gbrk posted:SirWasabi posted:And Republicans didn't act the exact same way the past 8 years? Why do they get a free pass? What's the difference in the past 9 years, except for the switch of the party in control?
I'm not saying that for many did and all to the same avail which was to not help the other party. I don't know if 100% of the Republicans worked together, I kind of doubt that because they can't seem to work together even though they are in the majority. At least it can be said that the Democrats know how to wield their power and use it more to their advantage. Still both parties tend to, at times, consider their own well being over that of the Nation and it's a sad testimony for both parties.
The Nations founders built in mechanisms to slow down the legislative process and to insure that parties had to work together but only recently have I seen the caustic political polarization that exist and I believe that the origins of that go back to the 2000 George Bush election over Al Gore and the Florida hanging chads where many Democrats believe the election was stolen from Gore setting us on a path of no cooperation whatsoever. The election of Obama gave the Democrats total control where they could correct all evils totally uncontested because they had the numbers in both houses of Congress that gave them veto proof and filibuster proof authority. After 2008 - 2010 the Democrats should have no arguments about any evils that still exist especially ones that are harmful to the minority community because they had total power and control to correct all these evils and they either squandered that ability, didn't know how to use it, or didn't care enough to cure all the evils. After 2010, yes, the Republicans did achieve enough wins to be obstructionist and then lobby the American people for the numbers to give them control so as they could implement the agenda they promised and talked about all through the Obama years. Today they are proving that they can't act uniformly either, leaving their interest behind in the interest of the American people as a whole.
They have yet to fulfill the promise to abolish Obamacare (Democratic Healthcare) and it's possible that they will not fulfill their tax bill promises and if that happens then they (my opinion) will suffer a huge electoral defeat in 2018 and beyond so the Democrats fully (I believe) understand what they have to gain by being total obstructionist even if it is detrimental to the nation as a whole. Still under selfish, self interest, politics .. Both sides guilty! I'm agreeing with you on that point.
THANK YOU. For a serious civil discussion!!! I very much so appreciate it!