Chuz, speaking as a moderator here - you set up your OP in an inflammatory manner by essentially targeting one side - "the left" - it's a bit difficult to create a CDZ thread (where civil discussion is the goal) when the OP isn't exactly that. You would do better to leave out partisan leanings and post an OP that asks the questions - and - asks for answers.
I'm going to close this - could you repost the OP in a manner that doesn't set one side on the defensive, because as long as you do that, you aren't going to get a civil debate.
