The disagreements at DU are not about "Obama" per se' [View All]

In the hopes of trying to get the "two sides" that this site has kind of split into better understanding each other, I would like to try to add some illumination that will hopefully help, if only a bit. Please take it in the way it is intended, which is not to get people's backs further up, but to try to help the "two camps" understand each other better:

There is a tendency to think that people who are unsatisfied are "simply" critical of Obama. I would argue that is not quite the case but more nuanced. But really, don't the differences of opinion have less to do with the current administration, then simply a fundamental difference in agreement about the severity and nature of our current problems?

Would it be accurate to state that for many that are happy, or close to happy, with the direction of the administration feel that our system is not fundamentally messed up, but just needs better management and steering? That the issues we are grappling with are more related to having had poor management, and that once we get things under control and fix the things that (mostly) Bush broke that we will have prosperity again?

From what I see, those who express alarm and concern, are not really against "Obama" per se, but that they see our situation as much more serious, that we are in a state that if not resolved soon will have generation impacts, and that the fix involves much deeper and more fundamental change. And that we are departing from traditional liberal values. And the administration seems to be part of a shift from those values?

The bar is different that folks use to judge if we are on the right path. I have not seen many people that are not satisfied with anything Obama is doing. I think most who are "concerned" about it's direction are grateful in some ways, but just don't think it will be enough, and that sometimes the administration perpetuates the problems. I wonder if we can recognize that and it might not help in understanding each other?

I would be curious to discuss if others feel this is an accurate understanding or not. And hopefully to discuss it with some civility?

One other thing I would like to add, is to keep in mind that DU is a discussion forum, and people are likely to express themselves more freely, and I just think that a discussion forum is going to have more discussion about contentious issues than about things we agree about? Maybe we should expect that a bit more and not get so offended if someone comes out and questions something?

(edited to fix spelling mistakes)