Here is another example of how the Democratic Party stands against success?

Question

7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most successful personal development books out there. How is it that Democrats stand against so many of the principles? What does that say about them as a party?

1 Be Proactive-this means go after what you want, not wait for the government.
4. Think Win/Win-all they think about is me. Their power, their pandering to various liberal groups
6. Synergize-work together to get a common good. Not what is good for me

The other habits do not apply to a political party.

To respond to tonalc1, I used the principles in context of politics.

Habit 1-page 71 states that "It (being proactive) means more than merely taking initiative. It means that as human beings we are responsible for our own lives." Proactive means more than that in this book, but this is still very relevant.

Habit 4- I never said anything about Republicans, you infer something in my statement. Politicans too often think win/lose.

I am looking at this from how the Democrats behave (or rather do not behave).

I am not commenting on the present administration nor the Republicans, who both have their own issues. My point focuses on how the Democrats act like they are for the people, yet a lot of their behavior does not.

Answer 1

Well, Republicans are just SELFISH.

The Dems CARE about me. They want to PROTECT me. Remember Kerry/Edwards' slogan "help is on the way"? That was great, because I am truly helpless without them.

The Democrats are for the "little people." I am a LITTLE PERSON! I am so lacking in self-esteem and talent that I need them to SPEAK FOR ME!!! I have no voice!!! Thank God (errr, I mean Godess) for the Dems!!!

I'm a gay man, and to protect myself from homophobes, I considered carrying a gun. But the Dems saved me from myself!!! They showed me the error of my ways, and convinced me that calling 911 and waiting an hour for the police to show up while I get kicked to death or into a coma is a more enlightened and compassionate way of dealing with homophobia. Praise be to the Democratic Party!!! Amen and Amen.

Love, Jack.

Answer 2

First of all, how do you define success? If it's making gobs of money and owning a lot of stuff, why aren't you using the 7 Habits of Highly Avaricious People? The word is "Effective". That does not mean maximing your loot. It means making the system work, for everyone.

Second, WHY do you exclude Republicans and Bushites? Your criticisms pertain very appropriately to them. In fact, if they are included in the discussion, your thesis would make very little sense.

I admit there are far too many Democrats trying to act like conservatives right now, Lieberman obviously, but also Clinton, even Pelosi. It's a ploy to show how much farther to the foaming fascist right their opponents are. But since we aren't discussing "present" examples, let's look at the parties in general, traditional terms.

For the latter half of the past century, Republicans have stood for the principles of free enterprise (laissez faire), a strong military and an otherwise small government (no taxes). Democrats have promoted universal human rights, protection of people without resources (the poor and minorities), and projects promoting the public good, such as clean air and wildlife conservation.

Stated another way, Republicans saw government as an obstacle to business owners making money and Democrats saw government as a threat to powerless people.

But I'm afraid we have to return to the present now to have any meaningful discussion.

Habit 1: Pro-active? I see Big Business proactively buying up Congress Members of ANY party to suppress environmental, health and labor regulations, bust unions, drive wages, benefits and pensions down, and do everything to maximize profits and minimize risk. (Although the government now seems trained to do it automatically.) Meanwhile, pro-human-rights groups, war protestors and environmentalists are proactively organizing to expose the tight bonds between congress members and the plutocrats that own them. Democrats are slowly learning the advantages of being "pro-active". Some, like Joe Lieberman, choose the Tom Delay model. Others, like Nick Lamont, do it MoveOn.org style. Of course pro-activity has been a necessity because Congress has been paralyzed by in-fighting among REPUBLICANS, who currently OWN the Federal Government.

Habit 4. "Win-win": Is that like half for Jack Abramov, half for you? Are you saying it's okay to pander to the likes of Haliburton, Enron, the Heritage Foundation and PNAC, but not to unnamed "liberal groups"? (Who? Amnesty International? The AFLCIO? The NAACP? Greenpeace? These and countless others have hardly gotten the time of day from most "Democrats" these last few years, who are too busy kowtowing to the REPUBLICANS, who currently OWN the Federal Government.)

