How does one debate a radical liberal?

Question

how is a person supposed to debate a radical liberal that basis their entire belief system off of conspiracy theories and have no facts to back up their accusations? How am I supposed to debate a liberal that says Bush's War in Iraq was for oil and the only reason gas prices are so high is because Bush paid Halliburton to steal all the oil and sell it on the black market? How does a person debate a liberal 9/11 cospiracy theorists that cites Rosie O'Donnell as evidence that fire cannot mealt steel? How does one debate a liberal that says the US is a fascist Nazi society that has murdered 800,000 Iraqis in the past year? Anyone have any luck having a rational debate with these people?

goldenrae, you are correct. the people that believe these things are mainstream liberals, not radicals

Answer 1

There is not ration with radical liberals, only emotion, and you cannot debate emotion. We just have to hope that there are more sane people voting than there are radical liberals.

Answer 2

The simple answer is, you don't. There exist people on both sides of the political spectrum who are SO entrenched in believing in and supporting their political beliefs that they would rather admit to believing in fairy tales than believe the "other side" has some valid points. You can never debate with a radical because they will not grant you a point no matter how basic. I have tried it before, it only leaves you angry and frustrated. You are better off learning Japanese, or some other language that will be useful to you 30 years down the road when people start proposing the Spanish be the national language of North as well as Central America.

Answer 3

Always demand that whenever they use some statistic that they quote where they found that figure. Then, if it is not a reliable source, point out the illegitamacy of their source. Always make sure that you have hard numbers, and quotations, to back up you're argument as well. Hyperbola will do nothing to help in such a debate. Always challenge anything they pass off as common knowledge/sense, or anything that "everybody says". If they can't source it, it is a lie.

It may also help to control the debate. Utalize the Socratic method to make your points unassaliable.

Always fight from a position of power. Never consede illogical assumptions for the sake of argument, that will come back to bite you. Attack the illogic of their arguments where they are the weakest.

For instance, point out that it is illogical for the Bush Administration to go to war in Iraq for oil. If Bush wanted the oil all he would have to do is to raise the sanctions and make nice with Saddam to be able to buy the oil. This, however, doesn't really make any sense... because if oil companies are so concerned with profit, vis a vis high oil prices, then they are better off having the oil in Iraq remain in the ground, because less supply dictates that the price of oil will go up. Ask if the debater has ever heard of Ocam's Rasor. Ocam's rasor is a scientific principal whereby when faced with two plausable theories for an occurance, the one that is least complicated is almost always the one that is correct. Point out that it makes way more sense that Bush went to war to spread the ideology of liberty and democracy in the middle east, as well as to eliminate a threat from one of our sworn enemies in the aftermath of the most destructive terrorist attacks in the history of the world, than there is some shaddowy conspiracy theory involving President Bush, VP Cheney, the Cigarette Smoking Man from X-Files, Bigfoot, Adolph Hitler, and the Loch Ness Monster conspiring with the oil companies to steal oil and sell it on the black market. Furthermore, where is this black market. This shaddowy black market could not exist. Either there would be way too much oil moving throught this market to remain secret... or so little would be moving that it would be unprofitable, espicall in the face of the fact that oil is legal! Black markets usually occur around illegal substances, like cocane, heroin, and marijuana.

Point out that the 800,000 death statistic is wildly exagerated. The actual figure is someplace around 65,000.

Use Wikipedia for your research... it is quick and easy, and usually accurate. Make sure you check out the refrences in Wikipedia though. There may be innacurate information on Wikipedia.

Always expect the irrational to get angry and try to win an argument by screaming louder than you. Do not fall into that trap by screaming back. Usually if you do you will end up making up facts, or reciting oppinions you don't actually believe, but will say whatever first comes into your mind. Plus it makes you look like as much of a fool as you're opponent. The best thing you can do when they are screaming is to let them finish... take note of what they are saying, then retort at the end. Inevitabally they will interupt you... then camly say "I sat and listened to you're oppinon, will you grant me the courtesey of letting me finish what I was saying?" This won't work for very long, however, you must continuously repeat this plea. Eventually they will consede, and let you say what you want. However, do not fall into the trap of sounding like Ross Perot, screaming "CAN I FINISH CAN I FINISH CAN I FINSH!". Be calm. It will make you appear to be more intelligent, and better prepared, and more confidant. These qualities cannot be underestimated in a debate.

Facts will trump stupidity always, at least in the minds of intelligent people. You may never convince you're debater... people get intrenched in their oppinions, but others will clearly see the obviousness of the truth.

Answer 4

A debate is not just an exercise to convince the person you're debating, but to sway any listening to the debate. When debating a delusional fanatic (from the right or left, both sides have 'em), it's helpful to have a good store of documented facts to counter thier rantings, and it's an excellent idea to simply let them rant, and remain calm and rational.

You'll never convince them - but they'll convince anyone watching who's not already as crazy as they are that your position is more reasonable.

Answer 5

Being loud and being right are two different things. It is not over. As for application of what is in the Health Care insurance Reform bill, we are moving to the Swiss model. They have lower premiums than we do and spend less for similar results to the US. See the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to get Swiss health system in a nutshell. The only new wrinkle would be the public option, which would an improvement to the Swiss model.

Answer 6

Impossible. These people are so wrapped up in their own fantasies that reason and facts can't make a dent. Or, it's also possible that deep down they know that their beliefs are based only on hatred, rather than reason, and their afraid to enter into a debate because they know they can't back up their allegations with fact.. Rosie's meltdown is a good example.

Answer 7

HOw does one debate that there were wmds in iraq and that iraq teamed up with bin ladin in attacking the us on 9/11. HOw do you debate that George thought the Mission was accomplished in 03? Furthermore, and my all time favorite, how do you debate that there is not a civil war going on in Iraq? Those ideas seem pretty radical. But what the heck all those things you said are out there as well.

Answer 8

You can't have a debate with a radical anyone b/c they are just too far off the deep end. A radical liberal or a radical conservative, there is no difference between the two besides ideology

Answer 9

You cannot debate anyone with outrageous beliefs whether they are radical, reactionary or evangelical. They have their beliefs and logic or proof are not going to interfere.
Your best bet is to learn the art of rhetoric. Some may be influenced and open their minds.

Answer 10

You don't debate radicals. Just like the radical conservatives think that eveyone who disagrees with them is a Communist or Socialist. You can rant all you want because I will not debate you. As I said you can't debate a radical conservative any more than a radical liberal.

Stay the center.

Answer 11

Hard cold Facts, & don't get emotional. Plus a time machine would help. When a person is that fanatical about their point of view there is no changing it. They would look incredably stupid if they had to admit they were wrong.