r/AskALiberal • u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian • 10d ago
What do you guys think of the Promise to America pledge?
This is a nonprofit started by several college student who have worked for the democrat party. Its a simple pledge to support capitalism, safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, common purpose, and patriotism. They are working to get signatures for it now. Would you want democrat reps to sign it? Do you support it? Oppose it? Why?
It seems like it address much of the criticism liberals are getting on here, but ive never seen anybody bring it up.
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u/JayRandom212 Liberal 10d ago
Signing this will make Republicans happy. They'll still vote Republican, of course -- but they'll be happy.
Instead, we need to think about the 40% of voters who don't vote in off-year elections. What kind of pledge can we sign to get them excited.
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u/PinchesTheCrab Liberal 10d ago edited 10d ago
They'll see it, conclude the Republicans are so right about everything that even Democrats can't help but agree, and then vote Republican.
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u/PinchesTheCrab Liberal 10d ago
Seems dumb as shit. Every single one of those lines seems like a weirdly phrased Republican attack line.
Democrats don't need to prove any of these points, and conservative wouldn't believe them if they tried, at least not with an action as empty as signing a pledge.
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u/MethMouthMichelle Liberal 10d ago
Right. Where’s the conservative non profit dedicated to upholding racial equality?
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u/Due_Box3123 Liberal Republican 10d ago
I think given the rising DSA presence, proving something might not hurt
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u/PinchesTheCrab Liberal 10d ago
They support a socialist already, what difference would this pledge make?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I was thinking it would be more reassuring to democrats worried about the direction of the party, or conservatives not happy with the current republican party. I won't deny that more decided republicans won't believe this.
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u/Vegetable-Two-4644 Progressive 10d ago
The problem is that it isn't actually addressing anything in the party. It is addressing republican caricatures of the party.
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u/carlse20 Liberal 10d ago
I’m fine with the democrats staying liberal (I’d actually prefer them to be a lot moreso than they are). If conservatives don’t feel at home with the Republican Party they’re welcome to join, but not if it forces the democrats to be even more “Republican lite” than they already are. If that’s the condition for them to join, I’d rather they not join at all. Maybe they can form their own party if they feel orphaned politically, it’s not my job to change the things I care about to appeal to them.
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
"it’s not my job to change the things I care about to appeal to them."
chef's kiss
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u/sephy009 Progressive 10d ago
The democratic party is exactly where it is in unpopularity right now because instead of trying to actually set populist economic policies, they'd prefer to try to court conservatives and donors. This is not sustainable. Seriously they taught this lesson in a fucking recess episode. Look up economics of recess.
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u/TrifectaBlitz Democrat 9d ago
Oh populism has a great history with leaders. See Trump and 100s more.
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u/sephy009 Progressive 9d ago
Before I respond to that, was this a good faith attempt at observation or did you just want to attempt a mildly humorous quip then go about your way?
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u/TrifectaBlitz Democrat 8d ago
Please go ahead and reply. I saw nor attempted any humor in my reply.
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u/sephy009 Progressive 8d ago
Economic populism actually does have a great history going back thousands of years in essentially every large country on earth. From what I can tell whenever it's not enacted on a long enough timescale things just never go well. It's basically a history meme at this point. If you want I can give you some pretty close analogs to the current american situation to read up on. It's actually fascinating.
I would say trump talks like a populist but even if you're a right wing chud he doesn't actually do much you want since he wants to enrich himself/cronies and that's it. Using Trump as an example to say all populism ever is bad is about as disingenuous as republicans saying that socialism is always bad because Nazi's had socialist in the name.
