I used to be a Republican. I like low taxes, minimal (not no) regulation, a strong military, government staying out of the free market, fiscal responsibility, and its close cousins personal responsibility and accountability. I can't abide what the party has become -- loud, populist, short-sighted, stupid, appealing to the basest instincts. Equally as spendthrift as the Democrats ever were, just arriving at the same deficit from different directions.
Democrats are no better. If you don't toe their line, you're not only a hairy-palmed knuckle-dragging moron, but a horrible human being beneath contempt. Forever alienating all but the left with insults and condescension. Loony-tunes ideas that only hurt the very people they purport to protect. Outside of bait-and-switch (see Virginia Governor Spanberger) and saying, "At least we're not...[fill in criticism]." a distinct lack of ideas to counter the worst Republican candidate and worst administration in history.
So I'm politically homeless. At 67, it's looking like I probably will be until I step off the mortal coil.
So my question to our blue posters -- or anybody for that matter: Why do Democrats see "affordability" (largely undefined beyond vague implications of The Man keeping the everyday Joe down) as a winning issue?
Reason I ask is that the most un-affordable cities and states tend to be deep, deep blue Democratic strongholds.
Google the cities or states with the highest costs of living.
Depending on exactly how "cost of living" is calculated or how a "city" is defined, you might see the order shuffled. But at or near the top you'll find New York (city and state), Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Maryland, Chicago, pretty much the whole Northeast except Maine. Doesn't get much bluer than that.
In the significant majority of cases, the reasons cited are high state, local and/or sales taxes and high housing prices. I'd add that, outside of magnet schools and similar that have competitive admissions, their public schools are abysmal despite high per-student expenditures. But that's really an education topic.
Back to the beginning: I'm truly bumfuzzled as to why Democrats want to make affordability (however that might be defined) "their" issue, when their record on creating an affordable economy is so bad.
Any thoughts -- beyond, "Donald Trump is horrible," (which he is) -- out there?
Democrats are no better. If you don't toe their line, you're not only a hairy-palmed knuckle-dragging moron, but a horrible human being beneath contempt. Forever alienating all but the left with insults and condescension. Loony-tunes ideas that only hurt the very people they purport to protect. Outside of bait-and-switch (see Virginia Governor Spanberger) and saying, "At least we're not...[fill in criticism]." a distinct lack of ideas to counter the worst Republican candidate and worst administration in history.
So I'm politically homeless. At 67, it's looking like I probably will be until I step off the mortal coil.
So my question to our blue posters -- or anybody for that matter: Why do Democrats see "affordability" (largely undefined beyond vague implications of The Man keeping the everyday Joe down) as a winning issue?
Reason I ask is that the most un-affordable cities and states tend to be deep, deep blue Democratic strongholds.
Google the cities or states with the highest costs of living.
Depending on exactly how "cost of living" is calculated or how a "city" is defined, you might see the order shuffled. But at or near the top you'll find New York (city and state), Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Maryland, Chicago, pretty much the whole Northeast except Maine. Doesn't get much bluer than that.
In the significant majority of cases, the reasons cited are high state, local and/or sales taxes and high housing prices. I'd add that, outside of magnet schools and similar that have competitive admissions, their public schools are abysmal despite high per-student expenditures. But that's really an education topic.
Back to the beginning: I'm truly bumfuzzled as to why Democrats want to make affordability (however that might be defined) "their" issue, when their record on creating an affordable economy is so bad.
Any thoughts -- beyond, "Donald Trump is horrible," (which he is) -- out there?
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