This post might perfectly encapsulate the attitude and ineptitude of the Democratic party for the last half century, with even the correct amount of condescension drizzled on top.
Element #1, the smartest guys in the room. You have carefully and correctly identified the root of the problem, and you've even come up with the right solution to solve it, so how dare anyone else enter the chat.
Great. So here's an idea, how about solving the fucking problem then?
That gets us to element #2, blame. "Those big, bad Republicans won't let us solve the problem." FFS, by my count Democrats have a trifecta (both houses of the legislative body, and the executive branch) in about 14 states, and the federal fucking government. Here's a free tip for you. That's when it's easiest to pass your laws! Why do you want to be in power if you're not going to do anything about, or implement your brilliant solutions?
Oh yeah, element #3, lack of political will. You guys beg and plead to be placed into power because you have all the answers, and then the minute it happens, the minute you hold all the cards, all the power, what's the excuse? Oh, uh.....courts, uh.....filibuster....umm, traitors in our own party....the political will just isn't there.
So that's the Democratic platform? You're the party that can identify correctly all of the problems, can craft the perfect solutions, but when given an opportunity to do so, you're too fucking spineless to actually do it???
You know, the state governments of Texas and Florida are the favorite whipping boys of the Bobbleheads here in Cafe, and I'll be the first to admit, those boys in Texas and Florida have some bat**** crazy ideas as to what problems their state faces and how to correctly solve them. But I'll give them this. When someone tries to stand in their way, when courts or Democrats or whoever try to put up roadblocks, you don't hear them whining about lack of political will.
As Mike would say, no half measures. Do the job you were elected to do, or stop blaming me for your ineptitude.
And your post perfectly displays how disingenuous you are.
Element #1: I guess you are also apart of this group, since you too have now correctly identified the problem. Alas, you attempt to play victim by playing me or anyone else on here as roadblocks to your freedom of providing conversation on here. Problem: Insane amount of gun violence unique to America. Solution: Reduce insane number of guns in private hands. You. Me. Basically everyone else on here: complete agreement. So, how to do that you ask? So glad you asked...
Element #2: At the federal level, yes, the Republican Party is providing a roadblock. You know this. You're not stupid, you're just gaslighting. No one on here had any notion of sweeping changes at the federal level. A second budget reconciliation bill, yes, but even that was going to be limited in scope. It would have had nothing to do with significant gun reform, which again, requires overcoming the filibuster, which isn't so easy. In fact, you've argued you think Democrats should not abolish the filibuster, even if they had the votes, which they clearly do not at the moment. You're not stupid. You know this, you're just gaslighting. BUT, at the state level Democrats are in control, gun legislation IS being passed. You've highlighted some of it yourself, and then subsequently mocked the value of said legislation. Your argument is that it won't do anything to stop gun violence. Again, we're in violent agreement that a near-total ban of privately owned guns is the best solution to our unique gun problem. But, absent that, which isn't happening anywhere, something is absolutely better than nothing. If it saves a dozen lives every year, what is the cost to achieve those dozen lives? 1,000 fewer get a gun? 1,000 more get theirs taken away? Back-patting by local officials, almost certainly Democrats? This is where your argument goes off the rails, along with your gaslighting of us (Democrats) being "too spineless to do it." Democrats are doing it in areas where they can, whether you mock it or not. We're never going to go as a country from all guns to no guns. So, you take the baby steps as you get them. You know this. We may never get all of the way there, but the measures put in place along the way will still save lives. It's already there in the data in places like New York, California, and Massachusetts. What was the cost of saving people from suicide and mass shootings? If it was enacted at the federal level, places like Chicago wouldn't have to worry about Texas, Indiana, or Georgia's lax guns laws. But we don't have the votes to get rid of the filibuster, which leads to...
Element #3 We don't have the votes. You know this. You're not stupid, you're just gaslighting.
You agree with all of us that a near total ban on guns would be the best solution. Absent that, your ammunition tax idea is excellent, coupled with other measures put in place. I would implement that if I were mayor, governor, or President (assuming Congress would pass such a thing!) That doesn't mean it's a waste of time because it's not straight to a complete ban on private guns. Deep down, I know you know this. You're not stupid. You're just gaslighting.