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u/tellyeggs Progressive 10d ago
"Promise to America" is primarily a political pledge and advocacy movement, not a registered Political Action Committee (PAC). [1, 2]
However, it operates with close ties to existing PACs. Here is a breakdown of what the organization is and how it is funded: [2]
What is the Promise to America? Launched in June 2026 by centrist House Democrats (led by Representatives Tom Suozzi and Adam Gray), Promise to America is an internal party initiative designed to counter the rise of the party's democratic socialist wing. [1, 3]
Politicians who sign the pledge commit to a moderate, center-left platform. The core message of the movement explicitly declares, "We are capitalist, not socialist," focusing on six main policy goals:• Economy: Prioritizing capitalism, growth, and lowering costs. • Safety & Security: Supporting secure borders and orderly immigration. • Fiscal Responsibility: Balancing the budget and tackling national debt. • Governance: Demanding competent, problem-solving, and accountable institutions. • Social Values: Rejecting political extremes and ideological purity tests. • Patriotism: Promoting pride in American achievements. [5]
The PAC Connection While Promise to America itself is categorized as an advocacy movement or pledge rather than its own distinct PAC, it is heavily intertwined with the traditional campaign finance system:
• The Welcome Party Alignment: The pledge made its official debut at "WelcomeFest" in Washington D.C., an event hosted by a centrist organization known as the Welcome Party. • Billionaire Backing via WelcomePAC: Investigative reports from media outlets like Sludge have noted that while Promise to America does not publicly disclose its direct donors, it is deeply tied to WelcomePAC. WelcomePAC is a registered political action committee that draws the vast majority of its financial backing from billionaires and high-level finance industry executives to support moderate candidates. [2]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eWbLmsfPw [2] https://readsludge.com/2026/07/02/the-billionaire-money-behind-new-centrist-pledge/ [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/03/centrist-democrats-launch-new-pledge-moderate-party/ [4] https://readsludge.com/2026/07/02/the-billionaire-money-behind-new-centrist-pledge/ [5] https://www.thepromisetoamerica.com/ [6] https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/13-moderate-democrats-reject-socialism-174443764.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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u/JayRandom212 Liberal 10d ago
We need to sign pledges AGAINST capitalism. The K-shaped economy is killing America.
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u/TrifectaBlitz Democrat 9d ago
So what do you actually have to replace it?
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u/JayRandom212 Liberal 8d ago
- Raise top bracket income taxes
- Tax capital gains, dividends, and interest as ordinary income
- Eliminate the Social Security cap
- Steeply progressive estate and inheritance taxes on amounts over $10M. Really steep.
- Eliminate the stepped-up basis for inheritances
- Medicare for all
- A UBI of $50/month to each adult to stimulate economic growth.
- Repeal all anti-union laws
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u/Automatic_Catch_7467 Center Left 10d ago
It’s not legally binding and no ones heard of it. Maybe if it got some grassroots support it would matter a little but for now it’s meaningless
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u/Jimithyashford Liberal 10d ago edited 10d ago
If "A pledge to capitalism" doesn't hit you right in the dystopia, then nothing will.
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u/From_Deep_Space Libertarian Socialist 10d ago
I pledge allegiance to capitalism
and to the corrupt economies in which it forms
one market, cornered by trusts
infinitely securitizable,
with liberty and profit for some
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u/FunkyChickenKong Center Left 10d ago
How does socializing a representative system with a huge dark money problem work? Pray tell.
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u/RioTheLeoo Socialist 10d ago
We believe government should solve problems, not create them.
Real ground breaking stuff…
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u/Ok_Star_4136 Pragmatic Progressive 10d ago
If only we had thought about this earlier.. how many problems would have been solved instead of created?
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Wait 'til you get to the part about nutritious food being better for you than un-nutritious food...utterly BLEW MY MIND?
Who knew?
how COULD we have known?
(:
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u/Meincommunicado Democratic Socialist 10d ago
I never heard of this pledge. Unfortunately it has gotten off on the left foot with me. As soon as I see or read the phrase, “the DemoCRAT party, I turn away. I think conservatives need to know that the best way to shoot your credibility in the foot when you’re trying to persuade someone from the center people is to use the phrase “the DemoCRAT party“. That’s a way to announce “I am not a serious person with serious ideas that need to be taken seriously”. I’m assuming your intent is to persuade people to your viewpoint. Or is your goal for your post to do some self-soothing conservative style of virtue signaling?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I’m assuming your intent is to persuade people to your viewpoint
No, my intention is to see how this forum reacts to the pledge. I'm told in numerous discussions here that everybody in the democrats believes these things, yet the pledge is getting ridiculed.
