Ebbie,

Just pointing out the obvious. *BG*

Marion, I agree. Finding common philosophical ground can't very easily be accomplished when only one side gets to define the terms.

I would say, however, that when it comes to policy making (as with Pete Stark or any other elected official) someone is going to force someone -- not toward their beliefs but toward their behavior. And nobody really minds this. We are somewhat protected by some vestiges of republican democracy -- that is, we are unlikely to be forced toward something that we can't agree upon without having first persuaded a majority of that behavior's practical sense.