I find it very hard to make any sense of this hodgepodge in the present context--
Fiscal irresponsibility??
Gravy train??
Get off the podium??
The Democrats 'lost' because of the massive defection of their traditional white working class base which happened for a variety of reasons. Dissatisfaction with Obama's environmental policies was one of these certainly but by no means the most important. Looming as large or larger were a whole host of other issues: "immigration", particularly from Mexico; worries about Islamic terrorism; disquiet over social changes (gay marriage, etc, etc, etc.); concern over demographics (growth of non-whites as a percentage of the population); various economic factors (de-unionization, job insecurity, declining employment opportunities for those--men particularly--without college degrees). Everybody in the party leadership is cognizant of these problems and is working on ways to bring the disaffected elements back into the fold. The strong likelihood that Trump will continue to betray his base in favor of family interests and the monied establishment should be a big help in this. [He certainly gave it his best not long ago in his failed attempt to deprive millions of his supporters of their health insurance].
In the meantime, we live with the prospect of a stare-down between an insecure, unfit American president with zero impulse control, and the pudgy little monster running North Korea, each with his index finger on a nuclear button.
While seeking to bring several million voters back into the fold is admirable, and yes, agree, there should be an even greater number of disillusioned Trump voters available, there are still some ~90million potential voters who for one reason or another didn't vote. Why? Who are they? and what do they want?
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/02/us-elections-2012-non-voters-demographics
The Democrats didn't just lose for the reasons you listed. The Democrats also 'lost' because of the Democrats themselves. Politicians of all persuasions have disenfranchised themselves from the electorate. When politicians grant themselves allowances, questionable expenses, above average pay and conditions and increases, indulgent retirement and superannuation benefits, when they set themselves as a class apart, then of course anger in the electorate builds. This is not surprising since all sides inevitably report to the financial masters who really pull the strings in the world. It's only a rort if you're not in on it!
The pigs have moved into the farmhouse and they're walking on their hind legs ..... The other 'lowly' animals, no matter how overworked, constrained and oppressed aren't going to stand for it. We recently had one muppet (now thankfully gone) who decided that she would fly interstate on the taxpayer's coin to by an investment property. Of course no real reform came of it - just the usual shuffling of the deck chairs on the Titanic.
It can't just be a perpetual choice between the lesser of two evils. It's time for a new paradigm, genuine government for the people by the people, not parties, and various other masters.
Imagine if politicians were paid say the average full time wage and conditions, and then as in the commercial world, maybe had another 0-100% available as a bonus subject to achievement of say half a dozen public living standard, fiscal responsibility, global good, and environmental standard, metrics being met. :cat: !!! I would bet pounds to pence on better government.
In this country, we've been through the left's (our Labour party = your Democrats) disastrous administration with Kevin 07. He said he was a leader, not a politician. He was not. He said he was a fiscal conservative. He was not. He blew an inherited government surplus and parlayed it into getting on now for half a trillion dollars worth of debt. Big fat inefficient government and built in recurrent spending - it seems to be the bane of left leaning governments the world over. The US now has a debt that even superman would have difficulty leaping over .....
Never mind the first 100 days, Trump with his wholesale Environmental regulation repeals is indeed setting the bar very low (though not quite Putin low as other recent events are sadly showing), but potential alternatives are going to need so much more than that. Additionally there'll be all those environmental babies to recover and revive.
One of the shining lights in the rust belt demographic is the Mid West 'wind belt' Industry - I saw a documentary the other day (Vice origin I think) where there was actual footage of Trump speaking at some event and heaping disdain on Wind Power. His economics can no longer be dismissed as merely just blunt, or illogical - it's entirely ignorant. A paper tiger. The Emperor has no clothes.
He's had his chance. He's blowing it. It's just a matter of time now before his supporters wake up, let's just hope he doesn't sink to a worldwide calamity to distract the populace. I agree, the North Korea situation has been, and still is, an increasing concern. Despite Trump's open admiration of Putin's oligarchal model, at least in recent days he finally seems to have found his line in the sand of differentiation with him.
Chosun :gh: