Fair and valid--They absolutely do not need us to feed them ammunition. But still, donating it, as we both agree, is not beneficial.

The hardliners are not going to be swayed by "radical leftist," things like..compassion, understanding, and respect. But those who are in the herd at large, strung along, they are who can be swayed as you mentioned, and it is to them that we must maintain the discipline that you expounded. Not owed to them, but as you said, "for our own sake." We owe it to ourselves to remain honest and true.

I actually know someone funnily enough who was a Trumpet until she came to realize the Monster she helped get elected for a second term. We do not talk politics much, but I do know that even if not progressive, she at the very least supports our right to exist(even though she does have some hesitances about some things that we have not had a chance to discuss much). People can certainly change.