stuck with it.

Let's do that with "too far left."

[Blue Owl]

54. The M$M'a patented Constantly Shifting Goalposts

Always rigged in the favor of the GOP and its billionaire owners

[Picaro]

55. Yes, I've noticed

In today’s world Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan would be deemed socialists.

One if the things that frustrates me about the current Democratic party. The Republicans gained all this power by constantly pushing for things that when initially proposed could not pass and were considered insane.

Then they’d propose it again. And again. And again. Until the concepts were normalized.

Democrats won’t propose things unless they believe they can pass now.

Thus they haven’t owned the conversation.

The Republicans have been so successful at pushing the line right that facism has been normalized.

[LiberalLovinLug]

56. I hope it's okay now in here to even just question Democratic leadership

Pelosi, Schumer, etc. who did many great things in their heyday, but now are more of a barrier to progress and success going forward.

The clinging to power positions and preventing the new progressive wing to gain any traction at every turn. From denying AOC a role in the Oversight Committee, to endorsing and pumping money to old guard incumbent candidates, to their continuing appeasement strategy. That “strategy” does not make the party look like an attractive or strong option to new and young voters.

I am so sick of this fear of progress and boldness and of new approaches and in trusting a new generation with the reigns going forward

[BurnDoubt]

57. I'm old enough to remember when "Radical" was a negative political notion...

where only extremists dwelt. Now "radical" has been reduced to quaint normalcy in this new environment of madness.
Remember when "Secret Police" was what Commies and depraved Autocrats imposed on their citizenry? Liberal Democracies did their best to keep it on the down-low; now it's a tool to intimidate and cow the masses under the Regime.

[Oopsie Daisy]

58. No. I've never noticed that.

Good grief.

[AStern]

69. Well, then you haven't been paying attention.

The right can push fringe policies—book bans, total abortion bans, attacking LGBTQ rights, tax cuts for billionaires—and still get treated like they’re just another side of the debate. Meanwhile, proposing universal healthcare or student debt relief? Cue the media panic about “going too far left.” If you genuinely haven’t noticed that double standard, maybe consider stepping outside your echo chamber for five minutes.

[Oopsie Daisy]

74. I noticed double standards, just not the ones you're describing.

Naturally.

[AStern]

75. Sure, you noticed double standards. Just not the ones being discussed. Of course.

Which sounds like a dodge. Someone raises a clear, documented pattern, how left-leaning ideas are called “radical” while far-right policies get treated as serious debate, and instead of engaging with it, you shift the focus to some vague, unnamed “other” double standards.

If you have a real counterpoint, name it. Otherwise, it just sounds like you’re deflecting because the argument hits too close to home.

[Oopsie Daisy]

77. I'm just telling it like it is.

Deal with it.

[AStern]

79. No, you're telling it how you see it. That's not the same as "how it is."

You haven’t engaged with a single fact or example, just smug dismissals and vague contrarian takes. If you’ve got something real to add, let’s hear it. Otherwise, “deal with it” just sounds like a weak exit line.

[Oopsie Daisy]

80. As are you.

[AStern]

81. Sure, we're all sharing perspectives. The difference is, I backed mine up with facts.

If your whole argument is an eye roll, it’s safe to say the substance isn’t on your side.

[Oopsie Daisy]

82. You're looking for an argument for validation. I'm not here to entertain you.

In contrast to gish-gallop, I can be dismissive and make my point with fewer words... or even just an emoji. Obviously that bothers some folks who (like in the Monty Python skit) are here for an argument. Oh well.

[AStern]

83. You're not making a point, you're avoiding one.

Calling facts a “gish gallop” and hiding behind sarcasm isn’t clever, it’s lazy. If you’re above engaging, why keep replying? The emoji isn’t doing the work you think it is.

[Oopsie Daisy]

84. Yes it is.

[AStern]

85. If you say so. Still waiting on the part where you actually make a point.

But hey, if “yes it is” and an eye roll are all you’ve got, I think we’re done here.

[Oopsie Daisy]

86. I made my point. Pretending otherwise doesn't change that fact.

[AStern]

87. If that's your idea of a point, then we're definitely not on the same page.

I’ve laid out facts and arguments. You’ve replied with vague assertions and dismissive lines. That’s not a debate — it’s a dead end.

I’m done here. Have a good one.

[Oopsie Daisy]

88. I'm not on the same page with many folks. For starters, I live in the real world.

Honestly, for things like this, no time-wasting "debate" is needed. It's just contrived and silly on the face of it and an emoji is all that's deserved. I don't need to spoon-feed anyone or write essays. Although my brevity may be disappointing for those who enjoy long-winded sparring... this is enough for me.

[AStern]

89. You've replied half a dozen times to something you claim isn't worth your time. That says more than your emoji ever coul

You’re not “living in the real world.” You’re just avoiding engagement and calling it wisdom. If you’re done, be done, but the need to keep announcing it kind of undermines the whole act.

Take care.

[Oopsie Daisy]

90. I've done no such thing and you know it.

[AStern]

91. You've been dismissive, evasive, and condescending, then acted like that was some kind of mic drop.

It’s clear you’re not here to discuss, you’re here to goad and provoke. If you think that passes for real engagement, good for you. I’m not going to keep circling this drain. We're done.

[Oopsie Daisy]

92. That's simply not true. I've only been dismissive.

I've given all of your arguments every bit of effort that they deserve. Which, I'll admit is barely any effort at all. Disappointing, isn't it?

[AStern]

93. Your persistence doesn't make your argument stronger.

It just makes your intentions clearer. You’re not here to exchange ideas, you’re here to waste time, provoke, and hope someone slips so you can report them.

