"I’m proud to be a Democrat. But I’m also furious. Furious at the complacency, the calculation, and the careerism that treats politics like a game...while people’s lives hang in the balance."
After much thought, I personally think that voting to end the shutdown at this time was the right thing to do. I do not think that there was a realistic chance that the Republicans were going to give in to the ACA subsidies anytime soon. So in the meantime, people were going to go without food; travel was difficult and the shutdown was having major effects on the economy. At this moment I feel that the majority of the country was in favor of what the Democrats were trying to accomplish. However, if the shutdown dragged on, sooner or later I think that the benefit the Democrats have had in this fight will diminish and perhaps reverse. The country has now clearly seen what Dems stand for and what Republicans stand for. I think it is a win.
I am disheartened by the fact that so many Progressives are totally slamming anyone who feels like I do. Apparently it is not such a big tent.
Hey friend. You know, I think at the end of the day, we’re all trying to move this country in the same direction. We all want families to be safe, fed, housed, and able to afford the care they need. That’s the universal truth and shared understanding we have.
For me, part of being a big tent means making room for honest disagreement about strategy without assuming the worst about each other. Please know my frustration isn’t with you, and it isn’t about questioning anyone’s values. It’s about the very real consequences families are about to feel when those ACA credits expire.
We might look at the same situation and see different paths forward - that’s okay! We just need to stay in conversation, continue to be engaged, and remain focused on the people who are most impacted by these decisions.
I’m not one for purity tests, and definitely am not trying to shut anyone out. I just think we owe it to each other and to the folks who are struggling to talk really honestly about what worked, what didn’t, and how we show up stronger next time.
We’re still on the same team. We just want to make sure the team is doing everything it can for the people counting on us. Peace ✌️
Crucial point. If you’ve ‘always’ voted conservative, at what point do you begin to realize this is not about conservatism, it’s about dismantling democracy?
“They’re not the enemy. They’re the neighbors still showing up to keep the thing running when others have walked away.” That line says everything. It captures the truth that keeps getting lost in our politics: pragmatic, solution-focused citizens aren’t waiting for some perfect candidate or party to rescue them. They’re already out there doing the maintenance themselves — keeping communities afloat while the system sputters.
What we’re missing is a way for those same people, across political lines, to influence the political outcomes they need. Imagine if thousands of voters with very different experiences could do what you’re calling for: start with the issues, find where genuine agreement exists, and then identify the candidates who truly match those shared priorities. Endorsements created this way wouldn’t just reflect inside strategy — they’d reveal a clear, cross-partisan consensus about who genuinely aligns with what voters want government to do.
That’s what I’ve been working on. I’m testing a structured, web-based process to reveal the shared-priority map that supports consensus-driven endorsements. If it works, it could help organize statewide groups of voters who are ready to get under the frame, grab the wrench, and back candidates who match what communities actually need — not what the political machine is willing to deliver.
If you’re interested in the experiment or want to take part, there’s a link in my profile.
After much thought, I personally think that voting to end the shutdown at this time was the right thing to do. I do not think that there was a realistic chance that the Republicans were going to give in to the ACA subsidies anytime soon. So in the meantime, people were going to go without food; travel was difficult and the shutdown was having major effects on the economy. At this moment I feel that the majority of the country was in favor of what the Democrats were trying to accomplish. However, if the shutdown dragged on, sooner or later I think that the benefit the Democrats have had in this fight will diminish and perhaps reverse. The country has now clearly seen what Dems stand for and what Republicans stand for. I think it is a win.
I am disheartened by the fact that so many Progressives are totally slamming anyone who feels like I do. Apparently it is not such a big tent.
Hey friend. You know, I think at the end of the day, we’re all trying to move this country in the same direction. We all want families to be safe, fed, housed, and able to afford the care they need. That’s the universal truth and shared understanding we have.
For me, part of being a big tent means making room for honest disagreement about strategy without assuming the worst about each other. Please know my frustration isn’t with you, and it isn’t about questioning anyone’s values. It’s about the very real consequences families are about to feel when those ACA credits expire.
We might look at the same situation and see different paths forward - that’s okay! We just need to stay in conversation, continue to be engaged, and remain focused on the people who are most impacted by these decisions.
I’m not one for purity tests, and definitely am not trying to shut anyone out. I just think we owe it to each other and to the folks who are struggling to talk really honestly about what worked, what didn’t, and how we show up stronger next time.
We’re still on the same team. We just want to make sure the team is doing everything it can for the people counting on us. Peace ✌️
Crucial point. If you’ve ‘always’ voted conservative, at what point do you begin to realize this is not about conservatism, it’s about dismantling democracy?
“They’re not the enemy. They’re the neighbors still showing up to keep the thing running when others have walked away.” That line says everything. It captures the truth that keeps getting lost in our politics: pragmatic, solution-focused citizens aren’t waiting for some perfect candidate or party to rescue them. They’re already out there doing the maintenance themselves — keeping communities afloat while the system sputters.
What we’re missing is a way for those same people, across political lines, to influence the political outcomes they need. Imagine if thousands of voters with very different experiences could do what you’re calling for: start with the issues, find where genuine agreement exists, and then identify the candidates who truly match those shared priorities. Endorsements created this way wouldn’t just reflect inside strategy — they’d reveal a clear, cross-partisan consensus about who genuinely aligns with what voters want government to do.
That’s what I’ve been working on. I’m testing a structured, web-based process to reveal the shared-priority map that supports consensus-driven endorsements. If it works, it could help organize statewide groups of voters who are ready to get under the frame, grab the wrench, and back candidates who match what communities actually need — not what the political machine is willing to deliver.
If you’re interested in the experiment or want to take part, there’s a link in my profile.
Beautiful. Powerful. Thank you.