1972 Democratic Party Platform is so progressive as to be off the scale today

[alarimer]

75. Exactly.

And people wonder why there are so many independents. Of course people won't identify as Republicans, because they suck. But they ALSO do not want to be associated with Democrats either. And it isn't because of elected officials; We expect those people not to keep their promises and to compromise everything to death. I will vote for the lesser of the evils yet again. What I didn't expect was how much avowed progressives really are not progressive at all. They don't want single-payer health care. Fracking is okay. Free college is not good (although it used to be almost free years ago). Etc. Etc.

The popularity of Bernie Sanders (the hate from Hillary supporters notwithstanding) is an indication that there are deep structural problems and that winning this time against an easily beaten opponent won't solve our problems. Donald Trump will lose. But a more charismatic, smarter demagogue may win next time, unless the Democratic Party and its supporters actually decide to do something about these issues besides nibbling around the edges.