Reply #25: Exactly -- There are philosophical differences

[Armstead]

I also believe like Biden that we need to work across party lines and ideological differences to get things done.

But that's not what's happening. It's all a one-way street. The Repugs have positions and a philosophy and will not budge. So compromise becomes impossible

Also, I believe much of the nasty polarization today is NOT because of ideological mifferences. Just the opposite. As the actual substanative differences shrink, the parties look for other ways to attack the opposition and get and keep power. Like personalities and empty images.

Paul Wellstone was a perfect antodote to the Biden style of empty cooperation. He showed how it was possible to both have a very strong ideological position, but pursue it in a way that avoided personal polatrization, and even allowed for working together across the aisle when it was appropriate in individual issues, like disability rights.