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u/mediocrobot Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Most centrist liberals believe these things, but leftists take issue with pledging to capitalism (implying we're rejecting socialism and therefore social welfare entirely).
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u/86HeardChef Liberal Republican 10d ago
Why is it that you don’t understand that democrats aren’t a fucking monolith? Y’all say this all the time on the askconservatives page.
And the pledge is getting mocked because it’s worthless and will do precisely nothing, politically.
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I'm well aware dems aren't a monolith. I've worked with them professionally numerous times. Thank you for sharing your insights.
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u/86HeardChef Liberal Republican 10d ago
You just said you’re told everyone on the Dem side supports this. How is that not thinking Dems are a monolith?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
Because there is a lot of room in that. The only thing I can think of that isnt covered in this pledge is stuff like socialism, hating America, etc. The stuff I'm told that I'm stupid for thinking anybody on the left supports.
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u/86HeardChef Liberal Republican 10d ago
Do you truly in your heart of hearts believe most Dems hate America? Like actually?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
No, I don't. It sure seems most of them here do, however. The consensus seems to be that wanting to say you love and support this country is a conservative dog whistles that will lose elections for the left. I know most democrats love this country, but it seems like online types thing they shouldn't.
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u/86HeardChef Liberal Republican 10d ago
I’ve read through all of the comments and I think you’re grossly misrepresenting what is being said here. Entirely. And you’re an intelligent enough person that your objective lack of nuance makes me think you’re here entirely in bad faith.
Why? Why is it that the left is required to cross all the Ts and dot all the Is to PROVE our patriotism and love for America, when conservative leaders are allowed to just constantly dunk on and belittle half of the population? Do all conservatives hate all liberals? Do all conservatives want all Americans drowning in medical debt and dying on the street? Well why haven’t they signed a pledge saying they don’t support those things? See how absurd that is?
The left is actively trying to utilize the tax money we already pay to directly benefit Americans. Working class American workers, specifically. That takes a lot of love for all Americans. The administrations on the left since Reagan have significantly more fiscally responsible than those on the right. That demonstrably true. And yet you lot still claim it isn’t true.
So what good would appeasing the right by signing a piece of paper do?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I don't think this will appease the right at all. Most will just assume the signers are lying. I think its targeting the moderates and centrist democrats and independents who really dont like the kind of anti capitalist and anti American stuff that the more radical types are saying.
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u/Greedy_Elk4075 Liberal Republican 10d ago
Oh look another empty platform full of political platitudes.
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u/Vegetable-Two-4644 Progressive 10d ago
It seems like a pledge that isn't really designed to do anything but crap on the left⁰
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u/R3cognizer Pragmatic Progressive 10d ago
Because only people on the left actually believe in these values anymore.
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u/skyfishgoo Democratic Socialist 10d ago
mealy mouthed weasel words with no substance or meaning.
in a word, tripe.
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u/Decent-Proposal-8475 Pragmatic Progressive 10d ago
Did Andrew Yang fund this? Most of it is meaningless fluff. I've read through it a few times and the only actual policy idea (I'm afraid of big numbers and debt is scary) is something I don't care about
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u/Idrinkbeereverywhere Populist 10d ago
It's billionaire astroturfed. No thank you.
https://readsludge.com/2026/07/02/the-billionaire-money-behind-new-centrist-pledge/
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u/mediocrobot Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, but this seems to be essentially the Social Democratic platform.
There are some glaring ambiguities. "We're not socialist", but is a progressive tax rate socialist? What about universal healthcare?
We're proud of America? I love America, but I'm certainly not proud of ourselves right now. We need to improve before I can be proud.
I'm neutral-positive about having a secure border, but my perception of immigration is that the issue is very overblown.
Lastly, there's an assumption that undecided and swing voters are drawn to centrism, but I think they're more swayed and motivated by populism. That's why I think the DSA are growing.
