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In reply to the discussion: Maybe the idealist liberals can just stifile themselves [View all]jeff47
(26,549 posts)Society moves in steps. Not leaps.
Thanks to St. Reagan and pressure from Republicans, society stepped to the right. Repeatedly. Very far to the right.
It's now stepping back to the left. And we should continue to encourage that movement.
But it's like training a dog - you have to praise as well as pressure. You can't just yell and scream because the dog isn't doing exactly what you want the moment you want it.
And that's where the complaints about "idealist liberals" come from. There's tons of people who say things like "We didn't get single payer, so I'm never voting for a Democrat again". Or "Obama's just like W because he's threatening Syria" - despite the difference between threats and invasion. The "No difference between Republicans and Democrats" people.
That is what is frustrating. Because those "idealist liberals" stop helping to move society to the left. And without their help, it is harder to keep pulling society left. They are sabotaging their own stated goal and complaining about not reaching it.
We should be saying "good work" for the progress we do make, and keep pulling where we have not made sufficient progress. And yes, "idealist liberals" should do both - praise and pressure.