We live in a much more cynical time with much lower public faith in government
It also just so happens that one of the main parties in the US has been working tirelessly for the last 40 years to make sure that faith in government is lowered. I believe it's their overarching strategy to get people to disconnect from politics, so they can rule the roost. What other reason for their party's popularity, when the party policies are not in the best interest of those voting for it?
The point Rayiner was making wasn't partisan. None of us can possibly be well served by recapitulating this endlessly tedious US political sharks/jets argument on HN.
I read your comment this way: what I wrote wasn't wrong, it's just not welcome here on HN. The problem with this: smart and/or good people have for too long taken themselves out of the fray and the result is a debased public discourse.
I was merely trying to point out the cause of one aspect of the original post.
The role switches based on who controls the White House so you cannot attribute that to one party or the other but should attribute it to both.
However, do not confuse the national parties and the Washington establishment with local Democrats and Republicans. The local level politicians usually are much more responsive to the needs of their constituents.
Didn't local Republican government refuse Obamacare money because, well, it was Obamacare?
I think your statements are not in line with the facts, not by far. State Republican governments are often more beholden to corporate interests than even the federal party. They often fall in line with federal level ideological ploys as well (eg. banning gay marriage), so they're no better on that front.
It also just so happens that one of the main parties in the US has been working tirelessly for the last 40 years to make sure that faith in government is lowered. I believe it's their overarching strategy to get people to disconnect from politics, so they can rule the roost. What other reason for their party's popularity, when the party policies are not in the best interest of those voting for it?