Republicans vs Democrats
Republicans vs Democrats
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Republicans vs Democrats
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What's closer (at least domestically) is:
Dems aren't good by any means, but there's a real difference that produces a material impact on people's lives (again, at least domestically). Dems are not banning abortion and putting bounties on women seeking abortions. Dems are not teaching kids that slavery was actually job training. Dems occasionally do pretty good things at the state level, like marijuana legalization (probably the biggest driver of decarceration) and Minnesota's 2023 legislative session (passing directly pro-worker policies like requiring paid leave, banning noncompete agreements, and universal free school meals).
Ignoring that is not useful, especially when every possible difference is covered exhaustively and when the borders of "legitimate political activity" are drawn at two-party electoralism for most people.
But how much of that is a Democrats vs Republicans thing? I think it's more accurate to describe it as a ruling class granting occasional concessions thing. For example, under Trump federal workers got paid parental leave but I wouldn't say that makes him or his party good.
Also, Democrats had plenty of opportunities to codify abortion rights, but didn't and still don't. Roe v. Wade got overturned during their rule!! So how compliant does a party need to be before they're complicit?
That any Americans think highly of Dems speaks more about the sorry state of politics in this country than it does the virtues of Democrats. And I don't mean to go off on you right now, I agree that lots of people think they're great. I also think those people are dead wrong but y'know.
For example, under Trump federal workers got paid parental leave but I wouldn’t say that makes him or his party good.
And I'm not saying Democrats are good! I'm saying we have to acknowledge that paid parental leave is a material benefit. It's something Americans consider when they look at their political options, and Democrats (for all the horrible things they do) do more of this than Republicans.
Democrats had plenty of opportunities to codify abortion rights, but didn’t and still don’t.
They have in fact done this in multiple states. Again, this does not make Democrats good! But it is a real, material thing that Americans point to when choosing Democrats over Republicans. To say there is no difference at all -- in the eyes of Americans, which is the context of this post -- is bad analysis.
What I'm saying is that if Americans care about politics, then they should not settle for Democrats. It makes sense to prefer them over Republicans, but it's absurd to support them in their own right.
I interpreted the meme as saying that the differences between these parties are minimal and oftentimes merely aesthetic. The BLM part is a joke about how even places under Democratic control sided with cops over people.
From what I've read in this thread, no one disagrees with any of that. No one is saying Democrats are good or anyone should settle for them. The pushback is against "both parties are the same," because "it makes sense to prefer [Democrats] over Republicans," at least for Americans.
Yeah people are exaggerating but imo not by much. A person would have to be very America-brained to think they're substantially different, or even opposed. The cure to that isn't to agree with them though, it's to broaden their understanding of politics.
If you want to broaden people's understanding of politics you're not going to get very far with "both parties are the same." Communists, anarchists, libertarians, and edgy 15-year-olds have tried that for decades with nothing to show for it. Whatever the merits of it, it does not work.
Argue that Dems are not doing nearly enough, or aren't moving fast enough, or are corrupt, or agree with Republicans on some of the worst things the U.S. does. What's the defense to that? The defense to "both sides are the same" is "I can get an abortion in California but not Florida, what are you talking about?"
I see your point, that's fair. I'll be more mindful of how I might be misinterpreted or how my rhetoric could backfire. Thanks for responding despite all the flak you've gotten from everyone else