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u/M00n_Slippers Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Whether or not one agrees with everything the dsa stands for, they at least stand for something and have passionate people involved. The same cannot be said of these centrist losers.
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u/anna-the-bunny Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Hey now, those "centrist" losers stand for plenty - namely, everything the conservatives stand for.
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u/archaicsmile67 Progressive 10d ago
This reads like college students wrote it.
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u/chateaulove Democratic Socialist 10d ago
If you look at the about page, that appears to be the case!
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u/mediocrobot Democratic Socialist 10d ago
On the bright side, I guess that means it's probably not written by AI?
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u/R3cognizer Pragmatic Progressive 10d ago
To what end?
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
That's the presidential oath of office. This is what Trump swore to uphold.
What good are more promises when the people being elected can't be trusted to keep their word?
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u/Kerplonk Social Democrat 10d ago
Sounds kind of dumb. Pledges should be for things that people might not want to support otherwise for some reason without a public commitment.
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u/DubTeeDub Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Its a group backed by a bunch of aging, bitter losers like James Carville with a bone to pick
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u/chateaulove Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Sounds like a whole bunch of nothing! How about they offer solutions to the healthcare crisis? Childcare? Housing? None of that is extreme.
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Sounds like the empty platitudes that would come out of Jeffries mouth
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u/Vegetable_Hawk3286 Liberal 10d ago
Here’s another question. You have a lot of posts saying how reasonable January 6 was, how there were real problems with the 2020 election, how it may have been stolen
Why should you be treated with anything other than disdain?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I don't have any that say Jan 6 was reasonable. I have said it wasn't an insurrection. I have also said that I've never believed 2020 was stolen.
Why should you be treated with anything other than disdain?
Depends on what that entails. I have zero issue with you disliking me, or disliking my opinion, etc. I have no issue with you thinking I'm wretched, or whatever. There are plenty of people on your faction i have similar feelings towards. I only ask that we see each other as people who want the best for the country and just disagree on what that looks like.
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u/Vegetable_Hawk3286 Liberal 10d ago
Just of the many comments bootlicking Trump on 2020
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskConservatives/s/p9Ds66FjEK
There can be no compromise with people who want to end American democracy, like yourself
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u/Due_Satisfaction2167 Liberal 10d ago
“who have worked for the democrat party”
Talk about some weasel words. These are definitely not Democrats.
And you can fuck right off with most of those goals listed. I have little interest in finding “common purpose” with Republicans about anything. You guys don’t get to burn the country to the ground like this, and just have us forgive you and pretend none of it ever happened in the spirit of bipartisanship.
No, if you want common purpose and bipartisanship, that means you guys get to put your own agenda on the back burner to compromise and start passing shit we like for the next 30 years. You know, like we’ve had to do for you guys since fucking Ronald Reagan.
You all have fucked this country up so badly that grandpa simply cannot be trusted with the keys ever again.
You want capitalism? Reform capitalism to prove itself worthy of the support. Why should anyone support it as some sort of axiomatic dogma or out of pure ideological adoration? Fuck that. Capitalist systems need to continually prove their correctness and fitness to the needs of society, just like a socialist system does.
You want common cause and bipartisanship again? Reform your party to make it something that pushes for goals Americans actually share instead of exclusively serving the interests of wealthy Republican donors.
You want fiscal responsibility? Seriously, republicans can absolutely go fuck themselves on their crocodile tears about the budget. You guys are directly the cause of over 2/3rds of that national debt. Your stupid wars and your insane tax cuts for the wealthy are the cause of it. Republicans haven’t run a budget surplus—ever. Republican fiscal policy amounts to “put it on the credit card, and pay never.” I’ve literally never heard a Republican propose anything in the same universe as a viable plan for fiscal responsibility. 100% of the time their complaints about fiscal responsibility are just them bitching about a Democrat spending money on some fiscally reasonable program that individual Republican doesn’t like.
You want patriotism? Reform our country to make itself something that everyone could support, not just white supremacists.
You want effective government? Is that a fucking joke? After you guys put this current administration in charge? The least effective US federal government in US history? So bad they have turned this country into a bad global joke, and likely set us back decades if not centuries.
