Why has political polarization become a problem in the US?

[Katzndogz]

It doesn't matter how the country became polarized. It is now too polarized to remain intact.

 

[Pete7469]

Just couldn't stop yourself, could ya? Well I won't try to argue the findings. I would agree though with Kosh that there is a big difference between a conservative and a Republican just as there is a difference between a Democrat and a liberal. Now as I said, I live in Portland. Not sure if you have ever been here but let me assure you that this place is made up of liberals. Not just Democrats, but flaming, screaming, all right-wingers are evil, liberals. I can attest that I have never lived in a city that was full of people so closed-minded, xenophobic, vitriolic, antagonistic, and just plain nasty. Maybe it's worse on the other side in, say, Kansas. I don't know. When I was in Kansas I stopped through for gas and that was about it. But I can tell you, the left-wing liberals, at least in this city, are not nice people and they have no interest whatsoever in a rational exchange-of-ideas discussion.

It's like that in Austin TX too some extent, but they're usually not downright nasty. Dumb as fuck though.

I'll admit that I was once a lib and ran around calling conservatives nazis, until I learned what a nazi is, and that I was actually more of a conservative myself than a nazi could even remotely be considered. So I learned quite a bit and grew out of liberalism. I'm more libertarian now.

I don't listen to bed wetters either. I already know what they have to say, I used to say stupid shit like that. As far as I'm concerned they're wrong about almost everything, and I don't care to "exchange ideas" with them. When I did care to, it was with people who eventually were no longer my friends. Now I just want the left defeated. I do what I can to marginalize and ridicule them with Saul Alinsky tactics and while it may not be productive it is cathartic.

 

[Pete7469]

Probably true. I haven't been to Seattle in over 20 years so I can't say. Loved it when I lived there though. The best way I can describe Portland to someone who has never been here is to put 2 million rDeans in a single city, give them an inferiority complex about their larger and more successful neighbor to the north, and pour rain on them for five months out of the year to make sure they are in a bad mood and that's pretty much Portland. Oh and once a year have them all ride naked through the streets on bicycles.

Sounds like a free range mental hospital.

 

[Pete7469]

It doesn't matter how the country became polarized. It is now too polarized to remain intact.

Sadly that may be true.

As long as they GTFO of TX it will be fine.

 

[BluePhantom]

I'll admit that I was once a lib and ran around calling conservatives nazis, until I learned what a nazi is, and that I was actually more of a conservative myself than a nazi could even remotely be considered. So I learned quite a bit and grew out of liberalism. I'm more libertarian now.

Stuff like that happens more than people realize on both sides. When I was teaching, we discussed current events in my class daily. I remember one young student of mine who claimed she was the ultimate liberal, all Republicans were evil and every problem facing the world could be traced to the GOP. But then in discussion she would constantly argue the right-wing position. She was pro-life, argued for small government, low taxes, supported traditional marriage....you name it. So one day I pulled her aside after class and said "I'm confused. Why do you claim that Republicans are evil if you agree with the conservative platform right down the line?" She didn't believe me so we sat down together and did some research and guess what she discovered? She almost fell out of her chair and there was a very real sense of conflict she experienced as a result.

I asked her why she hated Republicans so much and she said her parents had raised her to think that way. I asked where she got her political beliefs from and again she said her parents had taught them to her. I asked, "you know what that means, right?" and she said "yes they are Republicans too"...in fact they were all very conservative Republicans. The thing that amazed me was that there was an election that was not too far off and afterwards I asked who she voted for. She voted for the Democrat, even though she completely disagreed with his positions, and her reason was "I can't vote for a Republican. Republicans are evil."

What can one do? It happens on both sides

 

[FA_Q2]

That’s pretty much the case IMHO wherever there is a massive majority of singular political views in a single place. There is no difference in what you are describing than going up to Seattle and stating that you are a conservative. Massively liberal here.

Probably true. I haven't been to Seattle in over 20 years so I can't say. Loved it when I lived there though. The best way I can describe Portland to someone who has never been here is to put 2 million rDeans in a single city, give them an inferiority complex about their larger and more successful neighbor to the north, and pour rain on them for five months out of the year to make sure they are in a bad mood and that's pretty much Portland. Oh and once a year have them all ride naked through the streets on bicycles.

lol.

You will find little difference up here than what you are experiencing down there. Just more rainy days with possibly less actual rain (nothing is more upsetting than the asinine always but not quite rain that we get up here).

 

[Pete7469]

Stuff like that happens more than people realize on both sides. When I was teaching, we discussed current events in my class daily. I remember one young student of mine who claimed she was the ultimate liberal, all Republicans were evil and every problem facing the world could be traced to the GOP. But then in discussion she would constantly argue the right-wing position. She was pro-life, argued for small government, low taxes, supported traditional marriage....you name it. So one day I pulled her aside after class and said "I'm confused. Why do you claim that Republicans are evil if you agree with the conservative platform right down the line?" She didn't believe me so we sat down together and did some research and guess what she discovered? She almost fell out of her chair and there was a very real sense of conflict she experienced as a result.

I asked her why she hated Republicans so much and she said her parents had raised her to think that way. I asked where she got her political beliefs from and again she said her parents had taught them to her. I asked, "you know what that means, right?" and she said "yes they are Republicans too"...in fact they were all very conservative Republicans. The thing that amazed me was that there was an election that was not too far off and afterwards I asked who she voted for. She voted for the Democrat, even though she completely disagreed with his positions, and her reason was "I can't vote for a Republican. Republicans are evil."

What can one do? It happens on both sides

My parents were conservatives too, but I rejected their politics. I was sure things would be better under socialism, getting rid of guns would be "progressive", all that insipid shit.

Once I understood what collectivism was really about, is when I realized I was all about free markets. Some people just take more time to think things out I guess. My switch took a couple months, I have voted for just one democrook since then. I knew the guy and he was the only one on the ballot though.

 

[there4eyeM]

Public accommodations.

 

[Dragonlady]

Its the degree of polarization. Not merely the existence of it. We're pretty polarized.

There are two major tools I use to combat it. First, I recognize that there are principled arguments for both sides of the political spectrum. Second, I always harbor a grain of uncertainty in any position I hold, recognizing that I could be wrong. It really helps keep you from embracing extreme positions.

Certainty is the enemy of intellectual curiosity in my opinion. And I always want to remain hungry for new information.

You have just self-identified as a liberal.

Someone once said that the difference between conservatives and liberals is that conservatives are certain about everything they believe, and liberals are certain of nothing. I think that's true.

I know that I question everything, accept nothing at face value and research and verify constantly. I want the best possible information when making a decision.

Conservatives see changing your mind about an issue as a bad thing. Liberals see it as a sign of growth.

 

[westwall]

As I am concerned I will tell you...
The biggest reasons I hear for the increase in political polarization, and the resulting gridlock in politics, is either gerrymandering or "the other side is just extra crazy" The truth is gerrymandering has basically existed forever on both sides, and the other argument is just group think. Anyone have any data on why the political process has become more polarized in the past 20 some years?
What will you say to this?

It's not a problem. That was the intent of the founders.

 

[AntiParty]

As I am concerned I will tell you...
The biggest reasons I hear for the increase in political polarization, and the resulting gridlock in politics, is either gerrymandering or "the other side is just extra crazy" The truth is gerrymandering has basically existed forever on both sides, and the other argument is just group think. Anyone have any data on why the political process has become more polarized in the past 20 some years?
What will you say to this?

It's not a problem. That was the intent of the founders.

LOL!

Take Westwall for example. His or her entire focus is guns. Nothing more. He is absolutely convinced that if there is even 1 more gun law that the "slippery slope" will take away all his guns. So he invested into becoming a mod to control this Forum.

And Westwall, our founders didn't design the Country to be split. That statement is ignorant. We ARE, "WE THE PEOPLE". Corporations use split tactics so we never see the real problem with politics. Party A bails out banks and party B hates it. Party B bails out banks and party A hates it. "but when we did it, it was for good reason".

The Constitution wasn't designed to split the American People Westwall.

 

[Wyatt earp]

Substitute "Obama" for "Brownback" and you would have a pretty good picture of the national economy.

Except that in the past 12 months, unemployment has gone down in 49 states.

Guess which state in which it did not go down?

As I am concerned I will tell you...
The biggest reasons I hear for the increase in political polarization, and the resulting gridlock in politics, is either gerrymandering or "the other side is just extra crazy" The truth is gerrymandering has basically existed forever on both sides, and the other argument is just group think. Anyone have any data on why the political process has become more polarized in the past 20 some years?
What will you say to this?

