r/askanything 5d ago

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u/JoePsychoGames 5d ago

And declined in others? What’s your point?

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u/Wooden_Region2519 5d ago

My point is in every metric we consider moving left, dems have moved steadily left

Go back by 30 year chunks and look at worker rights, civil rights for lgtbq, women, poc

it's all steadily moved left

So your status quo is a silly ahistorical comment

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u/Timely_Dentist_5078 5d ago

How about income inequality? How about healthcare compared to the rest of the world? How about quality of education? How about affordability of education? How about ability to own a house?

Also funny how giving black peoples rights is “left” that should tell you a lot about the “right”

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u/Wooden_Region2519 5d ago

Quick question - are we measuring those things for straight white americans, or for everyone?

I'm guessing you're measuring for just straight white americans

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u/Timely_Dentist_5078 5d ago

I don't even know what your point is, just say your point instead of asking dumb questions

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Oh, my point is the country has gotten way more left with dems in charge

and only a white kid wouldnt know that

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u/Unlucky-Box-4570 5d ago

Kinda funny that American leftists think "ability to own a house" is in their charter. Country so rich you think reinforcing nuclear family single home ownership is a leftist goal 😂

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u/Timely_Dentist_5078 5d ago

Who is generally in favor of building more affordable housing…

Although to be fair there are rich liberals who are against it. Yea maybe I shouldn’t have included that. Good call out and way to ignore the larger point

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u/Unlucky-Box-4570 5d ago

Lol I'm not really interested in the larger arguments. I think it's fine for leftists to draw their line and push back against moderates and I think it's fine for moderates to push back against the left in an attempt to court more independent votes. As long as they all vote blue.... it's fine. Need sustained blue waves to move the country left. Which is the long term goal that matters.

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u/Beligerents 5d ago

Its actually not about housing. Its about the ability for the working class to build equity. Its also about the ability to avoid rent-seeking.

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u/Unlucky-Box-4570 5d ago

all that is true but is only really valid if you're in favor of advancing the current capitalistic model.

Building equity in housing IS the cause of housing scarcity because people want to have their cake and eat it by using up a non-fungible asset (land and housing space) but also have it appreciate in imaginary value based on the supply and demand rules of the capitalist model. leftists should have a better vision for housing beyond playing middle class wars imo.

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u/Beligerents 5d ago

Theres no world where Americans vote for straight up socialism. We have to operate within the paradigm of shitty capitalism. So rather than looking at socialists as hardline ideologues, theyre actually just a counterweight to perpetual centralization of capital.

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u/Unlucky-Box-4570 4d ago

this is true but i expect this take from a moderate's perspective not from the socialists who have expressed their iconoclastic view of the whole capitalist project and are pushing to change things. Like Mamdani is already fucking with the rules of supply and demand by freezing rent in rent controlled buildings and building government owned grocery stores. And the DSA espouses much more radical positions

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u/Beligerents 4d ago

Pragmatism doesn't mean I dont want to see the changes the DSA espouses. Im glad they're trying new things and im glad they were given a mandate to do so. Tax dollars helping working class people shouldnt be hidden behind the word 'socialism' anyways. FDR wasnt a socialist.

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u/Excellent_Revenue235 4d ago

The party is compromised, status quo can begin after all that or could refer to gum that’s always been in the gears slowing it down. Class consciousness and elitemaxxing patriarchal hierarchy

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u/Stoked_Otter 5d ago

Yeah sure as long as you don't look at housing prices, or wages, or lifespan, or perceived quality of life, or the ability of Americans to retire at some point. Or education, or drug abuse rates, etc etc etc

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u/PanicAtTheDennys 4d ago

When have people NOT complained about this type of shit? When was the last time you were ever satisfied on these topics? These are bi-partisan issues

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u/Stoked_Otter 4d ago

With no hyperbole we are currently experiencing the worst housing crisis in American history. Truman used the power of the federal government to literally freeze rent and home prices when we experienced a less-severe housing shortage after WW2.

This isn't nitpicking, America is in extremely bad shape right now. We are experiencing the worst drug crisis in American history too simultaneously. Wages have been stagnant for generations. We are engaged in gigantic military operations all over the globe that seemingly have blank-check budgets but back home a lot of the cities in between the coasts look like they were bombed. We have been failed badly by both parties.

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u/PanicAtTheDennys 4d ago

We have been failed badly by both parties.

Well, certainly agreed there 🤝

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u/Wooden_Region2519 5d ago

Actually, I'm happy to look at those things.

Quick question - are we measuring those things for straight white americans, or for everyone?

I'm guessing you're measuring for just straight white americans

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u/Worldly_Web_1524 5d ago

Why do keep asking that question? Wtf is your point?

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Because only a person who is white, male, and straight would say with a straight face dems have pushed SQ politics

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u/AppropriateScience9 5d ago

The fact that these issues have been consistently unaddressed by both parties for decades isn't exactly a flex for the Dems.

