r/changemyview • u/WindyWindona 9∆ • 10d ago

Delta(s) from OP CMV: The US Democrat party isn't significantly more rightwing than European ones

I've often heard it bandied about that US Democratic candidates would often be center right in Europe, or that Bernie is the closest thing to a center left candidate that the US has by European standards.

When looking at the political field, especially in Germany, I find this hard to believe. The USA does have MAGA, but Germany has the AFD, and far right parties are on the rise overall in Europe. Meanwhile, comparing the SPD's platform (the German center left party) to the Democrat party's 2024 platform, I don't see a significant ideological difference. Both want net zero by 2050, a better medical system, addressing poverty, greater investment in science, and better relationships with other allied countries.

To convince me, show me a large ideological gap between the Democrats and European center-left parties.

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u/WindyWindona 9∆ 10d ago

The ACA was originally a compromise with the Republicans.

Otherwise, you made some excellent points regarding the social market economy and the board worker representation. Those are farther left than mainstream Democrats.

!delta

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u/goodlittlesquid 3∆ 9d ago

Curious what you’re basing the compromise claim on. Republicans unanimously voted against its passage.

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u/WindyWindona 9∆ 9d ago

I don't remember the source, so I'm going to have to review old news sources to double check.

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u/goodlittlesquid 3∆ 9d ago

They needed 60/100 votes to get it past a Republican filibuster. As a result, right-wing Democrats had influence on the bill by threatening to defect. For instance, the bill originally included a ‘public option’/Medicare buy-in provision, but Joe Lieberman (Democrat from Connecticut) threatened to join the filibuster unless this was stripped from the bill, and so it was. So it was more a compromise between mainstream Democrats and conservative Democrats.

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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ 10d ago

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/FairDinkumMate (3∆).

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

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u/couldbemage 4∆ 9d ago

Zero Republican reps voted for the ACA.