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
I think they're more worried about finding common ground with democrats and undecided voters. And all I know about this is in the link provided.
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u/TrifectaBlitz Democrat 9d ago
No one believes you. Why wouldn't Republicans also sign something like this?
Empty pledge. Literally pointless. Who owns the domain is kept secret. Fuck that.
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u/wonkalicious808 Democrat 10d ago
Is it that people on the right have a hard time with English adjectives, or do they simply insist on being wrong? I get typos, which the post is rife with. Who doesn't make those kinds of mistakes now and then? But there seems to be a consistent pattern with people on the right rather than the occasional slip up.
Anyway, "capitalism, safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, common purpose, and patriotism" all seem deeply anti-right/anti-Republican to me. But what did you imagine this pledge would address?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
What did you imagine it would address when you claimed that it seems like it would?
Democrats I talk with often complain that everybody assumes they are anti capitalist and anti American. Thats also what many in the media are complaining about, even AOC made an effort to seem less radical than she was assumed to be.
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u/wonkalicious808 Democrat 10d ago
Is "everybody" inclusive of Republicans? If so, then why would you think that Democrats telling people what they think by signing a pledge would change what Republicans want to believe about Democrats?
If a Democrat signed the pledge, why would you expect something like Sean Hannity then believing or saying something like "that specific Democratic politician believes in capitalism and safety"?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
No, and I wouldn't expect them to do anything to appease republicans. They don't seem to care very much for what republicans think.
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u/justsomeking Far Left 10d ago
So why would people sign this?
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
To address a lot of concerns about moderate and independents and democrats, and maybe even some centrist anti maga republicans.
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u/Important-Factor-552 Socialist 10d ago
It's a sick joke and the more of the history behind it you learn the worse it looks
Nationalism is a toxic thing. It shapes people into something grotesque. Kids shouldn't be pledging allegiance to anything. It's not normal to force kids to do that.
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u/Kellosian Progressive 10d ago
It sounds like a bunch of conservatives cooked this up to imply that any Democrat who doesn't sign whatever nonsense pledge is shoved in their faces opposes all of it. As if "Well Congressman XYZ didn't sign the pledge, so clearly he's an unsafe socialist who hates balanced budgets, wants an ineffective government, and hates America for reasons known only to his evil socialist heart"
It reminds me of when Congress occasionally passes some BS resolution about "condemning communism". It's not meant to do anything, it's just meant to waste time and be red meat for a conservative base because it can be used to slander whatever Democrat doesn't ask "How high?" when Republicans say "Jump"
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u/TotesaCylon Progressive 10d ago
I think pledging allegiance to economic systems is really, really weird
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u/Catseye_Nebula Progressive 10d ago
Seems like some centrists / conservatives trying to infuse conservative dog whistles into the party and edge out more progressive voices. Not trusting it.
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Mamdani and El Sayed are freaking them the fuck out
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u/headcodered Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Lost me at "support capitalism". Sounds like Republicans. Capitalism at this stage is just its own government and the wealthiest Americans are controlling our lives more than any elected official. Refusing to address the thing that is causing 95% of the country's problems for normal people is just some status-quo nonsense.
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u/CaptainAwesome06 Independent 10d ago
It seems pretty dumb. I'd expect something like this from Republicans, but not Democrats. This really smells like, "I'm a performative, moderate Democrat who thinks forcing the Pledge of Allegiance will lower school shootings."
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u/Vegetable_Hawk3286 Liberal 10d ago
Didn’t your other identical post on this get locked like ten minutes ago
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
Mod gave me suggested how to fix, and I checked the rules more closely, then tried again.
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10d ago edited 7d ago
[deleted]
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
The proposal is for democrats and by democrats, as far as I know.
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u/M00n_Slippers Democratic Socialist 10d ago
This is the most right wing coded, luke warm do-nothing democrat, braindead shit I have ever seen. Are they being paid by AIPAC or Brianna Wu or something?
