Why is there so much controversy between conservatives and liberals?

Question

Shouldn't they both have the same objectives or at least similar objectives for example the security of our country. (I am not speaking of war)

I think people need to start setting their differences aside for the better of this country. Why is that so impossible to accomplish?

Answer 1

It's all about greed, power and self righteousness.
Media blasts us with biased information (if we listen to Liberal radio, TV and websites we get an anti Con message and visa verse). This disinformation actually "uneducates" us spreading hate and intolerance just as uneducated people tend to be racists and bigots.

Liberals will say that conservatives are greedy because they want to keep the money they have worked so hard to get and distribute it the way they see fit ie the government should control your bank account.Basically "what's mine is mine whats yours is mine."
Most conservatives support many charities but they are charities that they choose. "What's mine is mine."

Conservatives think liberals "hate this country" simply because they voice their disdain of the current president and GOP congress. And fear that the Liberals will take the money they worked so hard for just to give to someone else.

The fundamental of each party have skewn together GOP used to want a smaller government but support "moral laws" while Liberals want bigger government yet taught personal liberties.

It will not end, political differences have been around since the dawn of man and woman.

Answer 2

Because there's so much at stake in terms of our livelihoods and our future as a society. And while the policy wonks and talking heads are tedious beyond all belief, they have utterly different visions on what we should expect of government in our lives.

For examples, Liberals cling to some discredited notions regarding economics...chiefly Keynes' and Galbraith's belief in macroeconomics...And how government can be a much more effective driver of the economy and social change. This flies in the face of empirical data that suggests the less government actually means stronger economic growth, whch in turn makes everybody in society more properous. At the same time, Liberals tend to have a more laissez faire view toward social issues. Sadly, Liberals have abandoned their formerly strong views of national defense. If you go back to the heyday of Liberalism in the 1940s, there were very strong Liberal advocates of national defense.

Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to take a polar opposite viewpoint, stressing very little government, while wanting to be more restrictive of personal freedoms. Conservatives however, have not abandoned their position on national defense, which is partcularly appealing to the American public during a time of global upheaval.

The problem with both extremes is that they have a way of letting ideology get in the way of central truths. The American people understand they are suffering under a crushing tax burden and are rightfully suspicious of the effectiveness of government. Yet at the same time, they understand that unfettered capitalism can prove hazardous to peoples' well-being and financial independence.

Further, the American people tend to take the centrist position on civil rights as well. Nobody wants the government to be lookng into our collective sexual history. At the same time, we understand the consequences of personal choice are causing major social disruption. Teenage pregnancy and single parenthood, for example, almost guarantees curtailed economic opportunity and stunted social development. Yet we really cannot figure out a way to change this without either legislating moralilty or mandating grotequely expensive and ill-suited social programs.

So there you have it. Two extremes, neither of whom have a satisfactory solution to this country's needs. And the great centrist in the middle having to make difficult choices between the two. If there were only a third, centrist political party that took the best ideas from both sides, we would be in much better shape as a country.

Answer 3

I think most of the bitterness is coming from the left with Conservatives for the most part defending positions. The reason I believe that the left is so mean spirited is because they have lost all of their power in the federal government. The Republicans control the executive, legislative and have made a huge dent at the top in the judicial branch.

Unfortunately for them they are going to have a hard time taking any power as long as they only take anti conservative positions without having any official positions or new ideas themselves.

Answer 4

Conservatives - Right Wing - Republicans
Liberals - Left Wing - Democrats
Those are the two major political parties in our nation. However, the website below lists and describes all of the other political parties that exist in our nation, but are less publicized.

http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

All members of every political party usually want, basically, the same things. The two major parties just go about getting them differently, and each have a different agenda for themselves, as well.

They are all for Freedom, Civil Liberties, and Human Rights. However, The Conservatives seem to be more concentrated on those being controlled by "Protestant, White, Male Corporate" entities.

The Democrats lean toward "Freedom of Choice in Religion, No discrimination of race, color, creed, or financial status. They try to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people---and not just corporate moguls or lobbyists who can get their bills passed. Democrats believe the government serves the nation---not that Government is to be served.

Answer 5

I, personally, think it's because people use an "us against them" mentallity to drum up:
1)contribution money
2)press
3)rating(by the press)
this system of discounting, disrespecting, and antagonizing people is working out to give some people more power and wealth. Both sides are equally guilty of it. They use rhetorical and disjointed, illogical emotional appeals to get into/stay in power and to get ratings. And I can almost guarantee that everyone who considers themselves a liberal or conservative that reads this will agree that the other side does that all the time. And if you add the groups together, they're right.

Answer 6

I agree... and that is my largest problem with this administration... security is clearly a HUGE issue but then we go into another country to "free the people" instead of focusing on the people that attacked us?

Why don't we focus on our security before we start "freeing the world"?

But this administration does not care what a large part of the population thinks...

In short... it's impossible to work with someone when they have no concern what you think...

Answer 7

You are right in that we should all be able to have and agree on the same views as a country, however, people here are sooo diverese and it makes it hard for some people to agree with other things...

Answer 8

Because conservatives think that dissension is unpatriotic. And because no one cares to actually listen to each other, just dismiss their opinions as whining. Both sides are guilty of this.

Answer 9

B/c they see the world differently. Libs prefer liberty, equality, freedom, tolerance and public welfare. Cons prefer private property, authoritarianism, business interests, and self-righteousness.

The roots are all economic. Libs want to redistribute wealth to solve society's problems, Cons want to keep it all for themselves because they think God gave it to them only.

It'll never be resolved.

Answer 10

I'll have to go with cyanne2ak, because everyone enjoys bitching.