Whenever my Dem friends go off on their rants, I try to pin them down (and calm them down) and try to actually discuss the issues rationally. It's usually a very ineffectual attempt, because they don't want to calmly and rationally discuss issues, they want to rant.
And you're probably right. Although they all have more material possessions than me, they feel that somehow they've been wronged. Usually by the ever mysterious "them". It's as if life has cheated them out of something that is rightfully theirs.
Their whole philosophy is based upon their perceived lack of power as individuals which must be compensated for by instituting collectivism.
Whenever my Dem friends go off on their rants, I try to pin them down (and calm them down) and try to actually discuss the issues rationally. It's usually a very ineffectual attempt, because they don't want to calmly and rationally discuss issues, they want to rant.
I have friends that are lefties too and at first I would give them a different point of view to ponder, but they could not understand it and kept up with their nonsense. Now, I change the subject and talk about something else. It is much better because you can't change them no matter how hard you try.