Quote:
Originally Posted by Si modo
I see the cause of the divisiveness differently. When involved in discussions about politics, too often condescension and insults are used. For example, "Group A is too stupid to see the truth." Or, "Groups B is too brainwashed to see what is really going on." You see?
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I think that's precisely the reason discussion over politics gets heated. I can discuss politics with an opposing viewpoint all day long, unless all the opposing viewpoint has is "Bush is an idiot!" That statement only deflates the real discussion and usually tells me the person has no real knowledge of the facts.
When discussing these things, I have multiple motives. 1, to possibly learn something I didn't know. 2, it forces me to justify my beliefs. 3, maybe I can tell someone something they didn't know. 4, to see an issue from a different point of view.
What I've learned from talking with hardened partisan voters, not necessarily people who follow politics, but, people who always vote, is that most know only what is briefed to them via the 6 o'clock news. They have no substantive opinions of their own, but, are led by the media and what they believe most Americans believe. Most dems I know can't give any idealistic reason why they vote Dem, other than "My family has always been democrat." Try to explain the difference to these people between the dem party of today and the dem party of JFK. Their eyes glaze over in about 5 seconds. The best one can hope for with these folks is that they remember to vote early Wednesday.
The other type of dem I find is single issue oriented.
Both of these will spout the usual "Bush is an idiot" or "Bush Lied" diatribe early in a debate of politics.
More difficult these days is to find a rep voter who can tell you why he/she is voting R. I'll be voting rep, but, only to keep out the dems. I can't find any candidate, running for any office, who is saying anything that inspires me. Even the rep's are liberal. The best I can hope for is to keep DC locked up enough that nothing gets done. I certainly can not make any good case for the rep side of the ticket, either. So, I'm left with pointing out why the dem would be worse.
There is a contest here in my state for US senate in which I'll be voting for the dem. Not because I like the dem, he's an asshole, but, the rep we have, Susan Collins, is as liberal as they come, and the Maine Rep party simply will not nominate anyone else. So, I'm in hopes that in 6 years, we'll have someone to vote for. It's a long range strategy.
