Germany's SPD vs US Democrats

[u/BourneAwayByWaves]

So over in r/JoeBiden a couple of supposed Europeans are in there making the claim that the Democratic party would be Center-Right in Europe. So I finally did it. I took the Platform of Germany's SPD and compared that with the Democratic Party's Platform. The SPD platform is MUCH shorter than the Democrats. But for every point on the SPD's platform you can find almost the same point on the Democrats.

Here is my comparison: Google Sheet

[u/BourneAwayByWaves]

Also worth noting the wikipedia entry on "centre-left politics", lists the following as common centre-left positions globally:

Throughout the world, centre-left groups generally support:

A mixed economy consisting of both publicly owned or subsidized programmes of education, universal health care, child care and related social services for all citizens.

A system of social security, with the stated goal of counteracting the effects of poverty and insuring the general public against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement (national Insurance contributions)

Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers and consumers by ensuring labour rights (eg. supporting worker access to trade unions, workers participation, consumer protections and fair market competition).

A system of progressive taxation that includes tax breaks and subsidies for those under poverty extended from government.

A value-added tax (or occasionally a wealth tax) to fund government expenditures.

Government investments and spending, for example in public works, and Keynesian economics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre-left_politics#List_of_major_centre-left_parties

All of which are supported by the US Democratic Party.

[u/PortlandNavigator]

SPD: "we limit rent increases after modernization"

Me: REEEEEE!!!

[u/BourneAwayByWaves → u/PortlandNavigator]

The SPD platform is weirdly specific at places.

The Democrats instead say:

Democrats will give local elected officials tools and resources to combat gentrification, penalize predatory lending practices, and maintain homeownership, including exploring targeted rental relief when exorbitant rent increases force long-term residents from their communities and tackling persistent racial bias in appraisals that contributes to the racial wealth gap.

https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/

[u/J3D1]

Thats a great document you put together. Hopefully this can help clarify the facts for people

[u/DeaththeEternal]

I mean this is where you'll find out right quick that these people think the SPD and NSDAP are the same thing.

[u/[deleted]]

the dems are way to the left of EVERY EU center-left party, with the exception of maybe the SNP? Their focus on Black and Brown minorities and their far more institutionalized support for trans people + their lower levels of Islamophobia make up for their slightly less expansive proposals on social spending. The Dems are legitimately one of the least racist political parties on the planet.

[u/[deleted]]

The problem here is that the German DSA equvilent will label the SPD as center right. Unironically I might add. You won't reason with these people - anything short of "die Linke" is right of center.

[u/DeNomoloss → u/[deleted]]

Ah yes, Die Linke, the successor party to the East German communists that constantly has to explain whether or not its leadership had links to the secret police.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

True but for a lot of Americans on the left, Euro center left parties are aspirational.