alt Hacker NewsAs a former staunch Republican, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that both parties have sold us out. I disagree with a lot of the Left's policies and many on the Right as well, but both parties advocate, in theory, for several things that would benefit all Americans -- yet it never happens. Republicans advocate for fiscal responsibility -- never happens. Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens. The Democrats held the House, Senate, and Presidency in 2021 for two years. The Republicans currently hold the House, Senate, and Presidency right now.
They're in power for themselves and their disregard for us is by design.
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If republicans took control of a household, they would just not buy groceries, cleaning supplies, ignore the utility bill, and not put gas in the car. They'd say "look how much we saved! We don't need any of that!" Then when the next person comes along and pays the bills they'd cry "tax and spend! Wasteful!" Pretending they've ever given a damn about fiscal responsibility is absurd. Fiscal responsibility is providing healthcare, education, and social safety nets because it's far far more expensive not to. But sure, buying more police and not addressing the root cause of crime is totally a net savings. They are like this with every single issue that matters.
I am trying to assume good intent, but this is like a template for when they say "Foreign actors are being paid to sew discord". They always open with "I used to be a big believer in X" about a binary situation but rather than explaining the reason they now believe in Y they return some vague nihilistic viewpoint. Nuts to that. The Democratic Party in the US sucks like an Electrolux and I will still happily vote for them because we are, for better or worse, in a two party system and it's what we've got. Saying it's all the same is misguided at best, a knowing lie at worst.
> Republicans advocate for fiscal responsibility -- never happens. Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens.
From what I've seen, Republicans don't bother trying. Democrats try and get blocked by the GOP; not sure if they can 'try harder' or find ways around the blocking. Biden certainly tried on student loans and got shot down:
* https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/white-house-press-...
After trying to be bi-partisan with the ACA/Obamacare the Democrats just went forward with it
> Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens
Obama got Obamacare done in the single 6-month window in this century when Democrats could pass legislation without Republicans blocking them. Biden tried to cancel student loans and was blocked in court because surprise, surprise, Republicans wouldn't allow it to go through Congress.
> The Democrats held the House, Senate, and Presidency in 2021 for two years
Read up on the Senate filibuster to understand why Republicans could block student loan cancellation (and anything else Democrats wanted) despite this.
In theory both parties are part of the same system and complicit and corrupt. In actual practice one party is much worse than the other. By a lot.
Republicans win elections by blocking anything that's good for ordinary Americans, and blaming Democrats for their lives getting worse as a result. Voters are too dumb and distracted to see the con.
> Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens
Democrats passed the ACA under Obama. Republicans have been trying to get it repealed with only moderate success ever since.
Biden announced student loan forgiveness in 2023. The Supreme Court struck it down in 2023.
Democrats have been able to get done at least some of the things they said they would.
> Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens.
That's a lie.
> Republicans advocate for fiscal responsibility -- never happens.
Happened under a Democrat.
> As a former staunch Republican, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that both parties have sold us out.
Ahhh, it makes sense now.
This. Same team, different jerseys.
I'm not a big fan of Democrats, but at least they're somewhat trying. Obamacare should have at least had a public option, but they got a big thing done there. Student loan cancellation was done poorly but it was attempted. And each of the last three (at least) Democratic administrations have reduced the deficit, so they've got the fiscal responsibility thing going as well.
Keep in mind that the Senate de facto requires 60 votes to pass almost anything these days. In this millennium, Democrats held enough seats to overcome that for about two months, and there was no margin at all. Hence the lack of a public option: Joe Lieberman didn't want it, and without him the whole thing didn't pass.
"Democrats advocate for things like healthcare and cancelling student loans -- never happens."
You're blaming Democrats for things they try to do and are blocked by Republicans...
> Republicans advocate for fiscal responsibility
The “advocate” only during election cycle and then add more debt and spend more than 10 Democratic Parties combined. Democrats are not great either but they try to push through what they preach
Biden got a bunch of big legislation passed during his presidency. Including but not limited to: Infrastructure and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS Act.
This "both sides are bad" trope is such an obvious sign that you're either 1) a Republican but embarrassed to say so, or 2) a bad faith actor making a false equivalency.
Biden forgave student loans and conservative SCOTUS stopped him. Dems passed ACA and expanded Medicaid and CHIP. Republicans cut them both.
I could go on but I'm sure you know all this. Dems aren't perfect. Nobody ever is and it's unreasonable to expect that. They have pushed legitimate progress. Republicans almost exclusively cause harm to protect the upper class. Retreating into cynicism is just a way to absolve yourself of any civic responsibility.
No, both sides are not equal. Biden tried to cancel student loans.
It's almost like we're treated as a resource to be exploited instead of the foundation of a democratic republic.
As a libertarian I strongly agree with this in isolation. But your follow up comment (now flagged) is chock full of the standard Republican social media dementia, so this original comment is actually yet another instance of lofty ideals being dishonestly abused to run cover for something even worse.
For all of the actual criticisms that can be levied at them, Democrats aren't the ones throwing our institutions onto the scrap heap, alienating our allies, or cheering on autocracy.
May be good for you to know that the American left policy is the rest of the worlds' right policy.
For the overton window to produce actual left wing policy that you may agree with, fundamental long-term change is needed.
What did Republican appointees on the Supreme Court have to say about student loan forgiveness?
Who not only fights tooth and nail against healthcare improvements but actively took money from existing programs to fund a national police and detainment apparatus?
Which party produced the most meaningful (albeit not far enough) healthcare reform of the 21st century in the US?
Those examples in particular are quite rough to try and both sides.