Habit 6. "Synergize-work together to get a common good. Not what is good for me": What else can I say? It's nearly a given that a congress person has to be on the take. It's the only way they can appear "effective", since the REPUBLICANS currently OWN the Federal Government. Early in his administration, George Bush made a big noise about "Bipartisanship", but it turned out to mean "Just shut up and do what I tell you." Synergy? The last thing a Republican is interested is compromise. Just ask Tom Delay, or Newt Gingrich, former self-imploding REPUBLICAN House Speakers. And under Hastert's leadership, REPUBLICANS continue to shut Democrats OUT of any legislative planning. And whenever any meaningful legislation escapes from committee, the REPUBLICANS make sure it' s stripped of anything that doesn't benefit only the richest, most powerful people or that its poisoned with incompatible riders. (e.g. the recent minimum wage boost/estate tax cut).

As for "taking responsibility for our own lives", this is the classic right-wing "meritocracy" dodge. Somehow, the kids who come from a wealthy home in a comfortable neighborhood and can pay for college ALWAYS do better than the kid who lives in a slum, can't bring his schoolbooks home without getting mugged, can't get any homework help because Dad's in jail and Mom's working the second minimum-wage job that barely pays the rent to the rich slumlord (who will not fix the plumbing) and can't afford food for a growing child. They should have more pride! Just say "No" to poverty! Why does this keep happening? Because conservatives don't believe in a livable wage. They cannot conceive of a person who would not be able to buy their way out of a problem! Meritocracy is an easy sell to someone who was already born on third base.

Ultimately, you accuse of Democrats of not walking their talk, while you desperately want to avoid mentioning the party that currently OWNS THE GOVERNMENT, whose walk is all too predictable. The current problem with Democrats seems to be that they are the party out of power. The evidence is clear that, however they talk, they are more often walking like Republicans, because they feel they have no choice.

I guess we'll see if any of that changes in November, but I'm not holding my breath.

Answer 3

I work a lot with 7 habits, and will share with you the accepted interpretation, with my own comments.

"Being proactive" refers to the ability to choose how we react to a stimulus.
"Win/win" means to seek agreements and relationships that are mutually beneficial. (And the Republicans do this how?)
"Synergize" means through trustful communication, find ways to leverage differences to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. (The operative phrase here being "trustful communication", something the Reps aren't big on lately.)

You say "The other habits do not apply to a political party." May I beg to differ?
#2--Begin with the end in mind. (Can you say Iraq?)
#3--Put first things first. (Such as taking care of our problems at home)
#5--Seek first to understand, then to be understood. (Look before you leap into a quagmire of war)
#7--Renewal and continual improvement (don't see that happening with this administration)

Answer 4

If you would like to apply them to political parties, I think one could make the argument that ALL political parties are guilty of what you accuse on the democrats of. Republicans are just as guilty of them, as are any other political party out there. You just choose to skew it because you are against the democratic party.

You should look at things a little more fairly. Not doing so is rather limiting in your argument.

Answer 5

Don''t ya love it when morons try and make a point and all they can do is draw circles? The only point in on their cone shaped head.

Answer 6

First, 7 habits of highly effective blah blah is the biggest crock of crapola.

Second, your arguments are weak and lame with no facts to back them up.

Answer 7

I bet that was written by a good repuglican. Tell that same bullshit in Watts or East of I-94 in Detroit. This and a quarter won't get you a phone call these days. You forget we are in the Bush created recession.

Answer 8

the thinking person had this figured out years ago.the damocratic party has out lived it's usefulness. has turned to socialistic if not communistic thinking.

Answer 9

LOL! Obviously, they're not "Highly Effective People". :)

Answer 10

They are still pi**ed off about being losers and they haven't figured it out yet!!