Anyone ever meet a rational leftist?
Never will happen.
Decades ago. The father of a high school classmate. Fascinating guy to talk to. I am sure he had been a real card carrying communist in the 30’s. He once remarked his political maturity began when he announced he had no interest in supporting the allies of Hitler and was beaten up for his trouble. Enlisted in the USMC before Dec 7, 1941. Why? ‘The marines are the first to fight.’ Wounded a couple times, the last on Iwo. Went to North China (he was a 1st LT. by then). Said he was at first considered an alarmist when he attempted to get other marines to take the Chicoms seriously, until they ambushed a motor patrol. Basic philosophy was that any group that makes a religion out of something invented, Marxist dogma, race, etc is a menace to everyone else. Believed government was needed to provide certain basic requirements for a civilized life but needed to be watched due to the power lust most people have in them.
Guy has been dead for over 20 years. I don't think there are a lot of his like left.