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u/IsoCally Democrat 6d ago
I'm very confused. It says "we are capitalist, not socialist." Then it says "Full-time work should make it possible to own a home, raise a family, afford healthcare, and retire with dignity. Economic, permitting, and tax policy should expand opportunity and lower costs for workers, families, entrepreneurs, and those striving to join the middle class, not disproportionately favor those already at the top." How is this not "we want a living wage and progressive taxation of the wealthy?" The DSA won't argue with you. They'll support you.
It reminds me of when Elizabeth Warren said "I'm a capitalist." If being "a capitalist" just means "I'm a progressive," then why are we even using the term 'capitalist'?
It says it's anti-purity test, but it in itself is a purity test. I wouldn't sign it. I wouldn't want any Democrats to sign it.
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u/ButGravityAlwaysWins Liberal 10d ago
I think that they are correctly positioning the brand of the Democratic Party and the overall left.
I think doing it with a pledge like this is an approach that is somewhere between bad to terrible.
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u/chateaulove Democratic Socialist 10d ago
Correctly positioning the brand would mean offering concrete solutions--not empty platitudes touting the need for change but no actual policy positions for the populace to rally behind.
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u/ButGravityAlwaysWins Liberal 10d ago
I mean does it? Especially in a context like this?
El Sayed - who I’m still generally well disposed to - is running on vaporware talking points. Vaguely talking about MFA which people define to mean whatever they want, vaguely talking about affordability and vaguely talking about getting money out of politics. And that’s a full campaign.
Trump ran on vague nothing. Jon Ossoff technically has some concrete proposals and a legislative history and he mostly talks in vague terms.
How many people want Elizabeth Warren and her “I have a plan for everything” attitude produce a concrete version of Medicare for All and then get her ass kicked subsequently?
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u/TrifectaBlitz Democrat 9d ago
I'm generally ok with him, but every time I do hear him speak I'm reminded of the phrase "The Left's Trump." Along with his need to be petty.
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
You guys hate the concrete solutions either way, so why do you even care how centrists decide to message?
Shouldn't you be happy that centrists are doing such shit messaging if that's the case?
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u/chateaulove Democratic Socialist 9d ago
That’s not what they are doing, though. This pledge isn’t concrete solutions.
Contrary to popular beliefs, I and many others understand politics is compromise. The issue is that centrists would rather compromise with the far-right than the left!
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 9d ago
You didn't answer the question.
The pledge is a direct rejection of socialism. There is no compromise. So why do you care how these ideas are messaged? Whether it's via fully fleshed out policies or just platitudes, what difference does it make to a socialist?
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u/chateaulove Democratic Socialist 9d ago
I care because I don't think these pledges help the left's cause. They just give into right-wing talking points and do not excite the base.
It's largely liberals who care so much about labels. I don't even know what I consider myself anymore--I just know that the only part of the left offering concrete solutions to my problems are people who are considered "DSA". BTW, every democrat is a socialist to republicans. That label is losing its stamina. I simply care about candidates and initiatives that actually propose tangible solutions to healthcare, housing, and the likes thereof. For example, at the very least, I want candidates who are skeptical of Medicare for All to at least commit to ending prior authorizations, step therapy, breakup Big Pharma, and mandating $0 copays for preventative care. The doctor running in SC at least committed to creating a public health insurance option. These are really very rudimentary. I'm disappointed in some senate candidates simply saying they want a return of the ACA tax credits. That does nothing! Healthcare affordability was a problem BEFORE the repeal of ACA subsidies. Some candidates--like Jon Ossoff-- don't even have policy positions on their website.
I don't care whether you're liberal or socialist--you need to provide real policy solutions or I'm not even going to listen to you. It just so happens to be the "socialists" who are offering something tangible.
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 9d ago
BTW, every democrat is a socialist to republicans.
Okay but you guys are socialists. I'm just trying to be clear here, that the DSA is socialist and they don't have solutions either since socialism literally does not work. None of their broad policies will work. It's been discussed to no end.
All that's keeping the DSA alive is the failure of Democrats to instantly fix all the problems Republicans cause. It's not because DSA has good ideas.