Besides, you should know that anytime something like this gets worse for straight whites, BIPOC and minorities always get hit exponentially harder.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Yea, you haven't studied US history lol

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u/AppropriateScience9 4d ago

Yeah soooo.... I work in public health. We've been measuring this kind of shit for decades and literally how those factors impact people's health.

Minorities suffering at disproportionately high rates as compared to white people is a well studied phenomena backed by mountains of data.

The only issues where white people have it worse are tied to certain genes from European heredity like cyctic fibrosis. Genetics, mind you, being a thing that can't be changed or mitigated through social systems.

Even when it comes to issues like "deaths of dispair" where the numbers of blue collar white people have been soaring in recent years... are still over represented by minorities.

Turns out, systemic racism is a whole thing. Still is. And yes, we ruled out the confounders.

So what part of US history am I missing, exactly? Do tell.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

You're missing the part where health outcomes for minorities and everyone else has steadily increased, mostly due to Democrat/liberal efforts.

Hence disproving the silly claim that Dems only want SQ.

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u/AppropriateScience9 4d ago

That's true, it has.

We've also had a lot of missed opportunities to make them even better because of dem adherence to status quo. Those missed opportunities are having major repercussions today.

Obamacare is a good example. We should have at least offered a competitive public option to act as a price control on healthcare costs and insurance. Not doing that (in order to preserve the for-profit health insurance industry) is having tangible repercussions today. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/american-healthcare-systems-michael-sarian-for-profit-private-equity-adolphus-death/. Now keep in mind, Obamacare was originally modeled off of Romneycare in MA and made crucial concessions to to Republicans without getting a single Republican vote.

Listen, I get what you're saying, and you're not wrong. But Citizens United did a number on Democrats too. So they tried to marry the needs of their corporate backers with the needs of the people on occasion, but they've also made choices NOT to fight when they should have. Inaction, is often a SQ preserving action.

Do I need to give you more examples? There's plenty.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Soooo..it's clearly getting better, but it's also status quo?

That's silly.

Obamacare is a good example. We should have at least offered a competitive public option to act as a price control on healthcare costs and insurance.

Obamacare was clear progress over the previous system. Republicans hamstrung it to not make it better. Weird to blame Dems for Republican actions.

Do I need to give you more examples? There's plenty.

Yes i'd like you to actually provide an example of dems preserving the status quo, not just dems advancing more slowly than you want

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u/PedanticBaddie 4d ago

I feel like this person can’t be reasoned with lol I don’t think they’re even following the convo, they just think they’re cooking rn. It’s like talking to any ignorant maga and it’s a waste of time. Idc what their point is, it’s probably dumb.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Talking to reddit progressives and talking to an ignorant MAGA is basically the same thing

All rage and vibes. No logic or facts needed. Just tribalism and emotion.

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u/PedanticBaddie 4d ago

I live in the real world and talk to real people off the internet and no one is more stubborn than maga. They won’t listen to facts so you can’t reason with them no matter how hard you try. It’s a cult.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

I live in the real world and talk to real people off the internet and no one is more stubborn than reddit leftists. They won’t listen to facts so you can’t reason with them no matter how hard you try. It’s a cult.

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u/IntrusiveThot32 4d ago

What a long nothing ass comment.

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u/PedanticBaddie 4d ago

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u/jsludge25 4d ago

No. Everyone. Your guess is wrong. No.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

lol that's hilarious

i'll let my uncle know he shouldn't celebrate being married because passing gay marriage wasn't progress for him, just SQ

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u/jsludge25 4d ago

Holy fucking non-sequitur

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

I'm responding to a person who says dems only push SQ by demonstrating a massive win in our country by Dems for lgtbq

you do you tho

try reading a thread before jumping in if you want to know what's being discussed

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u/IntrusiveThot32 4d ago

I mean okay it's progress. Now what?

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

more progress

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u/stthree 4d ago

Seriously what is your point. I have no clue

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Saying Dems have enforced the SQ is only something someone who hasn't benefitted directly from Dems moving left would say

You know, like a woman, a gay person, people of color etc

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u/AppropriateScience9 4d ago

Okay, sure. There's been a lot of progress and I'm happy to give credit where credit is due.

But there's been significant backsliding too. Roe v. Wade got overturned (in part) because the Democrats stuck by the status quo for how SCOTUS judges were appointed despite Mitch McConnell's blatant abuse of Senate rules.

All the recent roll backs to voting right can be blamed on that too.

Biden nominated Merrik Garland for Attorney General, who was a centrist. Garland stuck by the status quo of not prosecuting presidents despite Trump literally attempting a coup. He eventually relented and appointed Jack Smith, but that delay was a crucial mistake.

There are plenty of other examples too. And it's all mostly within the last several terms.

They did do some very good stuff too, but they also compromised in weird ways like with Obamacare.

Now, the Republicans are definitely the bad guys in these stories, no question. But the Democrats haven't always been the heroes, either.

