(08-28-2018 05:19 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Lad, this is the 10,000 meter run, not the 60 meter sprint. There will be changes in pace, in who is leading, in everything, before we reach the finish line. But we can cheer a good start. In fact, we can cheer that we have even made a start. The final outcome is a long way off, and may or may not be as we wish. But it is a damn good start that we are even trying to get to that finish line. Don't dismiss the race because we are not yet at the finish line.

I'm not dismissing anything - I've said multiple times that it is good that Trump was willing to start a dialogue.

But your analogy is perfect - we're maybe 0.6% of the way there, as we've finished the first 60 meters. No one should be congratulating or lauding anyone for that.

And we're in a similar position with Mexico regarding a revised trade agreement. It's news that we've started talking, and that's a good position to be in. But we're so far off from tangible results that no one is deserving of praise yet.

As a millennial, I found a very apt comparison. These situations, where you and Tanq want to pass out awards for just getting into the race is just like how my parent's generation decided to give every kid on the soccer team a participation trophy.