[quote=Djshakes]Let me rant once and a while damn it. It makes me feel manly. I’ll kiss and make up with you in a bit…sexy.[/quote]

It’s unfortunate that the noisiest participants in the American debate today are the least thoughtful. Generally those on either far end of the political spectrum lack the ability to appreciate the complexity, difficulty, subtlety and nuance required to actually make a country or a state work. They have a mantra (“Small Government!” or “We need to help the underprivileged! It’s not their fault!” or whatever) and nothing that doesn’t fit squarely with that motto is accepted, whether it’s what’s required or not. And it’s easy for them to rant and rave because it’s easy to shout slogans and to insult people. But doing what it takes to actually make something work? Leave those hard decisions to the few good politicians we have and then insult them when they try.

I expect it (or at least I should) from participants on a web forum. What’s really unfortunate is that, in far too many cases, our politicians are the same way.