2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: A word of advice about controlling the Democratic Party message [View all]BainsBane
(53,032 posts)and I agree in a general sense, though I think it more important for political representatives to do than individual voters.
Part of the problem with the increasing polarization of politics is that it is related to location. The range of political views of people who live near me run from Democrat to Green. I have some Republican in-laws who don't live in the city, but my sister insists quite vehemently that we don't discuss politics at family gatherings.
I do have a friend who is an old-school Republican, but he voted for Clinton in the general election. It surprised me, but he said he would have voted for any Republican other than Trump or Cruz over Clinton, but of course the party base doesn't give him that option.
So I do discuss politics with him. That's how I know that Obama is despised in the financial sector, despite claims by some here that he is their bestie. They clearly do not see it that way.