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View Full Version : Did you know calling someone a "democrat" was an insult back in the day?




Jeremy
07-11-2008, 07:34 AM
I don't know if this is more common knowledge than I thought... but back in the day of our founding fathers, a "democrat" was a bad word. They fully understood that democracy was a mob-rule, etc. so I guess the word became an insult. Kind of like how a conservative might use "liberal" as an insult perhaps?

Oh, and... you know how the Democratic Party tries to claim Jefferson's Party as their own. Well the original name of that party, of course, was the Republican Party. And I'm pretty sure the only reason it originally existed was to counter Hamilton's party. They were just a group of people in the Congress that agreed with Jefferson... I wonder what Jefferson would think of our current party system... heh.

MRoCkEd
07-11-2008, 07:50 AM
wasn't he a "Democratic-Republican"

Jeremy
07-11-2008, 07:51 AM
wasn't he a "Democratic-Republican"

That's what the party was eventually called. But they referred to themselves as Republicans because of republicanism.


Here's Wikipedia on their new name:


A related grass roots movement, the Democratic-Republican Societies arose in 1793–94; the use of "democratic" was supported by the French minister, Citizen Genet, a Girondin. It was not formally affiliated with the new party; though some local Jeffersonian republican leaders were also leaders of the societies. There were some three dozen of these societies; they did not nominate tickets or attempt to control legislatures, as the Republicans did.[40] The Federalists soon denounced the Democratic-Republican Societies.

I just find this stuff interesting =p

fletcher
07-11-2008, 07:57 AM
Maybe that's why orders were send down to the neocon sheep to call the Democratic Party the Democrat Party. It really is amazing that someone up above can just send orders and the next day everyone follows.

Jeremy
07-11-2008, 08:01 AM
Maybe that's why orders were send down to the neocon sheep to call the Democratic Party the Democrat Party. It really is amazing that someone up above can just send orders and the next day everyone follows.

Well the sad thing is that many highschoolers think the Democratic Party is for democracy and the Republican party is not. (And democracy is supposedly what we have... they don't know what republicanism is) In other words... that might be bad for the Dems, except the school system, of course, teaches that democracy is the only good thing, it's what we have, etc.. I remember my 11th grade teacher having to explain... yup... that the name "Democratic" doesn't mean the Republicans don't support democracy... "it's just a name".

MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2
07-11-2008, 09:48 AM
My grandfather used to call me a little democrat many years ago, whe I was around 5 or 6. I didn't get it at the time, but I do now.


Well the sad thing is that many highschoolers think the Democratic Party is for democracy and the Republican party is not. (And democracy is supposedly what we have... they don't know what republicanism is) In other words... that might be bad for the Dems, except the school system, of course, teaches that democracy is the only good thing, it's what we have, etc..

I also thought liberal carried a better connotation than conservative, back before I knew the difference.

Kludge
07-11-2008, 09:51 AM
Hahaha... I was watching Nick @ Nite when it transitioned into Nick Jr.... A commercial came up with children singing about how great it is that we have a democracy in a type of rock style. I'm glad I couldn't see what my face looked like, but I know I cringed pretty hard.

RockEnds
07-11-2008, 10:00 AM
My grandfather used to call me a little democrat many years ago, whe I was around 5 or 6. I didn't get it at the time, but I do now.



I also thought liberal carried a better connotation than conservative, back before I knew the difference.

My dad used to accuse me of being a Democrat when he was mad. In fact, it was a good way to measure his anger. He considered it to be the ultimate insult, and if he said it, it was time for me to go hang out with mom!

amy31416
07-11-2008, 10:15 AM
My dad used to accuse me of being a Democrat when he was mad. In fact, it was a good way to measure his anger. He considered it to be the ultimate insult, and if he said it, it was time for me to go hang out with mom!

That's mild!

My dad called me a left-wing, commie, pinko, socialist, Marxist ignoramus. (With the disclaimer that I associated the Republican party as a 16 year-old with intolerance, sexism and racism--so I considered myself a Democrat. I learned the error of my ways pretty quickly and soon switched to Independent.)

MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2
07-11-2008, 10:26 AM
My dad used to accuse me of being a Democrat when he was mad. In fact, it was a good way to measure his anger. He considered it to be the ultimate insult, and if he said it, it was time for me to go hang out with mom!


In my case, I don't think anyone was mad. He was just joking about the fact that I was sucking up a lot of resources without contributing much. But he'd be mad all the time if he saw how things were now.

RockEnds
07-11-2008, 10:29 AM
That's mild!

My dad called me a left-wing, commie, pinko, socialist, Marxist ignoramus. (With the disclaimer that I associated the Republican party as a 16 year-old with intolerance, sexism and racism--so I considered myself a Democrat. I learned the error of my ways pretty quickly and soon switched to Independent.)

Well, I was little! :p Those were the kinds of things he called the news anchor!

Edit: Come to think of it, that's probably why his wife (mom died) has banned political discussion at family events. Takes ALL the fun out of it. The poor, unsuspecting dates of the grandchildren never get a clear picture of just what they're getting into!

Hook
07-11-2008, 10:31 AM
That's mild!

My dad called me a left-wing, commie, pinko, socialist, Marxist ignoramus. (With the disclaimer that I associated the Republican party as a 16 year-old with intolerance, sexism and racism--so I considered myself a Democrat. I learned the error of my ways pretty quickly and soon switched to Independent.)

Independent is much better. That way you don't get suckered in when parties go astray. Most people that identify with a party will change their principles to whatever the party proclaims for the day.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 10:33 AM
Well the sad thing is that many highschoolers think the Democratic Party is for democracy and the Republican party is not. (And democracy is supposedly what we have... they don't know what republicanism is) In other words... that might be bad for the Dems, except the school system, of course, teaches that democracy is the only good thing, it's what we have, etc.. I remember my 11th grade teacher having to explain... yup... that the name "Democratic" doesn't mean the Republicans don't support democracy... "it's just a name".

Ohh yea? Well, how about libertarianism? Alot better than republicanism :)


My dad used to accuse me of being a Democrat when he was mad. In fact, it was a good way to measure his anger. He considered it to be the ultimate insult, and if he said it, it was time for me to go hang out with mom!

My entire family are democrats. I rememberasking my uncle his political beliefs when I was a child, he told me, "liberal."

amy31416
07-11-2008, 10:33 AM
Independent is much better. That way you don't get suckered in when parties go astray. Most people that identify with a party will change their principles to whatever the party proclaims for the day.

That was my rationale in choosing that party, or whatever you want to call it.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 10:37 AM
That was my rationale in choosing that party, or whatever you want to call it.

You should join the LP. Being an independent just means you're up for grabs.

LibertyEagle
07-11-2008, 10:41 AM
You should join the LP. Being an independent just means you're up for grabs.

Hardly. It means, at least for me, that I will vote for the best person, regardless of party. Political party loyalty is for the birds and is a large reason we're in the mess we're in.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 10:41 AM
Being an independent just means you're up for grabs.

Joe's dreaming again.

I would have been registered a Libertarian until this year but this state doesn't allow anyone to register as anything but an R or a D. But at least we got them to start putting IND on the voter registration instead of the old IND/COMMUNIST.

They pissed off a lot of Libertarians with that crap. Like, all of us.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 10:47 AM
Hardly. It means, at least for me, that I will vote for the best person, regardless of party. Political party loyalty is for the birds and is a large reason we're in the mess we're in.

Dear, has the LP ever nominated a candidate you could just not vote for? If not, then it's kind of hard to say the LP is not a good party for you, no? I don't think anyone should be loyal to any party 100%, but I think it's good to support the parties that are actually fighting for the same things you want.


Joe's dreaming again.

I would have been registered a Libertarian until this year but this state doesn't allow anyone to register as anything but an R or a D. But at least we got them to start putting IND on the voter registration instead of the old IND/COMMUNIST.

