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RandomNumbers

(19,379 posts)
7. Progressive policies are, for the most part, Democratic policies.
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 10:51 AM
Yesterday

Attaching "socialist" to "Democratic" is an unnecessary risk. It's a huge turnoff to a wide swath of voters. Promote the policies that help everyday, non-billionaire people, whether those policies lean socialist or not, without the toxic label.

If we need something spicy to appeal to younger voters, find another term. (What is wrong with "progressive" anyway?)

Note that I said "progressive" - but without quotes in my subject line - and "for the most part".

Some people on the internet are trying to brand some radical policies as "progressive". This is not helpful, if we are going to take our country back. And why I usually refer to those policies and their pushers as "progressives", not progressives.

Anyone confused about the difference between "radical" and "progressive" should set politics aside for a moment and consult a dictionary.

Also to be clear, I don't object to using "Democratic socialist" in local contexts where it works. Just keep it local and don't try to nationalize it.

Recommendations

6 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This is the GOP strategy for November elections. yardwork Yesterday #1
That's already happening here. ananda Yesterday #36
And as Bill Clinton would say so appropriately, Janbdwl72 14 hrs ago #133
he considers all democrats to be commies. rampartd Yesterday #2
If we're all"commies", then how does he explain HE WAS ONE for most of his adult life?? AZ8theist 19 hrs ago #96
as with so much about this freak, no one seems to care. rampartd 19 hrs ago #97
At this point. I'm just doggone tired of him. calimary 11 hrs ago #135
This is not a surprise. Because it works. Callie1979 Yesterday #3
Progressive policies are, for the most part, Democratic policies. RandomNumbers Yesterday #7
"Progressive" works for me. An argument with oasis Yesterday #24
Progressive and liberal Democratic policy goals are same, but I see (like in this thread) supposed betsuni Yesterday #41
I come from a family of New Deal Democrats. haele 23 hrs ago #46
Wow orangecrush 22 hrs ago #64
The DS are kicking centrist ass in primaries everywhere orangecrush 22 hrs ago #66
3 isn't everywhere creeksneakers2 21 hrs ago #77
And this is where our pitiful education system comes around to bite us. slightlv 19 hrs ago #98
You're right; they cant. And WE have to understand that. Callie1979 17 hrs ago #116
That one calls for a deep discussion... with a lot of listening, not just talking... slightlv 15 hrs ago #121
Generally this is taught in high school Cosmocat 7 hrs ago #137
Like Democratic centrist has gotten us anywhere? paleotn Yesterday #15
I disagree creeksneakers2 23 hrs ago #49
You do realize the bulk of that isn't centrist. paleotn 22 hrs ago #56
Nothing blind about the list creeksneakers2 22 hrs ago #58
Most are not centrist positions. Is that difficult to understand? paleotn 20 hrs ago #92
That's what the people here call them. And Joe Lieberman killed the public option. creeksneakers2 20 hrs ago #95
Oh really. And that makes it so. paleotn 18 hrs ago #102
https://legalclarity.org/aca-vote-in-the-senate-deals-repeal-and-subsidies/ creeksneakers2 15 hrs ago #123
We are not GOP lite creeksneakers2 14 hrs ago #124
You really don't quite understand what I try to convey, do you? paleotn 4 hrs ago #139
I don't think you are listening to me either. creeksneakers2 18 min ago #146
Forgot to ask. What did Janet Mills say? paleotn 18 hrs ago #104
With respect to Governor Mills, she isn't really a part of the conversation. mr715 17 hrs ago #114
Was this on the list? creeksneakers2 22 hrs ago #59
I am seeing liberal progressive ideas labelled as centrist. Festivito 7 hrs ago #136
