I am able to extrapolate some good arguments from your post, but I do take issue with references from people who simplistically lump all Democrats in one bin, and Republicans in another (re: your reference to "the donkey state").  I'm a Democrat and I think the rail should be stopped.  So do other Democrats such as Ben Cayetano.  Assuming that all people of one party are all the same can only lead to further polarization in our community.  It's like saying that all women are alike, or that all Asians are alike.  They're not.  Each of us are individual in values and ideas and,as intelligent people, we should be guided by our own analyses rather than just a party's platform.