It’s always been something of a conceit that’s been taken for granted (especially in media circles) that on issue after issue, the left & right were merely arguing about methodology and that the “solution” was somewhere to be found in the middle.
Take health care – the assumption is that “both sides” want to take care of the sick and less fortunate among us…it’s just that Republicans believe that the market will take of things and Democrats believe it’s a government function. That canard has been laid bare this year. The GOP has no interest whatsoever in the welfare of ordinary people – especially poor, people of color, etc.
Paul Ryan isn’t interested in “reforming” Social Security & Medicare/Medicaid – he (and his ilk in the “Freedom” Caucus) want to eliminate any semblance of our social compact and safety net. Period.
I think that this realization is starting to dawn on more people. I hope so.
And I also hope that after a Blue Tsunami hits, Democrats won’t forget what Republicans have done & tried to do when they come back into power… that they don’t revert into the nonsensical deference to Republican wishes in the name of “comity”.