I've been "here" for more than 3 years, not always officially, but here nonetheless.
I no longer find the same substance in the discussions. The language of responses has devolved to street level. The themes seem reactive, rather than proactive. This saddens me, for I used to look forward to checking in here several times a day.
[editor's note, by Granmere] I've learned I could only have been here 3+ years - just seemed like 6. Sorry. Senility, you know.
I'm sure no one will read this, but I wish Markos could establish some permanent policy threads, distinct from the everyday partisan issues that everyone wishes to respond to. The partisan issues make your blood boil, but they pass. They draw attention to important problems, but after the vitriol, what then?
We have serious concerns we need to address, and they're not all partisan - I'm an independent - truly, I vote for the person and his/her proposals - not the party.
We should be having substantive, ongoing discussions about healthcare for example. Not just reactions to whatever is in the news today.
This administration repulses me, but to defeat it we have to do something different than what was done in 2004. We need to build those policy blocks now, and this community has the intellectual resources to do that.
I think this would be a better site if there were permanent forums which sorted ideas and formed them up into larger concepts we could discuss and pass on to those in a position to make a difference.
Maybe this is naive, but I'm 65 years old and I don't have a lot more time. This is a powerful forum. It needs to do more than scream and send money.