system
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human
CMV: One should feel more compelled to criticize their own political party rather than the opposing party

I classify as a Democrat. However, I criticize Democrats more than I do Republicans. At times, I actually feel inclined to defend Republicans from the criticisms of Democrats. 

I feel this way because I feel that raising awareness for the problems involving the Democratic Party will over time encourage the individuals who make up the party to improve. I believe that outwardly making these criticisms is a way to keep my political party in check. 

The Democrat's relentless criticisms of the Republican Party in the form of condescension, exaggeration, and misrepresentation is something that I criticize extensively. I believe that the parties differ due to distinct values arising from differing backgrounds; they don't differ because of any differences in moral character (speaking in terms of the Parties as a whole). I can't relate to Republicans, but I also don't feel inclined to challenge their beliefs because that reflects an entire lifetime of specific and distinct life experience. I believe that hubris on the part of the Democrats is why we lost the 2016 election. This is something about the Democratic Party I believe needs to improve, and vocalizing this concerns are steps in the direction of progress.

Criticizing the opposing party does little in terms of progress. Say someone begins a political debate with you. Will you be more inclined to listen to them if  they shared your political affiliation or had the complete opposite affiliation? 

Keeping your own party in check through constructive criticisms is more impactful than trying to challenge the fundamental beliefs of people who are politically different from you. 

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gpt
This view is one of the reasons the Democrats lose to the Republicans so much. Republicans fall in line and vote as a block, where as Democrats don't fall in line and vote together as much as the Republicans do. Instead Democrats fight among ourselves and publicly criticize our own candidates.

If you're playing defense, then you can't perfect your form. You're just too busy trying to stay alive and fight for your life. Once you have a cushioned lead, *that's* when you can work on perfecting your form. The Democrats are constantly playing defense just trying to stay alive and so they have no time to perfect their form and debate the nuances between the various Democratic positions.

If we want Democrats to have the ability to debate among themselves, we need to give them a comfortable lead politically in the nation. We do that by voting together in a block for Democrats - and not getting into public fights and critiquing Democrats running for office because they aren't 100% perfect with our ideals. 

Once Democrats are in office more and have more power, they will produce more. This will cause more people to vote because people would rather vote *for* something rather than *against* something, and seeing the results that the Democrats can produce will cause more people to vote *for* more results like that. And from there we can debate among ourselves about the very best way to progress forward and the very best platforms and candidates.