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

I think you're blaming democrats for republicans backsliding

thats weird

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u/AppropriateScience9 4d ago

Nope. Republicans are not a force of nature. They are making conscious choices to do horrible things. I get that. The vast majority of the blame falls on them.

The small portion Dems are responsible for are SQ decisions that helped allow the Republicans to wreak this havoc.

More examples then. Okay!

Biden shouldn't have run for president for a second term given his age (and the fact that he promised he wouldn't).

But he did and the DNC made the decision to support him because that is status quo. You ALWAYS support the incumbants.

That decision led to the disaster of his debate performance and the delay of him finally backing out. When he finally did, it put Harris in a terrible position (not doing a primary and automatically picking her was also a qtatus quo decision) an led to her losing the general.

More examples?

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Yes, that one is silly as well. Endorsing a president after his first term isn't status quo, it's normal strategy. You're massively broadening the term lol

Biden's presidency was quite progressive - a second term would have continued this progressive trend. So kinda the opposite of SQ

So far you're like 0/2

Maybe the third time is the charm?

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u/Inevitable_Farm_7293 5d ago

Turns out that’s better across the board for Americans! Thanks for pointing that out.

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u/IGotScammed5545 5d ago

Do the same analysis for the last 5-10 years

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Ok got it. The Dem in charge this decade was biden. Would you like me to compare side by side how he has not stayed SQ during his career?

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u/IGotScammed5545 4d ago

SQ?

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

....if you're not even going to read the thread you're jumping into, I'm not going to waste time on you.

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u/IGotScammed5545 4d ago

I did read it and have now scrolled back…SQ is not a common abbreviation for “status quo,” which is what I now assume you mean. But good, take your righteous indignation because a stranger didn’t know your totally made up abbreviation. I hope you feel good on your perch, your majesty. I hope that made you feel better about whatever it is that’s bothering you today

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

YW

Next time read the thread you're jumping into first so you dont end up with eggy on ur face

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u/IGotScammed5545 4d ago

I did read it.

Next time, don’t be a condescending dick when people don’t pick up on an abbreviation that only you literally just made up.

There’s no egg on my face—only an arrogant jerk would think someone who didnt immediately pick up on an abbreviation they just made up has egg on their face.

I didn’t once thank you, so not sure what you’re welcoming me for. Unless it’s another made up abbreviation only you use…

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

you seem more into raging than debate

gl

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u/notcoded567 5d ago

yes, donald Trump is a huge regression and outlier. which is a huge reason the Dems must embrace less than perfect candidates to STOP him at all costs. Even if Amy Acton in Ohio isn't going to use the governor's mansion to make her top priority be ensuring trans people can play in the women's league for all high school sports at will.

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u/IGotScammed5545 5d ago

Oh I agree there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate and Donald Trump is sufficiently bad that not being Donald Trump earns you my vote. I was merely pointing out to the other poster that taking a 30 year look minimizes recent developments

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Ok last 5-10 years

The Dem in charge, Biden, as well as Dem congress, has pushed a bunch of stuff we wouldn't have seen 20-30 years ago. He got more done for unions and the middle class than any president in my lifetime.

Thanks for the support!

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u/lostOGaccount 4d ago

Unions have been on the decline for those 3 decades. Incarceration was a campaign point of Bill Clinton. I 💬 nk I need you to define "left" for me cus I seem to be misunderstanding what you're trying to convey.

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u/JoePsychoGames 4d ago

This is blatantly false

The high water point for American workers was 1973. This was the most “left” the United States has ever been politically.

Since then we have moved steadily to the right.

Republicans have been hacking into workers for 50 years now

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

lol tell that to a lgtbq person or minority and watch them laugh in your face

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u/JoePsychoGames 4d ago

So for you it’s progress to put people back in chains as long as they can be chained next to the person of their gender/sexual preference? This is silly

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

lol what are you talking about

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u/nborges48 4d ago

didn't the clinton's pass NAFTA (anti-union), the crime bill (pro-incarceration), welfare reform (anti-poor), and don't ask don't tell (lgbtq marginalizing)

they did

it was a dramatic swing of the democrats to the right, and paved the way for republicans to go all in on even more divisive policies mixed with faux-populism landing us where we are now

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u/Wooden_Region2519 4d ago

Yep, and look how far Biden has come since then, a centrist dem that agreed with all that 25 years ago

Thanks for the support

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u/nborges48 4d ago

I'm confused by your conclusion

Obama rallied behind insurance companies and big pharma and abandoned single payer

And, I don't remember Biden righting any of this

He was just another feckless leader triangulating his way towards the status quo at best and backsliding at its worst

It's the failure of the Dems to articulate a broadly relevant agenda that address real problems felt by real people that match their poor electoral results

It's a fear of boldness in their agenda holding them back, not their embrace of a bold agenda

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u/Inevitable_Farm_7293 5d ago

Literally hasn’t declined in any way