We need a revolution!

I agree, to the point you describe Democrats as obstructionists, or perhaps equal obstructionists.. My disappointment with Obama was him not more aggressively taking on the Republican obstructionists. Inviting ‘them’ to the table was a recurring mistake. But, he was a facilitator, not a warrior…

And in order to be relevant in an election, Democrats have to match the tactics of their opponents fundraising, or not bother to run.. Democrats fought for various campaign donation limitations ..and lost. The Clinton’s took constant shit for raising money, but had the intelligence to realize (if not born into wealth), if you don’t win an election, you change nothing..

Your comment resonated with me. I, too, am socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I identify as a Democrat because my father was a Democrat. I long for the days when we were not so polarized as to vilify any who disagreed with us. There are many fiscal issues that should be debated without the animosity and name-calling so common today. (Make a list.) My social liberalism leads me to believe the government should not dictate things like morality--whom I sleep with, marry, or otherwise hobnob with--but behavior that damages others should be proscribed--"My freedom to swing my fist ends where your nose begins."

@FrankB38 I identify with your statement as I have similar leanings. And also in the area where I live it is impossible to have a sane discussion on gun control and what that means.

@FrankB38 I think the sides are entrenched in perpetual warfare, sadly. The rest of the world has Football (soccer, for us backwards Americans) and we have politics. It's a team sport, with colors, mascots, and cheerleaders. This is what years of defunding classrooms and standardized testing, instead of innovation and development of critical thinking in our youth has reaped.

Congratulations, and ‘thank you’ for hanging in there. I’ve only two long-time friends still with the Republican party, as I once was.. Can’t say it was the religious zealots that drove me out, but it happened after the Carter/ Reagan election, suppose I’m a ‘Carter Republican.’ Good commentary, accurate & honest..

I agree with that. Here in the US we split off in a two groups those that care and those that could give two shits whether or not people starve and die.

@NotConvinced

I suppose there will always be people who don't care about others. Selfish people.

I care. And I'm angry. Two young people at the homelessness charity I volunteered at killed themselves because life for them was too bleak - because other people don't care.

So I vote and hope for Democratic Socialism to return to the UK so that the holes in the safety net can be repaired so that no one has to live on the streets or starve.

And if you don't care about other people - why should others care about you?

@Kojaksmom

I agree with your comment.

Actions speak louder than words. Policies that come from the left or the right are usually predictable. In general, the left are usually fighting for the poor and the right are usually battling for the rich. It gets complex because there is a right wing element within the Democrats too.

These reputations have been earned.

I think your comment was accurate and succinct.

@Crimson67

She never actually said 'Conservatives' and 'Democrats'.

@Crimson67 While most people care about others, there's a fundamental difference in how each wants our social problems addressed. I'll admit I'm very far left and I see many of the individual's tragedies as a shortcoming of society. Equality of opportunity, robust public education, social welfare that supports those working poor among us that our economy relies upon, and universal healthcare are some of the things I believe we should collectively support and fund. I don't think any person should have to prove their value in order to access the trappings of basic dignity. I have friends/acquaintances who believe none of those things are the responsibility of the collective society and that those in need should seek charity or work harder or expect less from life. Without exception, those who think and say this have never suffered extreme poverty, they are financially well off, active in their communities and churches, and do support charities of their choosing - pillars of society, if you will. In conversations with them, I'll admit that I get emotional and have to fight the urge to retreat, because they don't ever reach out in empathy. They don't try to imagine the life of the person needing help. I've put myself in their shoes. I've tried to imagine how terrible they must feel to give up part of their income and not control how it's used and who it benefits, but then I realize I'm already doing that (with less tax protections than they enjoy, by the way.) These are people who say that a person with a cell phone and nicely manicured hands isn't poor enough to deserve their tax dollars. How do we meet in the middle when this is the face-to-face attitude we're dealing with? It's not just conservative/Republican/right-wing politicians who push this heartless agenda. Their upper middle class base believes it, as well.

@Crimson67 it doesn't necessarily have to be conservatives and liberals. It literally is people that care and people who do not. Everybody leaves the Libertarians out of arguments. If I was to tell a conservative/ Republican/ libertarian that I don't mind paying higher taxes if I know my money is being used to better the lives of people and our society, I would be torn to absolute shreds .Libertarians /republicans are alike in their rabid defense of the Second Amendment. Yet they don't listen, and they go on the attack when we talk about gun violence.

