coti (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-12-11 11:21 PM
Original message
Poll question: Have you become more or less "radicalized" since Obama took office?
Edited on Sat Feb-12-11 11:22 PM by coti
Talking with my father a few days ago I noted that, during ChimpCo's ridiculous, 8-year reign, I considered myself a moderate. A moderate keeping faith in the cyclical/counterbalancing nature of politics that, once the Democrats took power, would come full circle and iron out most of our country's misgivings up to that point.
But, particularly with regard to domestic economic and political policy, very little to no reversal has occurred since 2008. Since Obama took power- IMHO, of course, as the creator of this poll- my belief that our country is heading in the wrong direction (corporatism) has only strengthened, mostly because the Democrats have not only done nothing to stop it but contributed to the trend.
The phenomenon most responsible for our continued inability to address our country's problems legislatively is the influence of big/corporate money over the legislative process AND the media. These influences have been enhanced, and even validated in many instances, by and under the Obama Administration- again, in my opinion.
My response to this realization has been a feeling of increased urgency that something must be done to ensure that the best interest of "The People" will reassert its control over our federal government, as well as the states. That increased urgency, I imagine, could be called "radicalization."
In my mind, the response noted above has led to the belief that civil disobedience, as Chris Hedges has advocated for- and only civil disobedience, though directly focused at machinations of power, and effective- may be the only recourse of the common but knowledgable people in the United States.
Given all that said, do you believe yourself more or less "radicalized" since Obama took office? Or no change? Or am I totally off-base in my assessment?
Poll result (86 votes)
Yes, I feel more radicalized since Obama took office. (58 votes, 67%) Vote
No, I feel no such change in my feelings about U.S. policy. (6 votes, 7%) Vote
Actually, I feel less radicalized since Obama took office. (8 votes, 9%) Vote
This poll is totally off-base in its assessment of the facts of the last two years and is based on a false premise, and I feel no change or less radicalization since Chimpy. (10 votes, 12%) Vote
Ummm....what the hell? (4 votes, 5%) Vote
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x406242CaliforniaPeggy (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-12-11 11:23 PM
Response to Original message
1. I agree with you completely...
And I am distinctly more radicalized.
I think your thoughts are right on the money.
Recommended.
BzaDem (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-12-11 11:31 PM
Response to Original message
5. I don't think what you are saying would work, given how few agree with you.
For "something to be done," you need more than the tiny percentage of Americans that disapprove of Obama from the left. You really need a majority.
But if you had a majority of people who disapproved of Obama from the left, the next President would be further to the left.
Logic and Dummies, never the twain shall meet.
coti (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-13-11 12:18 AM
Response to Reply #5
18. Obama seems to agree, in much the same vein as you, that it is useless to try in light of
the influence of right-wing, big-money media in our culture. Namely, Fox News.
But don't you think that people such as me and Hedges have considered exactly that? Don't you think that that is exactly how we came to realize this?
What is this suggestion of civil disobedience other than a remedy of last resort?
Obama's solution- cooperating just slightly less so with the plutocracy- merely slows the march toward 3rd-World nationhood.
So what is the in-between solution?
In other words, what is YOUR solution? What other chance for saving our country for future generations is there, given that influence?
We have to find a way to get our message out that is in line with our principles, but also directly demonstrative of the fundamental flaws lying within our governance today.
Fox News reaches fewer people than the other MSM combined, but they wield more influence somehow.
tularetom (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-12-11 11:36 PM
Response to Original message
6. Radicalized is the only option
The election and subsequent mediocre performance of President Obama has awakened a lot of people to the fact that it really doesn't matter who we elect as president, the same group of plutocrats will always be pulling the strings.
I was looking forward to a nice mellow old age when I could just chuckle at the radical ideas of my grandchildren. Instead I'm way more pissed off than they are about what is going on in Amurka.
Obama has to improve a hellovalot just to see mediocrity from below.
Skittles (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-12-11 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
8. my opinion
is Obama is the first "Democrat" to make it perfectly clear to us we live in a PLUTOCRACY - simply put, it has never been more evident
Still waiting for that Skittles shitting unicorn?
PassingFair (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-13-11 12:07 AM
Response to Original message
16. Less radicalized...it's harder to rail against your OWN SIDE.
I've pretty much quit being a big D democrat.
I stopped going to local meetings.
I stopped donating except to individual candidates.
Our state conventions are this weekend, and for the
first time in many years, I'm not going.
Pretty much disheartened by our "win".
EFerrari (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-13-11 12:11 AM
Response to Original message
17. Yes but to be fair, it would have happened during the Clinton years
had I not been a single mom with a full class load and a full time job.
Stooooopid Beth is only radical in her free time.
Raksha (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-13-11 12:26 AM
Response to Original message
22. I'm definitely more radicalized.
I never had any faith in the Republican Party to lose, although the 8-year-long catastrophe of the Bush administration was beyond my worst nightmares. But for the Obama administration to not only shield the war criminals of the previous administration, but to continue the Bush policies and even expand them, has destroyed my faith in the Democratic Party. Not to mention American so-called "democracy."
Yeah, Obama has committed the same "war crimes" as President Bush, but you DUmmies ignore that.
veganlush (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-13-11 12:59 AM
Response to Original message
29. I think Obama is doing what he has to
...to secure a second term. After that< i think the progressive agenda will begin to flourish.
Really? He's helping to ensure more conservatives win in congress in 2012. He won't get anything done if he's re-elected.