They pissed off a lot of Libertarians with that crap. Like, all of us.

ok? I was talking about becoming a paid member of the LP :)

amy31416
07-11-2008, 10:49 AM
Hardly. It means, at least for me, that I will vote for the best person, regardless of party. Political party loyalty is for the birds and is a large reason we're in the mess we're in.

What she said.

While I might participate in Libertarian politics because it most closely matches my beliefs, any politician, no matter what party, has to earn my vote, they should never assume it. And that's why I will probably quietly go back to the Independent party. I just wish we didn't have to declare a party in PA in order to vote in primaries.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 10:54 AM
What she said.

While I might participate in Libertarian politics because it most closely matches my beliefs, any politician, no matter what party, has to earn my vote, they should never assume it. And that's why I will probably quietly go back to the Independent party. I just wish we didn't have to declare a party in PA in order to vote in primaries.

Independent Party? If you're a member of the AIP, then dear, you ARE in a political party lol. The LP has a platform that stands for what you want, why should we just not bother with them? That's abandonment of principles imo.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 11:01 AM
Independent Party?.
If you're a member of the AIP, then....

Not what she meant and I think you're smart enough to know it.


The LP has a platform that stands for what you want, why should we just not bother with them? That's abandonment of principles imo.

The Republican Party often has a quite agreeable platform. Shall we just give all our money to them?

amy31416
07-11-2008, 11:09 AM
Independent Party? If you're a member of the AIP, then dear, you ARE in a political party lol. The LP has a platform that stands for what you want, why should we just not bother with them? That's abandonment of principles imo.

Call it a "party," to me it is merely a placeholder in being registered to vote. I have no allegiance to any party, even the Independent party, whatever that really is. And I'm not a member of the AIP, I merely used to be registered Independent. I'm still registered Republican now, for obvious reasons.

If I join the Libertarian party, there may be an incorrect assumption that I'm on board, no matter what. And that isn't the case. It's not that I won't bother with the LP, it's that their principles, though they match mine most closely, are not necessarily my principles. A lot of the CP's party platform also matches my beliefs, but I have no intention of joining them either.

It works better for me this way, it keeps me party-neutral and avoids party loyalties or politics. I would have been just as much for Ron Paul if he ran as an LP, CP or GOP. It just doesn't matter, principles do.

MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2
07-11-2008, 11:10 AM
has the LP ever nominated a candidate you could just not vote for?

For me, it just happened.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 11:10 AM
Not what she meant and I think you're smart enough to know it.



The Republican Party often has a quite agreeable platform. Shall we just give all our money to them?

You can't tell that the GOP establishment are locked and loaded full of chicken hawks? hmm. I can guarantee you won't get booed on any LP stage for denouncing the War.

How do you know she didn't mean the AIP?

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 11:11 AM
For me, it just happened.

Your horse (Baldwin) is a sinking ship. I call it the "sinking ship syndrome"

amy31416
07-11-2008, 11:19 AM
Your horse (Baldwin) is a sinking ship. I call it the "sinking ship syndrome"

Hey Joe, insulting Baldwin supporters alienates potential allies in the fight for liberty. It certainly doesn't get them over to your side.

Barr ain't perfect either, but I'm voting for one of them and I'll admit that I do keep going back and forth about it. When I read posts slamming Baldwin, it makes me want to vote for him over Barr. When I read posts talking about Barr's potential of getting into the debates, it makes me consider voting Barr.

Just something to think about.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 11:25 AM
Hey Joe, insulting Baldwin supporters alienates potential allies in the fight for liberty. It certainly doesn't get them over to your side.

Barr ain't perfect either, but I'm voting for one of them and I'll admit that I do keep going back and forth about it. When I read posts slamming Baldwin, it makes me want to vote for him over Barr. When I read posts talking about Barr's potential of getting into the debates, it makes me consider voting Barr.

Just something to think about.

