Why do we think in absolutes where politics is concerned?

Question

I am a conservative. I make no secret of this, nor do I have any shame as a result of it. However, just because I am conservative on most issues, it does not mean that I agree with all conservative ideas. Why do we make the assumption that speaking out for your predominant views mean that your embrace the whole ideology in lockstep fashion? This statement is applied equally to both liberals and conservatives.

ggates1982: I don't belong to a political party. I am an independent. The reason is because I want to be able to assess individual people no matter what political affiliation they hold. The party argument is another absolute.

YOU asked!!: Actually I would have to disagree. In many posts I state I am conservative even though I might take a liberal position based on the issue at the time. When I do so conservatives attack me as a liberal and of course the inverse tends to be true when taking a conservative position. Question: Who exactly is the opposition? Answer: The side who doesn't like what I am saying at the time.

Laser Guided Democrat: I define myself as a conservative because it most closely defines my core values. However, just because I hold these values and state as much does not mean that I am not free to consider all positions before forming an opinion.

Answer 1

I'm probably one of the most open minded Conservatives you can find. I've seen all Michael Moore's movies (I know when he's lying, but they are entertaining), I read both sides of the issue, and use my international travels to refine my world view.

All that said, some things can be categorized as good or bad, good or evil. Too many people in politics want to take the easy route and talk about "moral equivalency". Well, if Ronald Reagan had fallen for that dopey outlook, the Soviet Union would still be alive and kicking (probably kicking our complacent @ss).

Reagan had a great sense of humor, but a lot of what he said had some truth to it. Once a reporter asked him how he seemed to make difficult decisions look easy? Reagan quipped, "I just ask myself, 'What would John Wayne do?'"

Deciding some issues are easy. Terrorism must be stopped, and immigration must be regulated. Think about immigration for a moment. The United States is like the NFL team that has the first round draft choice. But instead of picking the guy who is going to elevate our team to even greater levels, we're saying, "Oh it doesn't matter who we let on our team. Heck, the water boy will do."

The United States could be allowing cutting edge scientists from Europe into the U.S., but instead they're ceding that spot to Pablo, his six children, and his seemingly perennially pregnant wife. The U.S. could be getting the cream of the crop from all around the globe. Instead we take people who won't even try to learn English.

If the U.S. were the NFL, how long would it be before it was at the bottom of the League?

Answer 2

We didn't used to. Something's happened under this administration, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Reagan was able to work with a Democratic congress. Clinton had Republican members in his cabinet, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

I think it comes from the top down. I think Bush and his crew have hijacked the true conservative movement (Goldwater/Reagan) and bastardized it into something unrecognizable. They've taken an absolute stand, and I guess the Dems feel that the only way to fight absolutes is with more absolutes.

Either way, for a president to come in as a "uniter" and end up with the most divided America I can remember is astounding to this moderate.

Answer 3

Well, issue on issue debate is something i have not found on the US. It is a measure of the success of the US in disengaging its population from policy making. Sorry, there is no democracy in your country.
I come from a third world country and people talk politics without defining themselves rigidly before speaking about particular issues. Not that my country is perfect.As you may know, Venezuela is going through political hell.
But it's still a democracy and WE DO TALK POLITICS. Especially among friends and specially among friends with opposite ideals.... then again, we do have a superior educational system.

Sorry for the contempt.... you maybe personally worthy of respect, but what your country does smears Americans everywhere.

Answer 4

only sith deal in absolutes, and since most politicians are sith, it all makes sense dont it :p

i think that the tendency to deal in absolutes stems from the fact that we are stuck in a two party system, which obviously doesnt allow for much mixing and matching. whatever the party line is, it is assumed that all those who pledge loyalty to that party also follow it lock-step. not all conservatives believe in the war in Iraw, but since that is the party position, the conservatives are pidgeon holed into that block.

Answer 5

that is why there are political parties because u join the one that u most agree with that doesnt mean every person of every party agrees with every thing that party says and does and most people dont think in absolutes just the media ask your neighbors

Answer 6

We don't..the opposition to any party throw this out there to be insulting, if politics were made up of absolutes we would not be on here debating issues. There would be no point.

Answer 7

I understand what you mean. I am a conservative in many senses, how-ever who someone marries, or what someone does in their own home is really none of my business.

Answer 8

Along the same line, we do people assume you are a liberal if you think Bush is incompetent?

Answer 9

why even label yourself? Just call yourself an objectively-thinking american citizen.

Answer 10

You and I think alike. Some people think they need to be told what they should think.