Liberal and Conservative?

Question

Are we polarizing ourselves here on YA? I first got on here for a true political discussion and I find myself always being pulled into a blind loyalty to my preconceived notions, not willing to question them in the face of opposition. I have also looked at my contacts/fans and they are individuals who will agree with me on nearly every issue. Im not sure if this is how it is for anyone else. I wanted to have a real q and a with people who also had a different opinion and were willing to explain, rationally, there position. I find that rarely here.

Am I just in the wrong place?

ArgleBargleWoogleBoo- Your right, I think I addressed that in my questions details.

To Be- You are also right, I have not been an angel on YA. I hope you look at my other questions though.

Answer 1

Yeah, ever since they shut the news msg boards down, the trolls moved here.

Answer 2

Frustrating isn't it?

I recently asked (actually I posted this several times) if someone could define conservatism. I just asked it in a straightforward way. No one could do it. None of the guys that come on ranting about their own supposed conservatism even bothered to try. None of the liberals or libertarians could do it either.

Instead, they cam on and told me what they hated about the liberals. It seems the only identity they have is to be the opposite of someone else, and the someone else they make themselves the opposite of are defined by simply being 'them' instead of 'me.'

I am a liberal democrat, and I have a strong personal definition of conservatism. But neither the liberals nor the republicans could tell me what a conservative was. The only one they could name was Reagan; the only principle they could mention was lower taxes, when they could bother to mention a principle at all.

And yet they're out there yelling at each other for not having the right beliefs.

Go figure.

it's beyond polarization. It's descended into pack animal brutality.

In the end, we'll end up an enslaved people if we refuse to thinkfor ourselves.

Answer 3

Remember the story of people asking Jesus why he was constantly in the company of sinners? He basically told them that this is where he needs to be; like a doctor among sick people.

That is what it can be like here. There are many, many young people that particpate here who are genuinely convinced of many things on the liberal agenda. Many of them have never heard the conservative point of view. Since most of them only discuss things with other liberals they just keep reenforcing the message.

Here, I try to give them my point of view and a good explaination of why it is true. It doesn't happen all that often but once in a while I manage to plant a seed of free thought into their clouded minds. Every once in a while one of them will begin to see the light and question what he has been told so far.

Every once in a while, one will contact me for more discussion and after a while they start to change. Often these young people are told what they should think about something that contradicts their own experience. Often, they are too inhibited to say so to their liberal friends but some assumption may not seem correct. Here they can anonymously ask questions and sometimes get a good reply that helps them a whole lot.

It is for these reasons that I take the time to reply thoughtfully. You have a different approach, you ask a lot of thought provoking questions. But the effect is the same. I believe your goal is to bring as many lost liberals into the light of reason we conservatives share. A place where we are required to think not just feel. a place where a good understanding of the constitution and the founders intent can help us make the right decisions for our nation.

Polarization is necessary on issues of moral importance. On unimportant issues we can tollerate luke warm moderate mush. We can afford answers like "don't know". But on important issues we need moral clarity. Do we kill someone? Yes or no. There is no room for sort of kill him or kinda kill him. We do or we don't. Abortion: good or bad? Not choice is good or bad, is Abortion good or bad. If it is good why should it be rare? If it is bad why allow it? These sort of questions make people reexamine their postion.

If I get them to think for themselves that is good. If they then come to the right conclusion, one that is logically defenseable that is a victory.

.

Answer 4

YA is just representative of how political discourse in our country has degenerated to a polarized system where neither side will listen to the other. Each side justs spews invective accusing the other of this or that, taking positions just because they are "liberal" or "conservative" and without regard for reason or rationale.

There was a time when it was not so. When both sides of the aisle could work to a common ground and actually accomplish things. Sadly, we move farther and farther away from such a time. Eventually, we will not be able to move forward and the Republic will be lost. There seem to be fewer and fewer of those of us who are willing to listen to all sides and work for common ground.