No, mainstream supported and passed. creeksneakers2 20 min ago #145
Thank you! This is fantastic. All these accomplishments under Nixie 4 hrs ago #143
Democratic Socialists are winning primaries orangecrush 22 hrs ago #67
If you think "lack of energy" is why we lost we're still in trouble. Callie1979 16 hrs ago #117
We lost in 2024 because Biden ran for re-election and his campaign collapsed. thought crime Yesterday #30
True, but there were a few other reasons as well. Callie1979 Yesterday #37
Nope, that's not it N/T angrychair Yesterday #39
And Milquetoast/Establishment Democrats modrepub Yesterday #33
Division is getting Democracy NOWHERE. Cha 22 hrs ago #65
Ummm orangecrush 22 hrs ago #63
It worked once upon a time TVguyCards 19 hrs ago #101
Great post orangecrush 14 hrs ago #129
Hi, thank you very much :) TVguyCards 4 hrs ago #140
Most welcome orangecrush 4 hrs ago #141
To me, there's not much difference, economically speaking, Haggard Celine 13 hrs ago #134
That's an interesting take TVguyCards 4 hrs ago #138
I hope we can have a stronger safety net for people. Haggard Celine 2 hrs ago #144
Trump manages to use both scare words - communist and socialist. Norrrm Yesterday #4
Most of the national electorate doesn't make a meaningful distinction RandomNumbers Yesterday #8
We labeled Trump correctly as a fascist. paleotn Yesterday #17
We didn't go strong enough. The Madcap Yesterday #32
Frankly, most Americans don't know what a fascist is any more than they know what a communist or a socialist are, even Karasu 18 hrs ago #110
Exactly Callie1979 Yesterday #38
Too late orangecrush 22 hrs ago #69
This is where out education system in America fails us. The GOP has used "Communism" walkingman Yesterday #5
Cheers to Bernie, AOC and all the Democratic Socialists Grim Chieftain Yesterday #6
THIS orangecrush 22 hrs ago #70
Old move, roots in the 1930s kwolf68 Yesterday #9
Great points. I was going to say they really are going back to the 50's underpants Yesterday #10
Exactly! paleotn Yesterday #20
I'm worried about the GOP base creeksneakers2 21 hrs ago #82
He's afraid of Democratic Socialists because the_liberal_grandpa Yesterday #11
We want change!!!!!! bdamomma 23 hrs ago #53
The battle has begun orangecrush 21 hrs ago #71
No, he thinks Democratic Socialists will save him. dem4decades Yesterday #12
100% that! oasis Yesterday #29
Not orangecrush 21 hrs ago #81
Please provide me a list of Dems who describe oasis 21 hrs ago #84
Thanks for baiting me orangecrush 21 hrs ago #86
Commies are the new immigrants. betsuni 23 hrs ago #54
Sure orangecrush 21 hrs ago #80
Yeah, I'm sure. dem4decades 21 hrs ago #83
I'm sure I'm saying bye. orangecrush 21 hrs ago #85
How many of the MAGAs are ready to surrender social security, food programs Baitball Blogger Yesterday #13
They did all that the instant Elon's DOGE became a thing. Karasu 18 hrs ago #109
He's married and has daughters, so that's a trick question. Igel Yesterday #14
Laying the groundwork for terrorizing the people orthoclad Yesterday #16
especially Trumps private taxpayer paid militia, ICE and CBP. OGBuzz Yesterday #43
Yep. Make us pay the bill for our own oppression, orthoclad 21 hrs ago #74
It's just a tired old scare tactic that went out of vogue in the late 50s. He's not afraid of communists, he's afraid of Martin68 Yesterday #18
Trump has no idea what true "communism" is or how it functions. Even China is far from "communist". OGBuzz 23 hrs ago #44
No Republicans know the damn difference anymore, if they ever did. Now they openly celebrate ignorance. Karasu 18 hrs ago #108
My all time favourite was when he made this comment about Kamala Harris: OGBuzz 18 hrs ago #111
Man...I had somehow forgotten about that. Only idiots who don't know the difference would be dumb enough to think that Karasu 18 hrs ago #112
He's scared of many things TVguyCards 4 hrs ago #142
Send Bernie Sanders to yell at him. milestogo Yesterday #19
