docbungle

Trying to have a conversation with someone regarding anything political has become virtually impossible. This is especially true when speaking to a member of one of the two main poitical parties, the "REPUBLICANS" and the "democrats." Why did I write republicans with BIG letters and democrats with small ones? Because that's how they behave. Disagree with a republican on their politics and he/she will become angry and LOUD and sarcastic and probably end up walking out of the room rather than contribute anything constructive to the "conversation." Disagree with a democrat and they will get all "woe-is-me" and say things to imply that you are just not smart enough to understand their pont of view: that's the only possible explanation of why you wouldn't agree with them.

When I refer to REPUBLICANS or democrats, let it be known that I am speaking of the type that can't see anything - or refuse to see anything - until it has been filtered through the strict viewpoint of their own political party. These are the people who get most of their information from 3 minute television clips, 20 second sound bites, sensationalist news stories or talk radio. Never do they search for multiple sources of information or involve themselves in any actual hands-on research. And they NEVER listen, much less agree with, anyone who has an opposing viewpoint on anything at all whatsoever from that of their own poitical party.

When reading through this forum, it doesn't even take any effort to see who's on which side, even after just a few posts. Everyone is that set in their ways. That subjective.

Objectivity doesn't exist.

This is nothing new. But that doesn't make it any less of an issue.

Nobody is ever right, even if they are actually right. Nothing is ever conceded, even if it means destroying a friendship. No one is willing to have an actual CONVERSATION, with an actual exchange of ideas and opinions that they came up with themselves as opposed to ideas and opinions they simply cut-and-pasted from last night's news on tv or this morning's venomous blatherings on am radio.

And it seems, to me at least, to be voluntary: One's dumbing down of one's self. One's refusal to learn anything that they might not like. One's need to feel as if they "belong" to a certain way of thought, even if belonging means agreeing with your party even when you don't agree with them.

No one wants to figure anything out; everyone just wants to be right.

If the type of stereo speakers you have in your house suddenly became fodder for the most recent political battle, you would be stigmatized by these people as belonging to one side or the other, simply because you have speakers in your house.

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Bad Luck City

Cynthetiq

the truths that you state in your diatribe apply to not just REPUBLICANS or democrats. They hold true to all people who don't critically think, nor do they open themselves to at least trying to see a different viewpoint and how it relates to theirs.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

samcol

I'm so tired of political parties as well. Everything should be issue based instead of party vs. party. The stereotypes are getting pretty ridiculous. It's like if you're a christian you are assumed to be pro Iraq war, pro Patriot Act, etc. Likewise if you don't like Bush your probably an aborton loving enviornmentalist or something.

Your so right about no one ever conceding. Politics today is all about arguing, instead of debating and agreeing on the best solutions. For instance, I commend a Democrat or Republican when they do something that I feel was good. However, most people who belong to those parties will rarely admit when the otherside did something right, or admit when their party does something wrong.

filtherton

This is one of those things, that i think reflects the shortcomings of humanity in general. People are lazy, shortsighted, and tend to project themselves into everything they associate with. It's a wonder humanity has ever accomplished anything at all.

Mantus

Political parties are really just a way for it's citizens to consume politics. People call themselves republicans or democrats and feel that they are sudently part of the democratic process and part of what makes America tick. Buying into a political party is going to McDonnalds and believing you are getting nutrition.

This political system requires partly loyalty. Yet democrasy doesn't work when people treat political parties as their favorite sport teams. How often do you hear of a lefty going right or vice versa? Hardly ever. However the only real way for citizens to enforce acountability is by voiting against a canditate based on their previous actions. A punishment which becomes imposible to apply when a large portion of the population is blindly loyal to the candidate.

People are sold the idea of party principles. Even though the actions of elected officials rarely follow the party line. People are sold one thing and get something totally differnt and we don't know this since political decisions that actually matter rarelly get reported because they are complicated and labbled as boring by the media. People place way too much faith in their politicians and I find rather madening. After all each of us give them thousands of dolars a year to so they can run our country. Shouldn't we try to keep an eye on what they do with our money? Yet this faith, is part of the party line. Questioning is treason.


I realize that political parties must exist. I also realize that this is just one example of the trivialization of our political process which is in turn just one symptom of a weakened political system. What I don't know, is what to do about it. Join a third party?

Ustwo

Parties appeal to the lazy.

In an ideal world, every voter would know the history of every person they were voting for or against, and would make an intelligent informed opinion.

There would be no need or place for parties if this were true.

Since people are lazy and uninformed, parties are an easy out. Well I don't know this guy, so I'll vote for 'my' party.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

analog

Bingo. People look to each party and see which more closely resembles their beliefs and desires, and then just start voting for whomever has the right tag on their name, (R) or (D), regardless of who or what they really are.