Answer 5

It's a personal choice. I know we all have issues we vehementally believe in for one reason or another and will go to arms to defend them, but it's not impossible to get that kind of debate here. I have several people on my contacts who have opinions differing from mine. None, however, are the type that just give short, trite responses whose sole aim is to insult or demean. I have them as contacts because their opinions are different from mine and they make it a point to make their case in a well thought out civil manner. Take for example Semper Fi or McKenzieCalhoun. Total opposite opnions on many big issues, yet we still manage to have rational and pleasant discourse. The people are out there, it just takes a lot of weeding out to find them.

I also TRY to stay away from the Qs that are just parroting and looking for vindication or self-fulfulling approval. Sometimes it's hard though.

Answer 6

Agreed. I find that both sides are forcing the opposition to defend the actions of their party's elected officials. "Republican are stupid because Bush..." or "Liberals are hypocrites because Al Gore..."

I am not represented by the people I have elected. I SHOULD be represented by them, but in my opinion they have not done their job as they described they would do. Why are we defending these bastards? Are you Liberals really pleased with the stellar job of the Democratic led Congress? What have they accomplished? Are you Conservatives really happy with the White House? We have followed these parties / leaders into a dead end. Now what?

At some point we have to stop pretending that the person next to you with opposing ideas is the enemy and realize the government itself is the one in the wrong.

Answer 7

I am open to discussing my views with anyone who is willing to debate me with intelligence and respect. Although there are several posters with whom I would love to discuss politics, there are many more who would just be a waste of time. I do not expect anyone to change their personal beliefs based on a answer I have given, I only expect them to be open minded and show me the same respect I have shown them. Intelligent debate on Y!A politics is slowly becoming something of an oxymoron, but there are still those who can pose and answer questions with passion, logic, and reason, without resorting to the childish tactics which have become all to prevalent. The former are the posters I look for.

Answer 8

I'll add you as a contact and I don't consider myself liberal or conservative. I have always hated things that force people in to blind loyalty as you state. I've been a union worker but never stood with them on things I felt I shouldn't - and many fellow union'ers hated me for it.
I have been management where I had to sign non-disclosure forms to go in to a conference room and listen to how we were going to cheat, lie, and steal from the minions - and I didn't agree with their crap - and many hated me.

One thing I think everyone should do is study up on fallacious arguments. If people familiarize themselves with this, they will realize that both the left and right are basing their stances solely on fallacies.
Also, it seems that most on the left and right choose to hate the message along with the messenger. Example, most on the left absolutely despise Bill O'Reily(?). I don't agree with him often, but he is a strong advocate for the children. Why would a liberal not be for that? Oh, because of the messenger. Hell, I think people like Ted Kennedy are a joke to the nation, but even he has made statements that I agree with (please forgive me!). Maybe even G.W. (please, please forgive me!).
You are not in the wrong place. People just need to think things out and not make hasty judgements' based solely on the source, etc.

Answer 9

You do not come across as an open-minded person who wants to really hear other dissenting opinions. With your choice of language such as "libs", "flower guns", "love rays", "but plugs", and " Moore's crock-umentary", you obviously only want to prove your own position. It is not worth talking to someone like you. On the positive side, at least you do admit you have " a blind loyalty to my preconceived notion".

Answer 10

At least here there are rules that are enforced, so if a person is hostile/rude/inappropriate they'll get a violation notice from y!a and if theyre bad enough in y!a's eyes, their acct will be terminated
It is pretty sad how polarized the parties are. Though I'm a devout lib, i'd LOVE to see the US become *united* again

I think amazon.com's message boards are better: http://www.amazon.com/Politics-forum/forum/Fx1S3QSZRUL93V8/-/1/ref=cm_cd_dp_rt_tft_fp/103-2429613-7003819?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=0307237699

Answer 11

For the most part That is the way political disscussion go. People have their own opinions on the subject and really you or anyone else could not change their minds. Basically turns into one side yelling at the other