Michael Paulauski: This is something that's really soured me on the whole "the problem is that Dems haven't improved people's material conditions" talking point. Dems consistently do good things that materially improve people's lives, but Republicans are rewarded for blocking those efforts.

This is something that's really soured me on the whole "the problem is that Dems haven't improved people's material conditions" talking point. Dems consistently do good things that materially improve people's lives, but Republicans are rewarded for blocking those efforts.

The governors of a dozen Republican-led states — AL, AK, FL, GA, IA, MS, OK, SC, SD, TX, UT, WY — opted out of a new federal food assistance program, leaving about 9.5 million students without the aid this summer

Republican-led states are blocking summer food benefits for hungry familieswww.usatoday.com Money for food is especially tight for families in a dozen states where Republican lawmakers declined to accept federal food assistance.

The retort is always "but the Dems should have tried harder!" With what political power?

As long as your vote and advocacy is transactional ("rewarding" or "punishing") for services rendered you will always serve power and condemn change.

I think they mean this political power:

Post