Arlo Gutherie say a line which I find very interesting and still remember.   In essence he said " it took me a very long time to learn this but at the end of the day, I realized that I had a lot more in common with my political enemies, than I did with the people who were apathetic or uninvolved"   

I believe that statement to be true and probably very very true of this forum.   While many of us in this forum have different opinion, most are well informed and sincere in their beliefs.    We probably all want the same end- we just differ on how to get there.   (This last line is from a conversation I had with Jesse Winchester at Summerfolk)

I believe that most candidates have sold their souls to special interest groups by the time they get to any significant position.   It they refuse to sell themselves out, they never get to the significant position.