No need to be a jackass, just because I caught you being dishonest.
No one said progressive change was easy, but that’s not an excuse for not trying. That’s the problem: Obama didn’t try, he left the voters at the door when he entered the White House and never engaged the public. He simply accepted Republican obstructionism as a fact of life and resigned himself to doing “what little he could.” It didn’t hurt that setting such a low bar appeased his corporate donors.
The difficulty of progressive change is also CERTAINLY not an excuse for helping to make things worse, which is what Bill Clinton did with free trade, Wall Street deregulation, welfare reform and his tough on crime initiative. Of course his corporate donors were also satisfied by this in the 90s (notice a theme). Now you want to triple-down on this garbage with Hillary.
You seem to be under the impression that I don’t understand how our political system works (and are being a belittling asshole while you’re at it). I’m well aware that Republicans make everything difficult. But did it ever occur to you that that is EXACTLY why Democrats need to go on the offensive with a direct appeal to the American people? They shouldn’t disappear behind closed doors, take money from special interests, accept the conservative terms of debate, produce Republican-light legislation, and then convince themselves that they’re “doing all they can.” It really is dishonest. In the “real world” you’re so fond of, change is NEVER handed down by elites, it ALWAYS starts with grassroots efforts. This is the essence of Bernie’s “political revolution”: the idea is that if elected officials are constantly and publicly reminded that they are accountable to voters instead of donors that they will start being more responsive, regardless of who’s in office. It’s about more than just a single election, and you completely mischaracterize him when you judge him through such a narrow lens.
This takes more work on the part of citizens but it also produces better policy outcomes. Furthermore, it changes the terms of debate on what is “politically possible.” This is what your beloved Democrats have neglected to do for a generation, incidentally it just so happens that in that time they have also been inundated with corporate money.
Progressive change starts with us, so how about instead of making excuses for your elected officials, you hold you start holding them to higher standards. Don’t let them live with where Republicans have set the bar. Demand a more responsive government. And certainly don’t blame “unrealistic progressive expectations” for your failure of imagination.
