As someone of a similar age and path, that should have been the takeaway. But, in my case it really took until 2016 DNC shenanigans to really cement that. It's just insanity for these people where we do the same horrendous shit and they expect a different result.

Also, something that has been mentioned on here before is reading mainstream news. Like, I consider myself pretty well informed, but I don't read the New York Times or listen to NPR. I think they don't realize the amount of propaganda that is contained within even the most neutral articles. Reactionary behavior is ingrained into the liberal, western brain.