It started with a pubic hair on a can of coke aka the Clarence Thomas hearings and got worse ever since

 

[Wyatt earp]

In two words: Rust Limpblob.

In two more: The Eliminationists

Translation: I am still buthurt over the fairness doctrine being repealed in 1987

 

[westwall]

As I am concerned I will tell you...
The biggest reasons I hear for the increase in political polarization, and the resulting gridlock in politics, is either gerrymandering or "the other side is just extra crazy" The truth is gerrymandering has basically existed forever on both sides, and the other argument is just group think. Anyone have any data on why the political process has become more polarized in the past 20 some years?
What will you say to this?

It's not a problem. That was the intent of the founders.

LOL!

Take Westwall for example. His or her entire focus is guns. Nothing more. He is absolutely convinced that if there is even 1 more gun law that the "slippery slope" will take away all his guns. So he invested into becoming a mod to control this Forum.

And Westwall, our founders didn't design the Country to be split. That statement is ignorant. We ARE, "WE THE PEOPLE". Corporations use split tactics so we never see the real problem with politics. Party A bails out banks and party B hates it. Party B bails out banks and party A hates it. "but when we did it, it was for good reason".

The Constitution wasn't designed to split the American People Westwall.

The Constitution was 9 limits on what government can do the People. And 1 final option. Jefferson, who wrote it, would disagree with you on the split part..... You really need to read more than your communist manifesto dude, you're woefully uninformed. And no, corporations buy the politicians who will do their bidding. It's cheaper and easier.

 

[Clementine]

In two words: Rust Limpblob.

In two more: The Eliminationists

That makes no sense and doesn't explain the vitriol on the left.

I think the reason is because nearly half want that fundamental change Obama talks about, namely tearing down capitalism and having big government care for people from cradle to grave and the other half wants to abide by the constitution.

It seems that the middle of the road is becoming vacant as people feel they must choose one side or the other. While most people always seemed to be middle of the road, there are no politicians representing them anymore, so you go one way or the other. The left bashes businesses and capitalism while wanting to subsidize everyone's lives. They talk as if they can start making the wealthy pay and everyone will live happily ever after. We have enough unsustainable policies now and that would likely do us in.

Both parties cater to the wealthy, though the left bashes them and pretends that they are all rightwing evil entities, which makes them huge hypocrites. And the left claims the right worships the rich people.

There is also a divide with race and the left forever accuses the right of being racist. That gets old when we watch leftist policies treat minorities like idiot children.

Then we have global warming, which I think is a big part of the divide. The left won't debate despite many scientists now coming forth and saying it's bullshit.

Coming up with a global crisis was suggested by Alinsky and his ilk ages ago. Obama practically quotes the guy on most things. A crisis of this magnitude is necessary for the massive wealth redistribution and transfer of power that the left wants.

Do we keep America as land of the free or give in to a one world order, where some oppressive people rule? I vote for the former and I think that is what the divide is ultimately about.

It's been heading this way for decades as the goals of each side became clear.

 

[NYcarbineer]

As I am concerned I will tell you...
The biggest reasons I hear for the increase in political polarization, and the resulting gridlock in politics, is either gerrymandering or "the other side is just extra crazy" The truth is gerrymandering has basically existed forever on both sides, and the other argument is just group think. Anyone have any data on why the political process has become more polarized in the past 20 some years?
What will you say to this?

Good sane people cannot help but be polarized against modern American conservatism.

 

[Mac1958]

Let's watch as each end of the spectrum blames the other.

The irony will be delicious.

Did I call it or did I call it?



.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Let's watch as each end of the spectrum blames the other.

The irony will be delicious.

Did I call it or did I call it?



.

What the fuck is wrong with opposing what you don't agree with?

 

[Meathead]

Let's watch as each end of the spectrum blames the other.

The irony will be delicious.

Did I call it or did I call it?



.

Yeah, you called it. But then it was pretty obvious.

 

[Mac1958]

Let's watch as each end of the spectrum blames the other.

The irony will be delicious.

Did I call it or did I call it?

.

Yeah, you called it. But then it was pretty obvious.

Yeah, can't argue.

Sometimes it's like shootin' fish in a barrel.



.