When did America turn so bipartisian (sp?) When did the parties turn so against eachother?

Question

I know it's been like this for awhile with a two party system but when did Republicans start hating Democrats and vice versa? I know it's not that extreme but when did we stop working together for a common soultion and goal for a better America? Where are all these politicians with an honest and why aren't they reaching out to the general American public? What can we do to understand everyones views? Do you ever judge someone when they tell you they are Rebulican, Democrat, or even another party (or Independent)?
Just to make sure no one gets upset: I'm not claiming one party is better than the other or one party caused this or anything?
It'd be great to hear many different views.
Thank you!

Actually, I think liberals were for the minimum wage increase. Atleast most were.
Thanks for everyones responses so far!
But I'd just like to ask one more thing. If it's been like this forever, why is it all of a sudden getting media attention?

oops sorry about the contradiction part!
I'm just trying to learn a little more!

Answer 1

Your question is a contradiction - "bipartisan" indicates members of both parties working together to achieve a goal... obviously this is different than being against the other party.

What you probably meant was "when did American politics become so polarized?"... I think ever since the Republican and Democratic parties consolidated their control of the government the two have grown to be more and more bitter enemies.

This could be because the activist liberals/conservatives that would have probably voted for a third party that more closely reflects their views are now settling with the major party that most closely reflects their world view. Since these are activists and true believers they are more likely to be involved in the process that chooses who the party nominates for elections. These activists will choose more radical politicians that will go to Washington DC and clash with the more radical politicians that were elected from the other party.

It would be really nice to see a more diverse group of parties/people being elected to congress. The people on the fringes deserve representation - but they are polarizing the major parties that used to stand for moderation. I think that most people in this country are centerists and that's why congress always gets such low approval ratings - it is run by activists.

Just my opinion...

Answer 2

I've been voting and following politics for 36 years and it has always been like this. The problem is that this country is injecting 20 to 40 million illegal aliens into it. Those have the support of the 20 million that were here 10 years ago and pardoned (not my idea) as well as another 30 million that are here legally and want all their relatives with them. With this group many of our youth who really don't understand what is happening in the country are going along just because slamming the country is "cool". In other words, about 1/3 or the people in the USA now have absolutely no feeling of patriotism for this nation. The Dem's are playing on this ignorance as they have a history or using their potential constituents lack of education to lead them down the primrose path. The Rep's are on the ropes, they're also a bunch of pro big business crooks and responding in kind. The media are just out for ratings. To bad my generation was not more in tune with what was happening 30 years ago.

Got to comment on the minimum wage increase in. So you think that it is a good idea for a standard minimum wage across the nation to be set by congress? Wyoming has a cost of living at .83 the nations average while Mass. has a cost of living at 1.12 the nations average (they already had set theirs at $7.89 per hour). You see, this minimum wage thing is an example of playing to the ignorance of their constituents. It worked well on those that are ignorant of basic economics. Neither the Dem's nor the Rep's are for the workingman. If you want to help get us out of this mess try and learn something of the facts and not be partisan yourself. I'm a republican but don't agree with everything our President has done but at least he is honest in the way he scams us.

Answer 3

Well first off.. the parties have switched polarity a couple of times.. There has always been a struggle between a ruling "money" class and an egalitarian social class.. depending on the current parties platform..
at this point however we are in a very strange predicament as both the dominant parties are ruled by greedy bureaucrats that seem to have little to no regard for their constituency...
I get a kick out self proclaimed Republicans beating up on self proclaimed democrats... it's really rather amusing... in a sickening way.