I won’t give you that satisfaction. Welcome to my ignore list.

[Oopsie Daisy]

94. Ahhh... the last refuge when someone has been outwitted *

* or when someone lacks enough self-control to stop responding when they know they've lost the argument. However, as a tool, that's something that's infinitely more effective when used silently rather than announcing it as though it's some sort of punishment. In the future, I'll continue to respond and I won't have to waste time with gish-gallop challenges and absurd demands for equal-time engagements. Whew! That'll be a relief. Bye!

[Kingofalldems]

96. Oh I see you.

How ya doing?

[Oopsie Daisy]

99. Very well, thanks for asking.

[Skittles]

104. LOL

"real world"..........alrighty then

[OldBaldy1701E]

59. What can I say... the programming worked. (n/t)

[Oeditpus Rex]

60. 'Never considered' by whom? (n/t)

[Jill Hanson]

61. Couldn't agree more!

I rant about this all the time. MSNBC is one of the biggest offenders. I get disappointed when watching Rachel, Chris, Nicole and Lawrence re this subject. They have opportunities on their shows to make this point but never do.
I was so proud of Elizabeth Warren yesterday when she took on that Trump loving Joe Kernen on CNBC. If you haven’t seen it google it.

[betsuni]

62. The ONLY ones moving to the Right are Republicans, as everybody here knows.

Only the Republican Party thinks regular liberal Democratic policies are socialism or radical. Anyone telling people that Democrats think regular liberal Democratic policies are "socialism" or "too radical" are only interested in destroying the party, don't care about getting anything progressive done. And the idiots who believe that FDR/LBJ policies were "democratic socialism" and since then the party shifted Right to have the same neoliberal economic policies as Republicans both sides corrupt billionaires oligarchs ignore the working class blah blah blah -- a lie that some are STILL pushing to hurt Democrats.

[AStern]

70. This is just willful denial.

Democrats have absolutely shifted right on economic policy since the ‘70s, embracing free trade deals like NAFTA, deregulation, welfare cuts, and corporate PAC money. That’s not an attack on the party, that’s historical fact. Pretending that acknowledging this truth “hurts Democrats” is how you avoid progress. If anything, denying it keeps the status quo intact.

[betsuni]

106. I see it's still all about Bill Clinton. The '90s called...

There has been no shift to the right on economic policy. It's 2025.

[Littlered]

64. I reject the premise altogether.

It’s not a matter of right and left it’s about opinion, and “right and wrong” as defined by the American electorate.

Immigration is a prime example. The vast majority of the electorate believes those here illegally should be deported. Many in this party believe none should be deported. So is believing a portion of them being deported moving to the right?

What I’m saying is; when we move further to the left we are generally moving to please a small minority. And in turn we end up alienating a lot of people. Moving to the right places us (generally speaking) more into the consensus range.

Seems to me, we are becoming the party of all or nothing thinking.

[AStern]

71. That is a favorite centrist myth, but polling doesn't back it up.

The majority of Americans support universal background checks, Roe v. Wade, raising the minimum wage, and even a public healthcare option. But sure, go ahead and claim that “the left” is out of step. The actual disconnect is between what people want and what politicians are willing to fight for. Also, the whole “right and wrong, not left and right” framing? Convenient cover for centrism that always seems to lean one direction... right.

In short:
The Overton window has moved right.
Democrats have tacked right economically, especially since the 1980s.
Popular left policies are painted as fringe, while actual fringe right ones get normalized.

We don't fix this by pretending it isn’t happening. We fix it by being honest and pushing back... not gaslighting the people trying to do just that.

[Littlered]

76. Um yeah, polls don't vote.

Most opinion polls don’t even reflect reality. The wording is carefully crafted to sell a narrative.

Since you chose abortion.While the vast majority do support Roe. The vast majority also support limiting the practice after the first trimester.

What popular economic polices are you referring to?

[AStern]

78. "Polls don't vote" is a cute slogan, but you're missing the point. Perhaps intentionally.

Most Americans support raising the minimum wage, taxing the rich, a public healthcare option, and student debt relief. These aren’t fringe ideas, they are widely backed across party lines.

Same with abortion. Yes, people support limits later in pregnancy, but the majority still want it legal and accessible. That’s exactly what Roe protected.

If politicians ignore public opinion, that’s not a sign the ideas are wrong. It’s a sign they’re serving donors, not voters.

[TBF]

66. Have been watching it for decades -

We have the fascists to the right, the "practical" people in the middle, and then the rest of us trying to actually do something to help people. I'll enthusiastically support Zohran just as I did Bernie. And I know full well how hard the "practical people" will fight us.

[Kid Berwyn]

67. Corporate McPravda Echo Chamber

CIABCNNBCBSFakeNoiseNutwerks

“Walter, this is Walter.”

[SpankMe]

68. Absolutely true. n/t

[Martin68]

72. Absolutely correct. A middle-of-the-road stance is considered communist by MAGAts and their media outlets.

[Mosby]

95. I think the MSM has different standards

For liberals and conservatives. I don't know why.

[Passages]

98. Yes. Some do not want to know why politicians support a bill or not. $$$$

It can become tribal, and unfortunately, counterproductive for the advancement of our society.

We are way behind on climate change, homelessness, healthcare, senior care... it goes on and on.


Thoughtful and honest thread, thank you.

[ILikePie92]

102. Totally agree

I've felt the same way since Clinton ran in 1992. You're 100% correct in your observation.

[CousinIT]

103. The Left and Center-Left hasn't changed much. But the right has gone off the deep end to fascism.

Robert Reich explains:

[Brainfodder]

105. Called being hypocrites.