'You don't just get to say that you're progressive': The left moves to defend its brand

[BlueWI]

79. You didn't answer my question, which was who is willing to advocate for change?

It doesn't matter how big a majority you have if no one is willing to change from business as usual.

I did bring up Bernie Sanders, but I probably shouldn't have, because it derails discussions, and then we're talking about one individual rather than a gigantic, systematic problem where there is too little will or determination to change in EITHER party. I would modify your statement about where change comes to add in the role of citizens - like the young citizens sitting in at the capitol right now advocating for a Green New Deal because the older generations couldn't be bothered to manage resources responsibly, and their decisions have led to a warming planet and giant defense budgets rife with graft. Now, what I'm hearing from you is we can't change things unless all of the Congress and the presidency changes hands. My question to you is that even if this occurs, does this mean an automatic change toward a post-Cold War budget? If this site is anything characteristic of Democratic discussions, I see very few discussions of defense spending and its outsized cost. I see a lot of resistance even when I bring it up. I see accusations of being a "purist" because of opposing this immoral and unsustainable use of limited financial resources, to the point where crumbling infrastructure and the Green New Deal get lip service and not much more, compared to this gargantuan defense budget, 1.2 TRILLION or more every two years.

As I said in another response, either it's not a priority to cut this budget or the opposition to it is extremely ineffective. 25 years after the Cold War and with no land armies in sight that are the size of the old Soviet army, down the rabbit hole the people's money goes. The least we could all do is speak out against it, rather than excusing it. IMO, there is no excuse.