That, and the democrats are at least competent when it comes to implementing neoliberalism...

I would prefer a government that is further left. I think it would be more moral and create better outcomes for the people, but until we have a chance for that I'll take competence...

Ratchet theory: Republicans push things to the right, Democrats prevent movement to the left.

This is what I've been saying about US politics for a long time. They've got two parties - the far right, and the batshit crazy right.

Seems a bit suspect and authoritarian..

Does it work in reverse? If not, why not?

My first thought was, that’s just GWB’s “if you are not with us you are against us”, with different words.

Most Democrats don't realize that capitalism relies on actual slavery... presently. They don't know that the products they consume revolve around supply chains that even include child slavery. They don't know the actual effects of US imperialism, regime change, and third-world exploitation. They don't know that an estimated 40% of US agricultural workers are undocumented immigrants — modern slaves, with no human rights. I'm not being hyperbolic at all, but I suggest everybody do their own research.

Democrats are propagandized to not want to come to terms with the fact that even first-world workers are slaves. They may not be "owned", but damn near — everybody is getting a raw deal under capitalism besides those that extract the vast majority of value, wealth, power, influence, and control.

Democrats are subjected to intense campaigns that include gaslighting, propaganda, and coercion, while critical facts and the actual reality is veiled to them.

I'll admit Trump is a lot clumsier about saying it out loud, but 2000s Republicans were absolutely on the same wave. Being virulently anti-anyone-dark-than-an-italitan, actively eroding free speech, and hating anyone who worked for a living has been standard conservative shit since at least the 1800s. If anything, the 2000s Republicans had more of a war-boner to boot. Trump did in fact bring the facism home a fair bit more openly, but let's not mistake a new hairdo for a new political movement.

The early 2000s Republicans are the same people as 2025 Republicans.

Some of them changed their beliefs. They moved right - or were moved right by an incredibly effective decades-long propaganda campaign.

And some of them didn't change their beliefs at all - they're simply more emboldened to express beliefs that weren't acceptable twenty years ago.

Give it twenty more years and Democrats will be where Republicans are now.

There is, after all, no middle ground on most social issues anymore

There never was, unless you consider supporting desegregation but not interracial marriage a middle ground I guess.

Okay I read the source now and what I found funny is the part where people describe how "moderates" on dating apps are just conservatives. An observation I can regard as true in my experience, they are just self-aware enough to not be dismissed outright, but not self-aware enough to actually change a thing about themselves and become a better person.

This is DEEPLY VALIDATING thank you

But the problem is that this is the exact problem that led to the fascist taking office. The most historically unpopular president plagued by every possible crime and scandal, and the democrats run a Republican. That is why they keep losing. They keep people even remotely left of Republican, like Bernie and AOC, at arms length (at best) from the party, while propping up Joe Biden and Nancy pelosi (almost literally). And then they keep saying “this is the most progressive ticket in history!”

They’re selling out any possible goodwill hey had. Which was very little, if any. And then they turn around and point the finger at us. All while capitalizing on the fascists taking office and capitulating to their agenda, while the talking heads go on to and say “the problem is the party got ‘too woke’ and forgot about the everyday Americans!”

They have clearly failed at this since running a fake progressive in Obama, who also proved everything by running a legitimately progressive campaign in 08 and won by historic numbers. I’m not going to say it was the money behind the party that made them stop even pretending they give a shit…but it was (most likely). They are not a legitimate opposition party. And when the choices are between one of two, well that’s a massive fucking problem. And they’re not addressing it.

So, yes. There is a fascist in office. But if this foundational problem doesn’t get solved and the dems keep moving right (while the OW concept of “right” has shifted so far away from center), then the fascists will continue to radicalize, pulling the entire Democratic Party rightward with it.

That is a problem that needs to get solved before we can get a fascist out of power. Unless we’re talking…like, gonzo style.

The Progressives and Democratic Socialists who once voted Democrat (or who voted Democrat anyway) probably care a lot that they are disenfranchised by Democrats.

Judge by what he accomplished

Getting said literal fascist elected by doing fuck all to solve the problems he said he would, gave said fascist a pass by assigning a mealy mouthed investigator, and hanging out in the race long enough to help depress turnout?

We can play the blame game all day, but unfortunately what's done is done and the time to take action is yesterday.

We also need to understand why we got to this place, and saying "who the fuck cares" just emboldens the Dems in power to keep trying the same shit that doesn't work.

Seriously. The rhetorical shift:

Study of American men's self-reported political affiliation shows that "moderate" aligns pretty closely with "conservative."

Headline assigns "moderate" political affiliation to Joe Biden, to suggest that Joe Biden's policies align closely with "conservative."

Biden campaigned on being the most progressive president in U.S. history. Did he deliver? Not on all metrics, but whatever it is he did, he wasn't a secret conservative pretending to be moderate. The most you can accuse him of is being a moderate pretending to be progressive.