Originally Posted by Bucco

I am convinced and troubled by what I see is a TOTAL and complete lack of anybody even looking for middle ground.

Our "leadership" that used to look for that does not exist any longer. This forum is just one shining example of what appears to be a problem that cannot be fixed.

From the White House to those of us who vote, we ignore any chance of compromise; we have become so mired in our party, ideological thinking we are doomed to simply go the same direction unless something or somebody wakes everyone up.

We have stopped listening to anyone or anything that we do not agree with

The party's are just too far apart now. One side is trying to save our Constitutional Republic (in theory) and the other is trying to create a Socialist Utopia (in reality). How do you find the middle of that, and frankly; what would that middle be?

Originally Posted by Bucco

I am convinced and troubled by what I see is a TOTAL and complete lack of anybody even looking for middle ground.

Our "leadership" that used to look for that does not exist any longer. This forum is just one shining example of what appears to be a problem that cannot be fixed.

From the White House to those of us who vote, we ignore any chance of compromise; we have become so mired in our party, ideological thinking we are doomed to simply go the same direction unless something or somebody wakes everyone up.

We have stopped listening to anyone or anything that we do not agree with

Bucco, you've hit the nail on the head!

It is rather a waste of time, whether or not it feels good, to keep insisting that every incumbent be voted out, or that a whole branch of government be blamed for all of our ills.

The closer we get to Global Truths (sweeping generalizations), the farther we stray from factual information. Global Truths are like endless billboards blocking the real landscape.

For my money, our greatest current challenge is being distracted by an unprecedented, endless string of superPAC Global Truths.

May our leaders be able to survive long enough to sit down and talk common sense.

There never was and there never will be a "career politican" who will ever sit down and talk common sense.

Originally Posted by Bucco

I am convinced and troubled by what I see is a TOTAL and complete lack of anybody even looking for middle ground.

Our "leadership" that used to look for that does not exist any longer. This forum is just one shining example of what appears to be a problem that cannot be fixed.

From the White House to those of us who vote, we ignore any chance of compromise; we have become so mired in our party, ideological thinking we are doomed to simply go the same direction unless something or somebody wakes everyone up.

We have stopped listening to anyone or anything that we do not agree with

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Bucco, you've hit the nail on the head!

It is rather a waste of time, whether or not it feels good, to keep insisting that every incumbent be voted out, or that a whole branch of government be blamed for all of our ills.

The closer we get to Global Truths (sweeping generalizations), the farther we stray from factual information. Global Truths are like endless billboards blocking the real landscape.

For my money, our greatest current challenge is being distracted by an unprecedented, endless string of superPAC Global Truths.

May our leaders be able to survive long enough to sit down and talk common sense.

Good stuff. I have always felt that most people in this country live in the middle and are not pulled to the extremes, though it has become less that way in my lifetime. An example of the middle - I think most people abhor abortion and think it should not be easy or subsidized by government programs, but they also don't beleive it should be totally illegal (my example, not based on research). Unfortunately, people who run for high office are more and more on the edges or extremes. Furthermore, the system encourages them to be on the extremes because primary elections are mostly decided by the far left or far right, who are the ones that become motivated and vote in the low turnout elections. Because we end up with people in office who are on the extremes, they see the other party as being totally on the wrong side of every issue which makes compromise difficult if not impossible. I don't see this improving and in fact it seems to be getting worse, making me fear for the future of our country.