The reasons, broadly, are as follows - in order:
+ To promote civility and support those who are civil in their discussions + To be part of a group of people who put civility first - whatever our views may be + To promote candidates in the Democratic Party who I feel represent good positions on important issues + To learn about the views and experiences of others + To ask questions in order to see if some of those others agree with me on issues + To provide information about my views and why I think that they're correct
I've done the same at many other political websites - for Republicans, for Democrats, for 3rd Party groups, and for general discussion - under different usernames. I ultimately decided on this one because I think that more people want a limited government than realize it, and mistakenly assume "limited government" to mean something that it doesn't - if they even know the term.
Though some have assumed that I'm here to push my worldview and that I want all government to be small, I came here primarily to focus on civility and coalition-building, and do not mean "small government" by my username "LimitedGovernment".
That I made my first post and my username about "limited government" surely would prime many to have a negative reaction to who I am and what I'm doing here, but those who read what I write and have written for the totality of the meaning that I convey will find that I'm not disruptive, and that I am well-written, thoughtful, courteous, and valuable to the causes of this site.
If I find that most here refuse to read my posts and comments for their intended meaning, that I'm treated disrespectfully, or that people believe - regardless of whether they are right or wrong - that we have more in conflict than in common, I'll leave the site of my own volition.
I would like to discover that the members of this site - or at least of a sub-set of them - are of better character than those at other places that I've been posting at recently. It seems that at least a few individuals here are.
Thu May 31, 2012 at 11:22 AM PT:
Since I have now read more diaries about civility on this site, how things operate here, and the intended purposes of the site, I'm adding the following to my preamble:
1) Whereas Kos has asked that debate about conservative and third party positions be kept to a minimum and only exist on areas of general agreement, I will not be posting some of the content about my views that others have asked me to.
2) Whereas Kos and others have sought to generate focus on electing Democratic Party candidates once their primaries are over, I will only contribute articles of support for those candidates that I favor at such times.
3) Whereas Kos and others have made requests that diaries/posts contain links to sources when material may be controversial or less well-known, I will endeavor to provide an amount of information that is neither insufficient nor overwhelming.
In sum: My intention is to only provide posts that come from a "moderate-left, progressive perspective" and that aim to directly advance candidates, improve impressions of progressive Democrats, and help to persuade opponents of positions favored by people on this site.
As well, I will not respond to requests for elaboration on my views when such elaboration will turn discussion toward avenues that go against the goals of the site.