[tptacek]

I don't think you're going to get anywhere productive with analyses that connect all commercial health care spending with top-to-bottom regulatory capture by the health care industry. Essentially what you'd be saying is that any system short of federally-run single-payer was a sign of corruption.

Also: this idea that the "Democrats are the party of the people" and the "Republicans are the party of corporations" is pretty silly.

The Republicans are a conservative political party. The Democrats are a coalition of blacks (~25%), latinos (~10%), women (+10% share), labor unions, and urban (but not suburban) college-educated whites. Liberals are an important component of the Democratic party (and have no home whatsoever in the GOP), but they don't run the table.

[Spooky23]

Democrats are a big tent party and idealology doesn't rule as a result. When they get ideological they pay dearly, as gay marriage demonstrated. (Lots of older white and black voters stayed home or voted GOP)

Republicans can't win the numbers game so they hammer home on right wing populism. Unfortunately, the last 30-40 years hasn't been kind to the "Main Street" centrist republicans of the past.

[sanderjd]

My impression is that the tent-restricting social issue that has held the Democrats back in recent years is abortion, not gay rights. I'd be interested to hear if you have studies or polls showing otherwise.

[pstuart]

I'd say it is God, Guns, Gays, and Gynecological Gerrymandering.