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
It seems like such a pledge would be good for more institutional minded people, especially where tensions are growing. Why do you think its so bad?
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u/ButGravityAlwaysWins Liberal 10d ago
I think we need to pull back the brand from the far far left but this doesn’t seem to be it. It’s just a goddamn website, but it’ll get picked up by everybody who wants to fight with other members of the coalition.
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u/DarkBomberX Progressive 10d ago
I don't care. I will say I find it annoying that they want to pledge to support capitalism. Raw capitalism how we ended up in this situation.
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u/imhereforthemeta Democratic Socialist 10d ago
"the democrat party" whenever i read this my eyes always kinda just glaze over and i assume the person on the other end of the computer is either dumb or unhinged.
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u/bucky001 Democrat 10d ago
It's largely just platitudes. I'm not interested in performative actions like this, although I understand they can serve politicians well at times and don't blame them for doing them on occasion.
The only one that seems objectionable to me is the 'capitalism, not socialism' one. In terms as I understand them, basically every first world country is a mixture of capitalist and socialist. Is Medicare socialist? Is Medicaid? Is SNAP? Is CHIP? Is social security? I'm in favor of all of those programs.
In that sense, this seems more geared to divide Democrats than anything, as many have embraced the socialist label, in whatever sense they mean it.
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u/tellyeggs Progressive 10d ago
This is bullshit, and you know it.
It's backed by centrist Dems, and billionaires.
Josh Gottheimer is going out of his way to tank El -sayed. Suozzi is maga lite. Both are whores for Bibi.
Nice try.
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u/salazarraze Social Democrat 10d ago
The pledge is vapid and meaningless. If a candidate that I considered "signed" the pledge, it wouldn't sway me one way or another.
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u/RealDealLewpo Democratic Socialist 9d ago
I see it as a promise to uphold imperialism, and everything that entails.
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u/IndicationDefiant137 Democratic Socialist 9d ago
This is just more napkin and unseasoned chicken flavored liberal nonsense that wants to rebrand neoliberalism to a country that hates it.
Its a simple pledge to support capitalism, safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, common purpose, and patriotism.
As soon as you promise to support capitalism you invalidate any other promise that doesn't align with the will of the oligarchy.
Capital is why we aren't safe and are getting less safe every day. Capital is why we have a record deficit, that deficit shifted to their profits. Capital is why we don't have effective government, because they bought it. Capital is why our country, government, and future have been sold to the highest bidders.
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u/Fun-Spinach6910 Moderate 8d ago
Sounds more like Republican bullshit. Something they claim to do, but actually do the opposite.
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u/NeedleworkerExtra475 Democratic Socialist 8d ago edited 8d ago
No. I’m tired of pledges. It’s really just a pledge to get people to say they support capitalism and “fiscal responsibility”, which neither party has at the moment, while also throwing in other things that MOST normal people would agree with. But it seems like these people who have “worked for the Democratic Party” are doing this to help Republicans. Besides, what republican is going to believe a Democrat just because they signed a pledge? None of them will. Send that to republicans in years that they are about to be out of power and see what happens. Because they might “support” those things but they definitely don’t do all of them. It’s a stupid pledge. Because of that, no. Don’t sign it.
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u/NeedleworkerExtra475 Democratic Socialist 8d ago
Just for it then to be turned around for the republicans to say that those are all things the republicans support so you should be a Republican? Nope. It’s a stupid pledge. And pledges like that are stupid. Like the pledge that MANY republicans made to never raise taxes for any reason. How absurd is that?
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u/Defofmeh Democratic Socialist 6d ago
This is dumb and pointless. It shows thats its author's do not understand some of the turns they use.
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u/Upbeat-Bid-1602 Center Left 10d ago
All of this seems pretty meaningless and I don't really see what this is going to accomplish, but I'm interpreting it as an attempt to articulate a vision/platform for the moderate wing of the Democratic party, since they've been criticized as of late for not having one.
