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Presidential Politics VII - Left or Right

What we see in the current political races, both Democratic and Republican, is a race to the extreme.  The Democrats are not only drifting left but racing that away.   There is no limit to social programs they propose; cost seems not to be an option. The Republicans are constantly invoking the Reagan litmus test of conservatism.  

Realism is lost.  The Republican candidates, such as Cruz, argue against the non-conservative purity of Trump.  They view this as key.  Each of them scrap against the over who is the most pure.  Ronald Reagan has achieved political sainthood.   Programs are irreverent; purity is. For the Democrats, both contenders are vying to inherit the Obama legacy, and both are traveling even further than Obama even dared toward the progressive agenda.  Both are trying to capture their base.  For the one, the rich are an infinitely taxable asset.  For the other, the rich comprise an achievement goal.  Both are dead wrong.

The news outlets love this.  It gives extreme headlines, extreme interviews, and pejorative analyses. Polarity is hot.  Rating go up.

If purity wins the next election, we are in serious trouble, partly because neither extreme sees any need for compromise or even working with their opposites.  If there is no clear majority party in place, this is OK.  Namely, it is OK for nothing to be accomplished.  The President has shown us the value of Presidential directives creating what is desired. No legislation is needed. It is not even  wanted.
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