If you have such a problem with polarization, why did you support Bernie Sanders? I supported less polarizing Republicans like Rubio and Kasich, yet you supported a candidate who if elected wouldn't have been able to compromise with Republicans. I think you're part of the problem bruh.

This post was edited by IceMage on Jul 16 2016 08:11pm

I see your point. Just because I am advocating for less political polarization doesn't mean I think that the most moderate candidates are the best choices for president. Choosing a president is a complicated decision, and I'm not appealing to an argumentum ad temperantiam here. I think Bernie Sanders was our best chance at electing the next great and inspiring president; a modern day Woodrow Wilson. Hillary represents a poor man's Obama and Trump would be a disaster.

Also, my #1 issue is income inequality. I think if we fix that issue, we can help address a lot of others, including racial tensions, the war on drugs, etc. Bernie Sanders best addressed my #1 issue. I think his vision for America was the most beneficial to the middle and working classes of this country. If we addressed that issue, I think we could move on to a lot of others. I think Clinton keeps up in the same place (a slight decline as a country) and Trump threatens the very nature of our Democratic-Republic.

I think Bernie Sanders is more willing to compromise with Republicans than most people realized. He has his opinions, but he is willing to work with people to achieve the greater good. If there was a bipartisan bill that came across his desk advocating for an expansion of Medicaid but a third trimester abortion ban, I think he would sign it because it would help more people than it would hurt. He's a far-left politician, but he is willing to take what he can get. Consider his positions on gun control, for instance.

Liberals like to call Obama center-right, and Republicans haven't been too willing to compromise, so why would you believe that a democratic socialist could make more progress? You embody the political polarization point you are talking about.

This post was edited by IceMage on Jul 16 2016 08:34pm

That's his fault. When you call everything and everyone corrupt and convince a buncha teenagers that you are the white knight in a wicked world people don't expect compromise with the dragons

although his ringing endorsement of queen corruption kinda calls into question how corrupt everything actually is or how much he actually believed of his one memorized speech

Like Ice said, Obama prided himself on cozying up to repubs and they didn't want shit to do with him. Sanders wouldn't get anywhere with them

Obama is most definitely a center-left politician, not center-right. Hillary Clinton is the same.

The GOP is unwilling to compromise because that is not what their constituency desires. They would rather their representatives "stick to their positions" and core principles than compromise:



Meanwhile, consistently Liberal citizens like myself desire their government to make more compromises. Bernie Sanders is the embodiment of the the consistently Liberal constituency in America. He advocates for a universal health care system, but he wouldn't turn down legislation that expanded Social Security benefits in exchange for more favorable gun laws. America is no longer used to a politician that represents the majority; we are so used to politicians who advocate for predominantly the upper class and political elite that we forget what it's like to have someone that is willing to make compromises for the sake of the working and middle classes.



Sanders might not get anywhere with Republicans, but that would be more of the GOP's faults the Democrats' fault. The GOP prides itself on sticking to core principles, and the DNC prides itself on reaching compromises. You tell me which of those stances you think is more conducive to a productive government.

How far has the Tea Party advanced the Conservative agenda? That is a segment of the GOP base that prides itself on not compromising with Obama or Democrats. The far-left of America is much more willing to compromise with Republicans than vice versa. The Republican party is mess: Donald Trump is their nominee for president, for crying out loud.

I feel like I am in the twilight zone with your posts today

That's just the truth and also what the available information supports. I have aspirations and dreams for America, but I'm also willing to take what I can get. I want what I think is best for America, but I'm willing to engage in some give and take to get there.

How do you define left and right? By european standards with the rest of the west, obama is centre-right most definitely. In america, he's a 'leftist' because nothing exists to the left of him, not on major stages anymore. He's not center-left in america, sanders et all are loons on the national stage.
Hillary is farther to the right than Obama, making her a rightie globally and a 'moderate' nationally.

Agree 100℅. Bernie has shown his willingness to compromise with his support for Hilary despite his huge disagreement with her.

Very true, but how many americans can really profess even a basic knowledge of european politics or history? The whole libertarian ideology stems from western philosophers of the 17th-19th centuries whose ideas were rejected until they found some mainstream success across the atlantic.