Why the "gang mentality" in politics?

Question

Why is it that people always try to talk about politics in absolutes? Why do people have to "belong" to one group or another? It's always "Liberals/Democrats hate America, and ALL libs/dems hate America," or "Conservatives/Republicans are religious nuts, and ALL cons/reps are religious nuts." In the House and Senate, if a "Democratic" bill is up for a vote, then almost all of the democratic representatives or senators will vote for it and almost all the republicans will vote against it and vice versa with a "republican bill." I understand that it's all about power and "if you vote for my bill I'll vote for yours," but it's just a silly way to run a government if you ask me. And all you ever see on fox news or cnn is generic conservative talking head shouting at generic liberal talking head. And why is it that if someone actually thinks for themselves and develops an opinion about things that's not based on their political affiliation, they're looked at as weak?

Answer 1

Very good question.

I am going to use myself as an example to answer the 'gang' mentality.

Me = born and raised far right Republican
After the Iran/Contra and World Bank Scandals in the 80s, registered independent
Late 90s, after watching my favored Republicans go after Clinton without due cause and their Gingrich failures, registered Democrat.
2000, voted for Gore in hopes to keep the economy booming and main goal was the Pay As You Go system to keep going
2001, Bush did away with Pay As You Go
2002 - until now, I have become what is called a yellow dog democrat. That means I will vote completely democratic even if a yellow dog is running.

Why? All of the above and watching the fraudulent methods the Republicans used to gain the presidency and control of congress.

Thank GOD ppl voted them out. I just hope they continue to see straight.

Answer 2

politics is the "art of the deal" of running governments. most politicians want power, sufficient to be able to resist "deals" they really don't want to go along with.
however, when it comes to republican/democrat standards, whether conservative or liberal, the ajority of the party members vote the party line, breaking with it only when their constituancy is against it.
take what is happening in washington now. the president hasn't yet understood he is no longer the all-powerful president he was when the republicans controlled the congress and let him do what he wanted. the publicrealized he was taking too much for granted, and was getting to much power to himself with the congress just sitting on their hands, or sticking their heads in the sand and let him do what he wanted "no questions asked". the democrats used these against him by exposing everything they could, and being very critical of his assumptions and the republican failure to keep a watch on what he was doing.
the congress has the duty to be a co-equal partner in the government, but the republican majority was noit doing their part to be a partner, instead being subservient to the white house and never questioning anything that was being done.
the democrats used thes problems also and continued to criticize the republicans for their failure to act as an equal partner and to keep a watch on what was being done, even when it was known to be illegal and possibly criminal.
and when the page scandal broke, and the republicans failed to act as soon as it was reported, back in 1999, and evensooner, the democrats hammmerred them further a showed the republican leadership to be unwilling to keep things on the up and up. instead they tried to cover things up and not do anything about it. and when delay was indicted for criminal actions, they tried to make it as if it was just a political projblem created by a democratic prosecutor. but then delay was indicted and wound up resigning when he had no other course to follow. he was also hoping to run again, but he lost to the democratic contender when the party was unable to put another republican on the ballot because texas law would not allow it. the winner of the primary, delay, had to remain on the ballot, even though he was still under criminal investigation.
other than very partisan political stances, most politicians vote for what they believe is the best course for all, though sometimes they do make agreements to support one thing to get some support for something they want. but that is what politics is- the art of the deal!

Answer 3

properly, breaking apart a observe into factors isnt constantly the right thank you to comprehend it is roots. attempt this: The observe "politics" comes from the Greek observe "????????" (politika), modeled on Aristotle's "political affairs", the call of his e book on governing and governments, which exchange into rendered in English mid-15 century as Latinized "Polettiques".[4] for that reason it grew to become "politics" in center English c. 1520s (see the Concise Oxford Dictionary). The singular "politic" first coined in English 1430 and is derived from center French "politique", in turn from Latin "politicus",[5] that's the romanization of the Greek "?????????" (politikos), meaning among others "of, for, or regarding voters", "civil", "civic", "belonging to the state", [6] in turn from "???????" (polites), "citizen"[7] and that from "?????" (polis), "city".[8] it is like asserting the bible is genuinely relating 2 balls.. >_> yet yeah i'm getting what you're asserting haha. politics is messy and packed with deception.

Answer 4

The Republicans are people that like telling people what to do and the Democrats are people that don't like people telling them what to do. Hence conflict.

Answer 5

It's gotten to be a habit, which I'd like to see changed.