But still don't like the idea that we "indulged" the right. More like we couldn't stop them. It's not that many educated, and many powerful, Democrats didn't see it happening and try, but there are huge limits to what we can control. I always wish people would ask, "Is this me I'm describing?" You and I both know the answer for ourselves is, "Hell, no!" No numbers, of course, but I don't really doubt that goes for most other voters on the left.
Although I agree with your thirds evaluation too, there are various ways this pie can be sliced for evaluation depending on factors considered. Just looking at the huge factor of underlying personality, though, that's basically conservative and liberal. Our large broken center was made up of moderates of both types; researchers say there's no "moderate" personality type.
But in any case, today's government corruption and dangerous instability are overwhelmingly caused by conservatives and the fight against the growth of corruption in government, business, and the minds of voters is overwhelmingly coming from liberals. (Btw, the Repubs have not been able to completely destroy our recent banking reforms, some of which still constrain business, and the ACA, though taking heavy hits, is currently mostly functioning at intended.) Yes, though, in hindsight we could and should always have done more, better, sooner.
Above all, Democrats by the millions should have become aware, alarmed and -- somehow -- managed to stop and reverse the intensely destructive influence on democracy of soaring wealth accumulating in new ultrawealthy classes. It's not that it's not happened before and we haven't been forced to stop and defeat it back before. But neither have we been in a position before where technology caused wealth to quadruple over 30 years and at the same time gave the newly ultrawealthy new information technology tools and knowledge to twist nearly 100 million voters to serve them. They also had the advantage this time of hindsight in realizing over 40 years ago now that, in order to hold onto and continue to grow their wealth and power, they had to first divide the electorate so we couldn't form majorities to stop them. I wouldn't describe this weakness, large indifference among the electorate until it exploded in our faces, and failure indulgence, though. That implies a degree of complicity that goes beyond mere normal fecklessness. Like you I've watched it happen since the "Reagan revolution" and not felt the least indulgent.
In my house, heartburn is what happens when you realize you're literally jumping up and down in rage in front of the TV because some conservatives, who no doubt voted for 45 years of tax cuts, are expressing society's humble gratitude for billionaire charity gifts to their embattled state college.
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