You're right. I just get tired of those snide comments about Bob Barr. Really tired of it, they all spam his videos with their moronic comments. What is it to them who the LP nominates? You either support him, or you don't. jesus christ, these people I bet were never LP members to begin with.

Baldwin would actually be my second choice, an almost tie with just stay home. :)

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 11:32 AM
How do you know she didn't mean the AIP?

Son, you have a lot to learn. When a lovely and intelligent lady speaks, it pays to pay attention. Don't read things in that she didn't say. It's a losing game to do it.

I read her post more carefully than you did, obviously.

Indy4Chng
07-11-2008, 11:33 AM
Hardly. It means, at least for me, that I will vote for the best person, regardless of party. Political party loyalty is for the birds and is a large reason we're in the mess we're in.

+1

I hate political parties they have led to the distruction of this republic. If I could be tyrant for one day I would ban them, then reliquish my position as tyrant.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 11:36 AM
+1

I hate political parties they have led to the distruction of this republic. If I could be tyrant for one day I would ban them, then reliquish my position as tyrant.

And Joe is here saying the platform rules all and any party with a good one should be supported regardless, but won't support the G.O.P. because it's full of chickenhawks...

Yeah, party loyalty works. And we need to learn how to build it. But I don't see many of us supporting anything blindly.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 11:37 AM
Son, you have a lot to learn. When a lovely and intelligent lady speaks, it pays to pay attention. Don't read things in that she didn't say. It's a losing game to do it.

I read her post more carefully than you did, obviously.

I read her post very well. I know what she meant, I just like to play with words sometimes. Go find your horse, Diego.

You know I love you, amy *hug*

Anywho,


+1

I hate political parties they have led to the distruction of this republic. If I could be tyrant for one day I would ban them, then reliquish my position as tyrant.

Ban private organizations? fascinating

lol.

If I could be a tyrant for one day, I would make the LP the only party.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 11:39 AM
And Joe is here saying the platform rules all and any party with a good one should be supported regardless, but won't support the G.O.P. because it's full of chickenhawks...

Yeah, party loyalty works. And we need to learn how to build it. But I don't see many of us supporting anything blindly.

Just follow me lead.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 11:41 AM
Just follow me lead.

Me no follow guys talk like Tarzan.

Indy4Chng
07-11-2008, 11:42 AM
Ban private organizations? fascinating

lol.

If I could be a tyrant for one day, I would make the LP the only party.

Yeah that goes against my current beliefs, but they have made laws ensuring they are the only ones in power... I guess I would repeal all laws that are related to the two party system, instead. The way I read the constitution it was not made for a two party system and having some nullifies many of the checks and balances... but what do I know I'm an accountant.

MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2
07-11-2008, 12:03 PM
Your horse (Baldwin) is a sinking ship. I call it the "sinking ship syndrome"

I'm not calling you stupid personally, but that was an extremely stupid assumption on your part. I want no part of Baldwin, either. I can fully reject Barr with no alternative in mind.

JosephTheLibertarian
07-11-2008, 12:05 PM
I'm not calling you stupid personally, but that was an extremely stupid assumption on your part. I want no part of Baldwin, either. I can fully reject Barr with no alternative in mind.

Bah, I'm right 85-90% of the time. I can afford to be wrong.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 12:08 PM
I'm not calling you stupid personally, but that was an extremely stupid assumption on your part. I want no part of Baldwin, either. I can fully reject Barr with no alternative in mind.

I don't care for the man, either, but think I will have to vote for the party this round. Weird to have an LP candidate I don't much trust. Anyway, I think at this point we need more than anything to demonstrate that a person does not have to be one of the "approved parties" to get himself or herself elected. Even helping him better Perot's performance would be a major victory in our crusade to get the thieves and con men out of power and the public engaged.

acptulsa
07-11-2008, 12:09 PM
Bah, I'm right 85-90% of the time. I can afford to be wrong.

Be careful now. Are you daring us to set up a spreadsheet?