Is it possible to stop this partisan nonsense for a moment...?

Question

And see that the other side aren't horrible conservative monsters out to steal your freedoms and eat your children and horrible liberal flip-floppers who want to hand the country over to Osama Bin Laden and the Communists?

Do people REALLY forget that we're all one country and that we all have the same goal-to see this country flourish, grow and prosper?

Yes we have different ideals on how to do it but we're all AMERICANS.

Doesn't that garner some respect, some unity rather than simply division?

Ha ha, first poster, very funny.

Any answers that aren't comming from a 3rd grader?

Tell me Another One Mr. Bush: You took the words right out of my mouth.

rainfingers: I agree that the mindless obedience isn''t what I'm in favor of either and I'm not asking for peace between the two sides for peace's sake-instead I'm asking for people to view the other side as HUMAN and AMERICANS, instead of just by their political party.

Joe U: Too true, too true.

United_states: I agree, and I reported the person who posted that-accusing the other side of treason is a horrible thing to do and, IMHO, bordering on hate speech.

Steve C: Why thank you! High praise.

Kent J: As far as I've been able to tell, people on both sides DO want what's best for the country, not to hand over the country to the UN. Have you actually spoken to any Liberals lately?

Answer 1

Judging by SOME of the answers, apparantly not.

At the risk of being partisan myself, I can't help holding the Hate Radio movement responsible to a great degree.

So much of the mindless hate I see on this site is straight from the mouth of Rush and his ilk.

A few months ago, I posted a question asking How many Americans are terrorists who hate America?

I specifically asked for a number or percent. Most answers were simply "Libs" and "Democrats."

It is amazing to me how many people are buying the idea that about half the country are actively trying to destroy THEIR OWN COUNTRY -- how can that possibly be true?

To those who said we've always been this way -- I don't think it was this ugly even in the '60's -- when I was a kid.

There was a lot of ugly talk from both sides then, but I don't think it was so much of this mindless screaming at each other.

I am partisan. I don't think the other side are monsters out to destroy America (as they do of me), but misguided and mislead, often ignorant (talking about the haters of that crowd, not the thinking conservatives).

But the silly things the hate leads people to say! Last night I answered a question asking whether the right would be supremely cranky at the war if it had been conducted by a democrat (with a list of all the wrongs and mistakes).

I couldn't believe how many people said "we'd all be wearing Burka's" -- I mean, they think that, had Democrats been in charge of this country, that Bin Laden could have completely taken it over and defeated it, and forced us all to live his way.

???

It's a huge place, of over 300,000,000 people -- and a guy with no real army (lots of followers), and little weaponry could have taken us over. Or that Iraq could have done the same.

All I can do is hope enough people will be tired of the screaming that we can at least talk to each other.

That may have to wait for this group to grow old and die, and the young'uns take over.

I HOPE it doesn't take that long.

But it's hard to see how to talk to someone who thinks I'm a mass murderer, who wants to completely destroy my own home.

I applaud your attempt with this question.

Answer 2

It is not just about partisanship, but about the fundamental question of the scope of the government and the balance of power. As can be seen in current dispute over US attorney firings, Bush is trying turn the Presidency into a secret brotherhood independent from public scrutiny. Even Republican Congressmen see this as a threat to our national ideals.

Under President Clinton, the US saw a decline in the federal deficit and for four years there was a budget surplus. Once Dubya took power, the government went back to deficit spending and we now have an 8.8 trillion dollar debt. Does that sound like a govenment interested in American prosperity?

Answer 3

On this site almost certainly not and only slightly more so in real life.

One should expect it in any internet community since they attract a disproportionate number of people with low social skills and even lower self esteem. Thus replies like the first one here posted by someone who undoubtedly thinks he is terribly clever and needs to behave this way to compensate for his real world lack of social success.

In real life the political debate is dominated by hyperbole and personal attacks for a variety of reasons.

First, because the political process has become increasingly polarized as the two major parties have become dominated by their own extremist wings. This occurs because its generally the ideologues who come out to the meetings and volunteer to do the grunt work.

Second, because the general educational level of Americans has been steadily falling. The average citizen doesn't have the basic knowledge to make informed decisions and therefore is easily swayed by empty headed slogans.

Third, because both sides of the political debate have bought into the notion that opinions and facts are equally valid arguments and that the truth is determinable by the emotional level invoked. One weeping mother is seen to be worth the testimony of a dozen experts no matter the subject matter. The death of a loved one confers knowledge of nothing other than death but still they are paraded out to give their untutored opinion about everything from war to mine disasters.

Fourth, because the programs of both parties rely upon dividing Americans into "us" and "them." Indeed, most of current politics can be summarized as follows:

1) "I" get less than I should from government but "they" get too much.
2) "I" pay too much in taxes but "they" don't pay their fair share.

Until we change these things the situation will continue to decline.

Answer 4

LOL. Partisan nonsense will never stop. That's just politics, same as it always has been. If you think today's political climate is bad, read some history. Past administrations were horribly corrupt (Grant, 1880's), corporations routinely screwed each other over (1800's, led to our current anti-trust laws), people sold whatever they wanted to as medicine and food (1900, why we have the FDA), and congress was far more divided (heard of the civil war?). Today politics are positively polite and civilized in comparison. Be happy you live in the most calm and civilized period in history.

Answer 5

You make a very good point. Right now, these UNITED states are deeply divided.

On the other hand -- not that I think there's any justification for the hate radio and pundits on either extreme -- it is the nature of our democracy to exercise sometimes chaotic dialog.

I don't pay attention to either extreme, really. But when one American accuses other Americans of treason, that is immoral, regardless of the argument.

Answer 6

HELLO - to all the people above, this is what makes our country so great, freedom of speech.
I have heard about wrong things during WW 2, Vietnam, Gulf War, now Iraq. Hey, no one will ever agree with war. But, because we stand-up for ourselves we hold all our freedom and rights. Everyone should be able to voice opinion. We are sick of hearing the same stuff that was said over & over. Just respect your country and the people who die for it. You will continue to hear it your whole life, nothing changes. If you find a better system elsewhere let me know.

Answer 7

As long as people that make less than 250,000 a year think they are Republicans and have the profound ability to regurgitate Conservative rhetoric--there will be no end to the madness. As long as there's an excuse for madness of King George that can be directly correlated to the Clinton years, the Kennedy's, or some ridiculous contention that there is liberal bias in the Corporate Controlled Fascist Propaganda media machine that acutally exists. The misinformed will stay that way for the sheer fact that can circle-jerk and co-exist amongst each other without the scrutiny they all fail to address regarding the facts surrounding the pertinent issues of our time.

Answer 8

I agree. It is hard, because I come on here wanting to ask questions, but end up getting sucked into the hate.

Answer 9

Yes. People really do forget that. I'm personally sick of the immature "if you don't agree with me, you hate this country" attitude espoused by so many political extremists in this country.

Answer 10

Good luck with that.

While I agree with you, the majority of the people on Y!A P&G are pretty much here just to argue and instigate arguments.

A perfect example is the person above me.