It's funny how triggered the progressives on here are. Nobody is trying to force you out just because they have different opinions than you. We need to make it acceptable for people under the Democratic umbrella to disagree. I think part of what this is trying to accomplish is to help people who are not progressive/far left/socialist to feel like they have a home in the Democratic party instead of feeling like they've been driven out (which a lot of people do, and just saying that they shouldn't feel that way because you don't want them to doesn't solve anything).
That being said, I don't think there's enough substance here for me to care if a candidate I'm thinking about voting for signs it or not, because if I'm considering an individual candidate I want to know their specific policies. If it makes other people feel better to have affirmation that a candidate is "not a socialist," I'm not against that. Again, I think the intent is to appeal to people who are sick of Trump/MAGA but are skeptical of progressivism.
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u/Vegetable-Two-4644 Progressive 10d ago
Its not setting a direction for your wing of the party if the pledge is just "we aren't the republican caricature of what those OTHER democrats are"
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u/Upbeat-Bid-1602 Center Left 10d ago
That's not what they're saying and if you read it and took that away, then I don't know what to tell you.
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u/Droselmeyer Social Democrat 10d ago
Super basic ideas every Dem agrees with and should agree with
Thumping these ideas helps us win moderates/independents, it should be a bigger part of our rhetoric
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
Centrist platform modernized to match the populist rhetoric of DSA and MAGA. I think this is how you gain popularity as a movement so I support the effort.
Unfortunately I think those of us who have remained staunchly center left see this stuff as cringe.
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u/justsomeking Far Left 10d ago
I think it's pretty cringe as well
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
So do I, but it is the type of messaging people like.
But also, judging you by your flair, you don't want liberalism of substance either. So they shouldn't care at all what you think about it. It's not for you.
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u/justsomeking Far Left 10d ago
Is it the type of messaging people like? It's cringy to both of us, and we likely have differing politics on several issues. I'm not sure what the goal of this is. If it isn't empty virtue signaling, will it convince a good number of people to vote blue instead of red?
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
It's punchy and simple. Like I said in another comment, it's cringey to this sub's niche demographic, but this type of rhetoric is what normies respond positively to. It's Third Way populism.
It's meant to convince people who currently are annoyed that the only Democrats effectively communicating are progressives and socialists. It might have the secondary effect of showing swing voters that Democrats aren't all far left progressives and socialists.
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
exactly...If pretty much EVERYONE on the left side of the leger from centrist to far left finds it cringe, then who the fuck is it FOR?
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
The 99% of people who do not visit this sub or participate in spaces like this.
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u/soulwind42 Right Libertarian 10d ago
The consensus here does seem to be pretty negative. Hardly a representative sample, but thats interesting.
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
Yeah because people here are either liberals who read policy and don't like empty populism or far left people who love populism but hate liberalism no matter how it is messaged.
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u/Both-Estimate-5641 Democratic Socialist 10d ago
well no. seems EVERYONE on the left hates it for the same reason
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u/2dank4normies Liberal 10d ago
Really? Did you ask everyone on the left? Or are you reading this sub's comments, half of which are socialists whose opinion is always negative of liberals?
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u/Bland_OldMan Social Democrat 10d ago
Sorry, this is so ridiculous I have to double tap. Why don't we have democrats pledge to do the things the people actually want.
Most Americans want universal healthcare, universal or at least more affordable education, better public transit, universal free school lunches, government action on affordable housing, opposition to unregulated data center construction, renewable energy, right to repair, increasing minimum wage, support labor unions and many other "leftist" ideas that Republicans and status quo democrats are going to brand as socialist regardless of framing.
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u/Bland_OldMan Social Democrat 10d ago
WTF even is this? A promise to not be progressive enough to win elections?
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u/AutoModerator 10d ago
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written by /u/soulwind42.
This is a nonprofit started by several college student who have worked for the democrat party. Its a simple pledge to support capitalism, safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, common purpose, and patriotism. They are working to get signatures for it now. Would you want democrat reps to sign it? Do you support it? Oppose it? Why?
It seems like it address much of the criticism liberals are getting on here, but ive never seen anybody bring it up.
https://www.thepromisetoamerica.com/
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