@NotConvinced you're absolutely right .instead of whining about how liberals always try to take the moral High Ground, own your shit. If you believe that money and business are far more important than people, own it. If it's a part of your political ideology that corporations are people own it. At least then people could agree to disagree. (And it beats the hell out of calling all Liberals are bunch of whiny ass babies that need somebody to wipe their ass and spoon-feed them)

@Crimson67 While some listen, other’s do. When doing does damage, something more than ‘listening’ needs done..

@clarkems

That's simply not true. Austerity is an ideological attack on the working class.

If what you said were true the middle classes and the rich would have suffered too. But they haven't. In fact they've gotten richer.

Yes. The one percent versus the ninety-nine percent. And the big chunk in the middle who apologise for and enable the one percent.

@Crimson67 You can not educate the masses in an election cycle.. Hillary had been targeted for decades and the Republican shock-troops marched to the polls … while the liberal purists ran away. The left is up in arms because trump won, the radical left, because Bernie lost..

The poorest of the poor weren’t ‘attacked.’ Their standard bearer openly suggested Hillary be ‘locked up’ or shot! -- she in turn called them a ‘basket of deplorables?’.. No contest.

The poor & poorly educated remain the Republican base (did not think that needed pointed out), and the few that actually did vote deserve the ire of the nation - the world! We are not responsible for their ignorance, no matter how sincere.

Blinder-less (thus atheist), the 3 hours I spent waiting to see Bill Clinton prior to this tragedy was alongside this nation's best, those deserving our admiration, not our pity. Had to cross the bridge into Washington state with a college age daughter by my side, but ‘those are the people’ we identify with - level headed, educated and experienced Democrats ...who delivered our States to the woman who should be president.

Not ‘liking Hillary’ or not wanting to ‘have a beer with Al Gore’ is no excuse for the poverty plagued ignorant to vote against the best interests of themselves, our nation, or this planet. The politically experienced knew better, but giving HRC the majority of the popular vote wasn’t enough. Comey’s boyscout behavior, Russia's collusion, Bernie fanning the flames and several decades of Clinton’s in the cross-hairs brought us this train wreck, not the level-headed Left.

@NotConvinced I’ve not ‘blocked anyone’ … but then I’m only as far left as this nation’s will go to..

@Ellatynemouth The tragedy is this nation allows that one percent to constantly campaign against anyone looking to promote the general welfare of the masses. But, it’s been a very slow boil… Guilty of stating my thoughts, the one’s I’ll hold back are how ..fucked our nation is.. I’m not fooling myself, but don’t want to rob a drop of hope or energy from those coming behind... Having given more than most to both educate and advance our nation ..don’t know how much longer I can pretend to hold out hope. When those who should be ‘left,’ are criticizing the same ..well, as one poster put it, “The political engine that runs the US loves that” - and aiming that train from the caboose doesn't work

@Varn Way to go Varn.

@Varn, @Crimson67 So the Conservative base, who are not wealthy continuously vote against their own economic well being. That is called stupid. You can't fix stupid. ☺

@Crimson67 ...don’t know what you’re talking about but when someone becomes that hostile ...they’ve usually lost their point.. And boy, everything’s personal? Your previous points were covered, I see nothing more but defensive drivel, for which I can’t help..

@Crimson67 l have no problem calling stupid people stupid any more than l do calling a smart person smart. Stupid gave us Trump, and this is not a small thing. The repercussions of having this man as our President could last a long, long time.

@NotConvinced Why is it a weakness to be offended by something? Can't I be offended by the ideals of white supremacists and maintain my strength and dignity? Taking offense doesn't mean turning up your nose and striding off in a snit. It means that you find something intolerable. It's how you proceed from there that proves your mettle.

@powder And you generalize from one poor case -- not very smart. In your episode, both your comments were unintelligent.

Was never able to suffer fools gladly. Have always held to the belief that you cannot rationalise with the irrational, nor reason with the unreasonable so, when identified as such, my conversation with them is immediately terminated.

@NotConvinced Truth shouldn't be subjective.

@bolshevik41 ...I’ll go as long as I feel safe, and that a smidgen of reality may be sinking in..

@NotConvinced TRUTH cannot be subjective, by definition.

@Crimson67 or you get the "here's a paragraph of me agreeing with you , with a silly joke at the end " and they will focus on the silly joke telling you how much of a monster you are