Answer 4

"humorous how the dems criticized Rep Ryan for purely point out Ayn Rand whilst the Democrats do no longer even contain God of their platform." <------ Ryan is working on a platform that caters to Christianity. The Democrats are not. this is not hypocrisy. it could be hypocrisy if Joe Biden got here out and all started quoting Thomas Aquinas and then delivered a expert-atheism platform. you do no longer even comprehend what hypocrisy is, do you? Hypocrisy isn't disagreeing with each and every thing YOU approve of, Mr. Theocrat. although, you do an surprising impact of a Pharisee. additionally, the God defined interior the announcement OF INDEPENDENCE is a non-religious deistic God. no matter how lots you opt to forget concerning the data, this government became conceived to be break free faith, and a large style of of the founding fathers had under flattering issues to declare approximately Christianity. That became why NO point out of God made it into the form. do no longer like it? Too undesirable. it is the way it became, the way it is, and how it constantly would be. Your "Christian custom" holds approximately as lots weight interior the political discourse as cheerleaders have impact over a soccer sport.

Answer 5

Bi-partisin? Did you watch President Bush's state of the union speech last night? Did you notice that what he was saying made perfect sense but when the cameras panned different Democrats sittng there, they looked like kids that have to sit and listen to a lecture from their parents. "I have to sit here, but I don't have to listen" expressions. Did you notice that when the Rep's applauded (sitting or standing) the only time the Dems. joined in was when the troops were mentioned? Then to top it off, 5 min. after the speech was over, the Demo's mouth piece came on and said how they were doing so much better now that they are in the majority, but the Repub's wouldn't co-operate? For one thing, people need to listen for them-selves and process for them-selves what they heard. When did we start needing analysts to tell us what we just heard and what to think? About the time Carter came into office is when I think things started turning really ugly. The Demo's started embracing the "Hippie", type of liberalism that was so far over the edge toward "I don't have to do anything, the world owes me!" attitudes. They prey on the poor, uninformed, illegals, etc. and groups that are more interested in what's in it for them than what is good for the country. They have become a party of I-I-I instead of "We The People", "One Nation Under God" and "Oh say does that Star-spangled banner yet wave, or'e the land of the free, and the home of the BRAVE"!!! JFK said "Ask not what my country can do for me, ask what I can do for my country" The last of the middle of the isle Demo's, unfortunatly.

Answer 6

the politicians are listening to their marketing departments too much. there's too much money in it.

i see the other part of your question... it's because it's gotten so obvious.

i really enjoyed this video... all it is is highlights from the cable feeds that this guy taped for years. but it shows how constructed our candidates are. i don't know if politicians were ever really real people (i have hope for thomas jefferson), but it seems clear the ones we get now are told how to act in an effort to secure votes. so both parties are moving to the center because that's where the most voters are, but they hang on to these really divisive issues like gay marriage and abortion and assault rifle bans to whip their truly devout bases into a frenzy. and that is what makes everyone perceive a rift.

check it out, both parties, getting their makeup put on, chatting with their strategists. it's really sort of sad, i don't know if any of them believe anything they say at all.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7344181953466797353

Answer 7

I've never seen political rancor as bad as it is. I'm a conservative. I believe liberalism will be the ruin of a great nation. I have reasons why I believe this. If someone wants to engage me in discussion with reason and logic, I say bring it on.

Since the pursuit of idea's through reasonable discussion is almost impossible with a cement head liberal, nothing will ever change. They always, 100% of the time, when defeated intellectually will resort to name calling. Always. I've have never, ever witnessed it turn out any other way.

Until the endless recycling of the same old tired rhetoric gets updated, partisan bickering will go on endlessly.

Answer 8

Because good and responsible Senators have come to their senses and are ready to defend the Rights and for the good of Americans and realistic American interests, and not kowtow to deadly foreign interests whose only reason and plan is to use and take advantage of Americans for their own selfish benefits and interests.

Answer 9

After the '00 elections when Gore lost. The democrats have dug their heels in at every corner they could. War, against it. Social Security reform, against it. Judge Nominations, against it. Min Wage increase, against it. Death Tax abolishment, against it. Patriot Act, aginst it. ect...

It wasn't until this last election have they started to talk about "working together."

Answer 10

Since the beginning of this country there has been bi-partison efforts. It's usually a case of somebody not wanting to swallow their pride, but in some cases it's simply two groups of people going in seperate directions because they geniunly want to make the country better.