Can you predict the future? Asking for your thoughts/opinions.

[chemenger]

I'd like to hear my fellow DU'ers thoughts on this 'thought experiment' if you will.

The way I see the current political climate, and in particular, the animosity (to the point of hatred) that the Rupublican Party has for the Democratic Party precludes any possibility of reconciliation let alone working together for the common good.

Notice that I didn't say that the reverse is true because I don't believe that the Democratic Party has the same level of animosity for the Republican Party (although, and flame me if you must ... I hate them and everything they stand for). We find them laughable, hypocritical, and contemptable, but as a party I don't believe we hate them.

But, back to the 'thought experiment' ... where do you think this animosity will lead in 5 years, 10 years and even 50 years from today??

[lapfog_1]

1. When I see bumper stickers for "open season on liberals"

"no limit"...

I start hating them as much as they hate us.

Maybe even a bit more.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Into the place where already in the early stages off

Civil war.

[zappaman]

5. Bullshit

You can keep predicting a civil war all you want.
But it ain't happening.

[unblock]

3. i actually think the tide of extreme partisanship will soon reverse itself due to demographics

the republican party is running out of angry straight christian white men, and will soon have to open their tent up to broaden their coalition. money can certainly buy them some time, so this change won't happen in the next year or three, but soon enough they're going to have to appeal to some currently democratic or unaligned constituency and that's hard to do if you're just the party of mean and nasty.

i think of partisanship as a pendulum that's near its farthest point and will swing back under its own weight.

i think by 2020 there will be a much more civil tone. i don't see it getting much worse in the next 4 years because there's no need or benefit. it's relatively easy to dismiss a second-term president as a lame duck, so while they'll continue to block everything in sight, i don't see them amping it up beyond the current level. after that, i think they need to start broadening their appeal.

[zappaman]

6. Love this post!

I agree with you.

They will have to adapt.

[kelly1mm]

4. I believe a combination of climate change and economic decay will prempt what would,

if allowed to fester, be civil war. While some (most maybe) R's hate D's, some D's hate R's. You said that you do. Here is a OP that, frankly, scared me with the hatred:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021238938

Preview = R's need to be curbstomped.

[zappaman]

7. No civil war

Sorry.

[kelly1mm]

8. I hope you are right. nt

[randome]

9. He is.

An Internet forum is not a very good place to take the pulse of society.

I agree with unblock's assessment.

I think climate change is the wild card across the globe right now. But I think we will address that, as well, simply because we won't have any choice.