Is this left vs right/ conservative vs liberal schism artificial and overblown?

Question

I am a Democrat. I favor unions, living wages and education. I believe we should bear arms if we do so responsibly and I believe in a balanced budget. I served in the Marine Corps in a place far far away. I support our troops. I just don't support the reasons for our being in Iraq. Why is common ground so hard to find? We all,basically, want the same things: A strong vibrant nation that we can all be proud of with employment and opportunity for all.

Answer 1

I think most people are pretty reasonable, and not too far from the center of the political spectrum. The problem is that the rhetoric is so extreme, and the parties tend to nominate people who are too extreme for the tastes of the public ... but there's no one else to vote for.

In the Connecticut senatorial race, the two parties nominated two rather extreme candidates, but there is a more moderate candidate available. Interestingly, it is our current Democratic junior senator, Joe Lieberman, who apparently wasn't extreme enough to satisfy the voters in the Democratic primary. Fortunately, polls indicate that in the general election when ALL of the voters in Connecticut have their say, Lieberman will defeat his more extreme opponents.

It's too bad that the parties can't accept a candidate who is closer to the views of the majority of the population.

Answer 2

As a politician, everyone wants you to think that you're fighting for their cause, and not fighting against them on some other front. The party leaders basically pick out a side on all the issues, and politicians are stuck with having to align with one of the parties.

I don't think I know of anyone who is in favor of one party's positions across the the board, and I'd say a majority of people are similar to you. Any Democrat is going to have trouble getting support from his party if he says he supports allowing guns and keeping spending within a limited budget though. Likewise, any Republican is going to have similar trouble if he supports stuff associated with Democrats. Successful politicians seem to be the ones who can explain their differences in a really simple way. Clinton did things that Republicans can identify with, and Bush did things that Democrats can identify with, and many others are the same way.

So, yes, it's pretty artificial and overblown; the things people care about aren't in drastic opposition to each other. But, there are quite a few people that want to promote the idea that their guy is fighting for a cause, and therefore will over-emphasize the minor differences.

Answer 3

You are *much* more reasonable than many other democrats. Rather than putting forth ideas and policies to be discussed openly, they stoop to name calling and character assassination. One may disagree with the way President Bush is handling the war on terror, but to call him stupid, ignorant, a betrayer, etc is counter productive. To say that this is a war for oil or that it is a Bush family vendetta because of the assassination attempt on Bush Sr. is just plane ignorant. The war against the Jihadist is far to important (and dangerous)to let politics as usual and pettiness to get in the way of national defense.

Answer 4

I absolutely think the factions are overblown! It creates drama dnd gets the people to look at superficial things rather than the real problems our country are facing.

Answer 5

Ask the mother of a dead GI whether or not the debate is overblown.

Answer 6

We're Americans first, Republican or Democrat second, and we all need to remember this when political debates come up.

Answer 7

Many of your fellow Dems don't share your agenda. Their hatred for Reps in general & Bush in particular is pathological. It blinds them to everything else.

Answer 8

divide and rule.