Among our various reactions to what happened yesterday is a common factor, I believe.

[NRaleighLiberal]

We on the left think beyond ourselves and care about others aside from ourselves. Some of us here have been, and will continue to be, hurt by the impact of the last 6 years of right wing obstruction on our lives directly. Others may be a bit more buffered from it, either by income, age, luck or just where and how they choose to live - but it doesn't matter. The world for each of us is more than we as individuals. Whether it is civil rights, the economy, access to health care or the environment (and much more), we think about the impact of our actions, we think about things can be made better - far beyond us as individuals. It is the opposite of Ayn Rand, really.

Politicians may or may not reflect this (more often than not, they don't - or if they have it within themselves, the donors or handlers or their position don't allow them to show it very often, if at all). But we know better - we have to live with ourselves and our actions.

I am more than ever convinced that "screw you, I've got mine" is an awful way to live, and a worse way to govern. Thankfully, that is not who we on the left are.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Yeah. I'm 70, have no kids, and could live out the remainder of my life in greater comfort

if I quit giving a shit what happens to the world and to the coming generations.

I gotta say, though, that it makes it harder when I see myself devoting great energy to trying to make a better world for younger people who can't be bothered to get out, learn about reality, & do something about it themselves.

[FSogol]

2. True. Gerry Connolly (my Rep to the House) said this:

We Democrats are a communitarian party. We fiercely fight for individual rights and have done so through our long and storied history. But at the end of the day, we reject those bumper-sticker, license plate slogans that say 'Don't Tread on Me" -- because that's only part of the equation. What about the next guy's right? What about that woman next to you? What about her rights?

It isn't just about us, individually; it's about all of us as a community. We belong to a Commonwealth in which your diminishment is mine. That distinguishes the Democratic Party from the other party. While we took some knocks around the country last night, I assure you those values are majority values and they are the values that will dominate our politics going forward."

His whole letter is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025769966

[demmiblue]

3. K&R

[tk2kewl]

4. there are two kinds of people in this world

Ones that divide people into different kinds and ones who don't.

[demmiblue]

5. Giving this another kick!