It does seem like the GOP in the senate has really moved even more to the right over the last decade with what appears to be more and more party over country to establish a type of control. Maybe some of that has to do with older generations going away with less support from younger folks?
Actually from my perspective the problem is the older generations NOT going away. Think about it. Both candidates for President are from the Baby Boom generation, a generation which has stubbornly clinged to power long past their time. In fact, the same was true in 2016 with both Trump and Clinton from the same generation. This is a generation which has continually sold out the future to get more than their fair share. Even look at the ages of a lot of members of Congress. Same generation. The GOP has this intergenerational theft down to a science. Yes, the party may change once the older generation finally dies off but for now I see the ages of those in charge as the problem. Even the younger crowd supporting Trump are more useful idiots than anything else. If they were able to think clearly, they would see this guy doesn't have their interests at heart. His only goal is to see the shit doesn't hit the fan while his generation is still alive. Unfortunately, with covid-19 the shit did hit the fan. I think there will be enormous consequences for that, especially for the GOP.
The Democrats have been doing it too but it doesn't seem like it's the same party over country. I was originally Independent before trump took office. With the lack of a sincere 3rd party it was tough feeling like my vote would be wasted by going to opponent so I changed.
The NY Democrats are just as bad. Instead of rich people, they sold out to public labor unions. NYS and NYC have huge pension obligations. There is also a lot of debt because nobody wanted to pay as you go. That said, nationally the Democrats are better than the GOP at this stage of the game. A lot better actually. They also know if they don't deliver, assuming a Biden win, they'll likely lose in 2024.
General curiosity...As a GOP voter, did you feel satisfied with the results from the elected (R) officials and presidents from the past? I know it's kind of a broad topic and if you asked on the flip side for (D) officials, I'd need some time to get details.
More so with local elections than national ones. As an example, Guiliani delivered big time when he beat Dinkins in 1993. He brought down crime, and got the city functioning efficiently. Dinkins was just a horrible Mayor, the worst in my lifetime, at least until deBlasio. He had to go. Same thing to a lesser degree when Pataki defeated Cuomo in 1994. Cuomo was taxing the state to death. Pataki made NY more competitive again. At least Cuomo's son understands the need to keep taxes low enough to attract business.
Nationally is a mixed bag. Reagan delivered on tax cuts but I wished he would have cut taxes for the middle class more and not cut them at all for the rich. Unfortunately, Republicans ever since just doubled down on that, even though trickle-down economics never really worked as advertised. I'd say the last Republican President who was worth voting for was Bush I. After that it started increasingly becoming a party of religious zealots, the rich, corporation interests, and lately conspiracy theorists and white supremacists. About the only thing I agree with the GOP on at this point is their fight to end overzealous gun control. However, even there I'm not in full agreement. I think we should at least require training before someone can own a firearm. But in any case I'm willing to accept the gun control baggage of the Democrats in exchange for having a platform where I'm agreement with most of their goals. I've long believed in getting off fossil fuels. I had to be sold on national healthcare but I certainly see the need for it now. As for taxes, I no longer fear the Democrats raising taxes to the roof on the working classes. They know that mistake cost them big time in the 1980s. They can raise taxes sky high on the rich for all I care. It won't affect me or 99% of other voters. And it'll make up for the decades the rich paid a pittance in taxes, like Trump did. I don't know why the government should bankroll his business failures by letting him write off 100% of the losses.
Third party? Yeah, I wish there was a viable one because my views are neither fully Democratic nor fully Republican. Voting for either means accepting some baggage. Right now the GOP has a lot more baggage, starting with the guy in the Oval Office.
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