General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The "extreme left" didn't give us Trump. The path to hell was paved by [View all]pat_k
(9,313 posts)Many, many factors at work.
I do not take the ridiculous position that the failures I cite are the only factor; or that the Stein voters are the only factor; or that low participation is the only factor, or that the Republican noise machine is the only factor; or that the billions invested by scaife, koch bros, and so on is the only factor.. All these things and more are at play. Low levels of participation have plagued us for so long. I think participation (national average for presidential) has topped out at about 60% -- which is shameful. This election was low, but it has gone lower. As a factor, it is one that is of very long standing.
The position I am taking is that those factors would have been overcome if we had not taken some seriously wrong steps. And that we CAN overcome the forces driving the rise of right wing extremism if we look at those mistakes and commit to changing some of the basic ways of thinking that led to those mistakes. It's all about being more effective going forward.
If we had been bolder, I believe the participation rate would have been higher. If we had been stronger, and drawn some lines in the sand, I think we would not be perceived as weak relative to the "strong" republicans... and so on.