Yes, Bernie Sanders is the poster child of the Democratic Socialists... kentuck 22 hrs ago #61
He knows shit about the Constitution. spanone Yesterday #21
He shits ON the Constitution. orangecrush 21 hrs ago #79
That too! spanone 20 hrs ago #88
He brought this on with his policies. Joinfortmill Yesterday #22
What makes you think they scare him? EdmondDantes_ Yesterday #23
Trump nor his maga klan could define the word "socialist" IcyPeas Yesterday #25
Trump/GOP are Nazis DemocracyForever Yesterday #26
Comuniwhat? What year does he think it is? Dave Bowman Yesterday #27
OP coming soon orangecrush 21 hrs ago #78
It amazes me how the GQP still gets traction out of the exact same bullshit they've been saying since the fucking '40s. Karasu 18 hrs ago #107
Because Democrat Socialists are antithetical and a threat to fascism and no_hypocrisy Yesterday #28
This. They're the only real threat to it in a country where the Overton window skews so ridiculously far to the right. Karasu 18 hrs ago #106
Good observation orangecrush 14 hrs ago #131
Like A Zombie Corpse Of Joe McCarthy 2na fisherman Yesterday #31
Doubly ridiculous to the majority of voters orangecrush 21 hrs ago #76
Let's just mention how much he likes Putin. Probatim Yesterday #34
I don't think it scares him one bit. LisaL Yesterday #35
Not all voters angrychair Yesterday #42
For every action there is a reaction. The MAGAts are terrified because they know that the Democratic Socialists flashman13 Yesterday #40
THIS orangecrush 21 hrs ago #75
Let's hope history repeats itself, then. Wednesdays 19 hrs ago #100
The recent special elections and Democratic primaries all tell me that people are done with business as usual. flashman13 18 hrs ago #105
... orangecrush 14 hrs ago #128
Great post orangecrush 14 hrs ago #126
MAGA.... BobTheSubgenius 23 hrs ago #45
Democratic Socialists and progressive Democrats are a direct result of Buddyzbuddy 23 hrs ago #47
Hey Donny, you're gonna lose! Get used to it! Initech 23 hrs ago #48
Post removed Post removed 23 hrs ago #50
Are you saying that there are a lot of elected Democrats RandomNumbers 23 hrs ago #52
Bye orangecrush 21 hrs ago #73
Just completely bdamomma 23 hrs ago #51
If I received a dollar every time "centrist" is used as an insult for Democrats, by 2028 I'll be a billionaire. betsuni 23 hrs ago #55
He sees them as a foil that can be easily labeled as communists. everyonematters 22 hrs ago #57
I thought it was going to be women of color. KS Toronado 22 hrs ago #60
My thought was Jack Smith Tbear 20 hrs ago #90
Don't flatter yourselves. Fearmongering and manipulating the GOP base isn't being scared. thebigidea 22 hrs ago #62
His henchmen and family going to prison orangecrush 21 hrs ago #72
IRS Agents with Integrity Kid Berwyn 22 hrs ago #68
True orangecrush 21 hrs ago #87
We've always been at war with Emmanuel Goldstein The Blue Flower 20 hrs ago #89
Nailed it orangecrush 20 hrs ago #91
As they get rid of the immigrants,... LudwigPastorius 20 hrs ago #93
It's what they do. Nt orangecrush 14 hrs ago #130
McCarthyism 2.0? Roy Cohn Esq. was Fred and Don's lawyer and also McCarthy's, as well as mob bosses in NY. Evolve Dammit 20 hrs ago #94
History repeating itself orangecrush 14 hrs ago #132
That is the thing. OldBaldy1701E 19 hrs ago #99
A friendly reminder (and a serious one) TVguyCards 18 hrs ago #103
It's the familiar patriotism of worried gangsters struggle4progress 18 hrs ago #113
How many remember that Chump used to be a D, and he voted D FakeNoose 17 hrs ago #115
He thinks Gavin Newsom is a communist. Zelda_Orchid 16 hrs ago #118
Don't leave out Sen Jon Ossoff, and Hakeem Cha 16 hrs ago #119
Power to "We the People" will be demonized Emile 16 hrs ago #120
We need to grab the frame Bluetus 15 hrs ago #122
Thank you orangecrush 14 hrs ago #125
It doesnt work on voters SSJVegeta 14 hrs ago #127
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