The Democratic Party legislates as if it represents all Americans. Which means compromise.

Rarely has the Democratic Party held all three branches recently. Holding the senate is a huge win for the republicans - they can be as obstinate and block things and only need a barest majority to do appointments and many other procedural shenanigans.

Like what the fuck is the house supposed to negotiate with? “We won’t pass bills”: the republican senate is entirely happy not to have bills passed. Now what?

The Republican Party is entirely devoted to debasing government and spoiling the notion of governance.

Well, the house explicitly has financial powers, and they can impeach officials. If the house was republican and the senate was democratic, you would see much more financing for projects Trump wanted. Like, just to make up the most ridiculous example we could think of, a giant wall...

Unless I am out of date with my civics knowledge, the House may have a bit of financial power, but legislation still has to pass through the Senate.

The upside of being the anti-government party is that you don't have to worry about being judged by how well you govern. It's a much easier position.

Respectfully, you probably do know independents. We just don't often talk about our political views to people who say compromise is dead and you have to be on one side or the other.

I'm an independent, who will be voting Democratic. The Democratic party is spineless, corrupt, and oddly radicalized in some ways. But at least they're not explicitly trying to undermine pillars our constitution and democracy are built on. The Republican party has shown they are enemies of a free America, opting to focus on wealth and power concentration.

To me, being independent means recognizing that both parties align themselves with some things I do not stand for, and some things that I do (though to be fair, the Republican party holds almost no views that I hold at this point). That doesn't mean I view them as equals, and that doesn't mean I'm on the fence. I'm throwing in with Democrats this time, but I'm very far from calling myself a Democrat.

Excellent. Thank you.

I think you misunderstand how independents think. I'm not sitting on any fence; I have pretty strong political beliefs, which just don't align well with either of the major factions in modern American politics.

One faction wants business as usual; that sucks, we need better. The other wants total control at any cost. Don't hold out for perfect.

Not obvious which you think is which.