Are democrats leftists?

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It is not the case that all leftists are democrats, though even advocates of Marxism profess to be democrats. Can democrats be classified as being on the left, even if they are not adherents of liberalism? Democrats may share some beliefs in common with liberals, but a democrat, as defined by Aristotle, merely holds that all should have a share in ruling merely on the basis of being free. The ideology of liberalism goes beyond this. While democrats and liberals may have a common agenda with respect to dealing with the rich, trying to understand all political advocacy in terms of the left-right spectrum seems mistaken.

It is said that the Founding Fathers were not democrats, as they endorsed restrictions on the franchise. This is probably the case for most, if not all, of them. How many conservatives are liberals in so far as they endorse universal suffrage?

Many liberal localists see peak oil, etc. as an opportunity for democracy to be renewed. The latest example: Rediscovering Democracy by Marcin Gerwin.

Traditional conservatives in America at the very least must pay lip service to the republican heritage of the country. Even if the Founding Fathers thought a limited franchise was compatible with the system of the American republics, is it possible for the typical Uhmerican to be persuaded that voting rights should be given on a basis other than being a "citizen"? Or that citizenship should not be given to all? While one might hope for a peaceful transition to a post-carbon world, it is unrealistic to think all are suited to participating in self-government. John Michael Greer has talked about the need for communities to make rules and to punish those who do not follow the rules through expulsion in order for them to survive. A less serious punishment, but one that may still appropriate for certain infractions, would be to take away citizenship rights.