Do you think the liberal-conservative paradigm is overblown?

Question

I think it's pretty clear that things go alot deeper, but perception is reality in a psychological sense.

Some really good answers, thanks

Answer 1

I think people forget about the issues and focus more on attacking each other. Classifying people as liberal or conservative is beginning to blind people to the issues.

Answer 2

The multi-party system is essential to our form of government, and by definition those parties fall along liberal-conservative lines.

But you are RIGHT... What is NOT part of our system is the lies, dishonesty, hatred, namecalling and disrespect of other people who disagree with your political point of view, left or right, liberal or conservative.

While there has always been such bickering between the two sides, in the last several years it has been inflamed to new heights, pitting American against American not ideologically, but personally. As Abraham Lincoln said, "a house divided against itself cannot stand."

I think the main driving force of this hatred and nastiness is the video media - liberal or conservative. Rush Limbaugh was one of the earliest talking heads who made a career not out of political debate, but political hatred. That trend has continued with Bill O'Reilly and many other commentators on both sides, I'm sure. This is deplorable, immoral, and completely unAmerican behavior on their part.

Openness in government, and the right to challenge what the government does, or what individual politicians do, is what America is based on (not the clandestine nature of the Bush administration or the accusations made by many Republicans that challenging the President's policies or decisions is tantamount to aiding and abetting terrorists).

Answer 3

I think most people that identify themselves as conservatives couldn't name three bona fide leaders of the conservative movement or identify what it means to be conservative.

I don't think most people in the country know what true left wing liberalism actually is. When people refer to Hillary Clinton as far left, I wonder what the far left actually thinks about letting the NAFTA approving, anti-flag burning, pro war tandem of the Clintons into the fold.

The left-right dynamic has turned into the red-blue dynamic which has the added benefit of simplifying the political discussion to the broadest and coarsest of terms.

Answer 4

I used to be a democrat but now it seems the difference in parties is in name only. i vote...but i am losing faith in our system with all the petty bickering and back stabbing among the candidates...nothing positive

Answer 5

The differences have real consequences, especially in the Judiciary.

Answer 6

I think your vocabulary and ego are overblown.