Dear Duers; My take on the whole ball of wax [View All]

Dear Duers;

Much of what I post here gets little or no reply, and some of it meets outright hostility. I believe that perhaps I should explain who I am and why I am here. I am an American expat living in Canada. I have always been a progressive, progressive enough that Clinton was too right wing for me, and when Bush was elected I decided that the country and I were moving in different directions. I didn’t believe then, and I don’t believe now that the US will ever be progressive enough for my tastes. Canada is my home now (and will remain so) but I still care enough about Americans that I help when and where I can.

That being said, living outside the US has given me a new perspective on the world and on the US. The primary thing holding Canada back from becoming even more progressive is US pressure and occasional veiled threats. I have heard the same thing from citizens of many other countries – the UK, Australia, Brazil, Italy, and Venezuela to name but a few. So, my interest in the US becoming more progressive is stronger now than it was before I left. I have 3 methods of approaching this, simultaneously:

1) Support progressive candidates and causes in the US when and where I can, this means progressive candidates – not just anyone with a D after their name, I will not waste my time or my vote on people who are not really going to help the situation, just because they are more progressive than Stalin (or Bush).

This, I’ve been told, may violate rule #1 - 1.Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office ...

2) Boycott: I do not, when I can avoid it, buy US products and services. The reality is that Americans tend to become more progressive when economic times are bad (say the 1930s and 1970s) and less progressive when times are good (say the 1980s and mid to late 90s). It’s not that I want to starve Americans or that I have no sympathy, but I also have sympathy for the people of Iraq and Venezuela who are suffering from the programs and methods of a government they did not vote for, have no say in, and have no peaceful means of changing.

3) Inform: Most of the news I post here is from outside the US – from Canada, the UK, Al Jazeera, etc., The US media is a crock and I’m hopeful that if Americans become better informed about the world outside the US, and the perception of the US by the world that it will help lead to change.

Some of what I post may also violate rule 3: 3.
Content: Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior. Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements.

But, I cannot avoid telling the truth as I see it out of fear that it might be considered “divisive”. If this is not a viewpoint that is wanted or welcome, please let me know and I’ll find other avenues. However, unless it becomes clear that my input is not wanted I’ll continue to post as I see fit even if it is greeted by anger and/or silence.

Peace,
Justin