Why is it so many Americans, both republican and democrat, are so closed-minded?

Question

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kwLxGHN1snE&search=chomsky

and often in denial

I'm talking about a fanatical belief in one party, without question

pass the buck if you wish

Answer 1

In an Article entitled “Why it's over for America” the respected speaker provided by your link wrote:
An inability to protect its citizens. The belief that it is above the law. A lack of democracy. Three defining characteristics of the 'failed state'. And that, says Noam Chomsky, is exactly what the US is becoming. In an exclusive extract from his devastating new book, America's leading thinker explains how his country lost its way.
The selection of issues that should rank high on the agenda of concern for human welfare and rights is, naturally, a subjective matter. But there are a few choices that seem unavoidable, because they bear so directly on the prospects for decent survival. Among them are at least these three: nuclear war, environmental disaster, and the fact that the government of the world's leading power is acting in ways that increase the likelihood of these catastrophes. It is important to stress the government, because the population, not surprisingly, does not agree.
That brings up a fourth issue that should deeply concern Americans, and the world: the sharp divide between public opinion and public policy, one of the reasons for the fear, which cannot casually be put aside, that, as Gar Alperowitz puts it in America Beyond Capitalism, "the American 'system' as a whole is in real trouble - that it is heading in a direction that spells the end of its historic values [of] equality, liberty, and meaningful democracy".
The "system" is coming to have some of the features of failed states, to adopt a currently fashionable notion that is conventionally applied to states regarded as potential threats to our security (like Iraq) or as needing our intervention to rescue the population from severe internal threats (like Haiti). Though the concept is recognised to be, according to the journal Foreign Affairs, "frustratingly imprecise", some of the primary characteristics of failed states can be identified. One is their inability or unwillingness to protect their citizens from violence and perhaps even destruction. Another is their tendency to regard themselves as beyond the reach of domestic or international law, and hence free to carry out aggression and violence. And if they have democratic forms, they suffer from a serious "democratic deficit" that deprives their formal democratic institutions of real substance.
Among the hardest tasks that anyone can undertake, and one of the most important, is to look honestly in the mirror. If we allow ourselves to do so, we should have little difficulty in finding the characteristics of "failed states" right at home.

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Answer 2

People from everywhere, not just America, are close minded. Just look at the Muslim terrorists. Not exactly open minded people would you say.

This was also posed as a bad trait. It isn't always a bad trait. For example, there is an organization called NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association) that promotes sex between men and children. I absolutely won't even hear what they have to say. This makes me close minded on this issue but it also makes me right.

Do you think open mindedness is someone who agrees with you and close mindedness is someone who disagrees with you? Exactly how do you define it?

Answer 3

It's because we are so politically divided.

It's come to that. And we really live in a very secular environment if you compare us to say wide-open Europe or even South America.

As a country we are still young and really need to grow a lot more. So, good question and let's all agree to be a little more open-minded! Think today: I might be wrong about something! Listen to the other side REALLY listen.

Answer 4

America closed minded? I know you probably live in Europe. Wasn't there a story about a neo-nazi being fined for freedom of speech in germany? I guess freedom of speech is accepted in Europe as long as it is along with thier views. And wasn't someone in the French government fined for "hate speech" for speaking out against islamic fanatics in France and Europe?

You should look at yourself before America. I think people abuse the word "open-minded". yeah I have looked into other views and chose not to believe in them. Like politcal correctness. So if I argue about how politcal correctness is wrong it is close-minded? I guess no one can have views anymore

Answer 5

We are not closed-minded. We listen to all the sides of an issue that are presented to us, and then we make our own decisions. It sounds like your definition of open-minded is: those that think like you.
Contrary to what the actions of our leader may intimate, Americans prefer to mind our own damned business, and we prefer to stick close to home, as well. (see a previous poster's comments about the percentage of Americans that hold passports) Consequently, most of us would prefer that our president take care of things at home, rather than go about the globe getting our soldiers killed for his own folly.
Cultural diversity is easy for you (you are probably European). It is quite simple for you to experience and immerse yourself deeply in many cultures in the course of only a few days travel. You are surrounded by other cultures. America is not only geographically isolated from Europe, but it is held prisoner by it's media. Unfortunately, they decide how many "sides" of an issue the public will know.
Trust me. The majority of Americans don't care enough to stick their noses into your business. We're not close-minded. We just don't give a sh!t.

Answer 6

I think it is largely because of the media in the U.S. Our news is "fake." By that I mean you have to read between the lines in the news to find out what is really going on. Another thing to consider is that 77% of Americans do not have passports, so most of us have never left. Living in another country even for a short while opens your eyes to what is going on outside of America. Our media is scary and I think the gov controls it to a large degree.

Answer 7

there is that previous asserting "save your acquaintances close and your enemies closer" as a result, I save on with the information and hear many words that Obama speaks, however i come across it painful. i think of that what's drained is the ninety% alignment accusation with Bush, who in case you probably did no longer observe is a Republican basically like McCain. previous that, Bush replace right into a flash interior the pan who made sturdy, very similar to Obama has been doing considering the fact that his "astonishing" visual attraction on the nationwide degree; I undergo in suggestions while he won that fabulously lined race against Keyes, Ryan, whoever. adverse Keyes in user-friendly terms had 2 months to run against Obama! Obama, too, mentioned that his race could be sparkling however the dragging of Palin in the process the coals replace into downright grimy, truly while her journey replace into being puzzled. the middle type will income from actual jobs, extra low-value gas, decision fuels no longer different than CNG which, as Palin places it, there's a great sort of in Alaska (Texas, too). McCain does attempt to be helpful, yet then gets smeared and extra out of context for it. He has faith interior the yank people to proceed working, paying taxes- what little or no the middle type do, while in comparison with the wealthy- the adverse pay no taxes already. He additionally has faith that individuals are nonetheless given the can charge of arising their very own danger and don't ought to pay extra for people who do no longer. It additionally basically occured to me that it truly is amazingly ironic that a liberal asked ME to open my suggestions.

Answer 8

One side preaches ever more entitlements. In fact today they both do. If one looks at JFK's inaugural address both parties are more liberal. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Go out and get educated, produce items for the economy, create wealth in the world, be creative. Some of the wealth you create in the world will come back to you!

Answer 9

Republicans are so far up Bush butt, they can't see,, Democrats are closed-minded to the conservative doctrine of this bunch in the white house, few have theballs to stand up for Americas

Answer 10

Because they don't use common sense and they have no respect for the other side, they can't see the good of the other side. In my country liberals and Conservatives don't see eye to eye but there is some respect for each other.