With the exception of elected progressives - and some will argue with me on that -, both the Democratic and Republican parties have put the great unwashed (everyone who doesn't have b/millions or a "golden parachute" as their fail-safe escape) into a box marked "use whenever you feel like it." Their answer to criticism of them is to occasionally throw a bone to the masses or, conversely, to distract by exploiting differences between groups within the masses. It never occurs to the pols that we may be smarter than they think.
I am sorry about those who are groaning under all the limitations imposed by governments, while the rich can sail above all this.
But I am afraid that the idea that political parties should make everyone comfortable when civilization's survival is tottering on the edge of a volcano in full fiery rage, is not a very practical or timely one. There is a time for marching orders being given and people liking or lumping it and following them, and we are dangerously close to that point. Of course, it matters if the orders so given make sense, but that is another discussion and not what I think that fits here and now in the context of the article being commented.
I rather comment on what people like Greta Thunberg are saying, because that is what is at the heart of what is here and what is coming soon and will stay with whatever remains of us for a number of definitely inconvenient, unpopular and uncomfortable centuries.
With the exception of elected progressives - and some will argue with me on that -, both the Democratic and Republican parties have put the great unwashed (everyone who doesn't have b/millions or a "golden parachute" as their fail-safe escape) into a box marked "use whenever you feel like it." Their answer to criticism of them is to occasionally throw a bone to the masses or, conversely, to distract by exploiting differences between groups within the masses. It never occurs to the pols that we may be smarter than they think.
I am sorry about those who are groaning under all the limitations imposed by governments, while the rich can sail above all this.
But I am afraid that the idea that political parties should make everyone comfortable when civilization's survival is tottering on the edge of a volcano in full fiery rage, is not a very practical or timely one. There is a time for marching orders being given and people liking or lumping it and following them, and we are dangerously close to that point. Of course, it matters if the orders so given make sense, but that is another discussion and not what I think that fits here and now in the context of the article being commented.
I rather comment on what people like Greta Thunberg are saying, because that is what is at the heart of what is here and what is coming soon and will stay with whatever remains of us for a number of definitely inconvenient, unpopular and uncomfortable centuries.