What is it like to be in a relationship with a progressive?

[Pushed To The Left]

I imagine it has to be great. I would love to talk politics with a girlfriend and actually agree and find common ground! I have to say it wasn't fun being told that my views were "dangerous" in my last relationship and having a significant other gloat when the candidate I was volunteering for made a gaffe "He just sunk his campaign! I love it!!!". The girlfriend before that was more moderate, but she was still no progressive. She was a strong drug war supporter and was constantly saying I was "politically correct". I wasn't even progressive back then!

Those relationships had other problems that caused the breakups even without the political differences, even though the last one was very upset that I was so politically active and said that I did it to "massage my ego". However, I wonder what it would have been like to be with a truly progressive-minded woman.

So, DUers in relationships with fellow progressives: What is it like? Do the political similarities improve or enhance the relationship?

[Aristus]

1. I had a very liberal girlfriend once. A college student at Rutgers.

She dumped me because I wasn't liberal enough for her. Me! I'm so far to the left, I'm practically falling OFF! The truth was, I just wasn't very political at the time. She should see me today; sElection 2000 really radicalized me.

So that could be a pitfall. "More liberal than thou"; that kind of thing.

[Shakespeare]

2. It's still a relationship, and it can go horribly wrong or wonderfully right.

My ex was a hardcore lefty; he also turned into a verbally abusive alcoholic and drug addict. I'm now dating a libertarian who's the most supremely decent human being I've ever known (and he hates Bush with a passion).

It's the person, not the politics.

[LeftyMom]

3. It's nice.

Seeing the world the same way isn't really the only way for things to work I guess, but it's certainly easier than the alternative.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Before I got married, I broke up with guys who weren't progressive...

I couldn't picture myself maintaining a relationship with someone who lacked compassion and exhibited no interest in developing any.