Here's A New One For Ya. . . . . . Do You Honestly TRY To Understand Opposing Political Views ?

Question

I'm tempted to give examples of views from the left and the right , but I don't want to jade the discussion . I'd rather you focus on the question as a whole .
Tell me some of the issues that you honestly TRY to understand from the other side of the aisle .
Thank you .

Answer 1

Goodness sake, yes! We need brakes and gas no matter what direction we are headed. Our country needs patriotic republicans and democrats.

Republicans just have a different focus than my party. They want different things, not OPPOSITE things. There is a group of them, not a large group at that, who during President Clinton's terms in office decided that they wanted the OPPOSITE of what the Democratic party wanted.

It was childish.

Now we have the same thing from a small group of Democrats. Most of us are content to sit back and not say anything.

That's a mistake. We've let playground like behavior take over our public image, just as the republicans did for a while (and some still do).

I can SEE ways we could achieve some of the Republican goals without causing any problems for Democrats. I can also see ways to get what we want without causing any problem for Republicans.

Political bigotry is the last bastion for the prejudice in our country. We tolerate it (generally).

I don't. I get called a republican for my efforts.

It's o.k. I was called a lot of other things when I did it to republicans during President Clinton's years.

I love patriotic and legal protest. I love patriotic and legal cheering.

It's time to divide the country: patriotic (both sides of the political aisle) vs. the seditious name-calling, rumor-mongering (not the questioners! We NEED them), and those that treat us as "guilty until proved innocent".

I see fellow patriots behind the label, "Republican".

I'm no political bigot. I hope they see me and others like me as well.

Answer 2

Well, seeing as your career now takes you in the front line of low income families and your political views are as strong as they are considering your career as well, this might be a problem. And if he's so set on adopting his father's views as his own, you may want to think about it seriously. If it was just a political argument or viewpoint, someone can easily say, "then just stay away from those discussions if you can..." but in your case with your career revolving around it, it's a different story. This is your life. This is how you feel and it comes from your heart. You might want to find a man who's a little more compassionate about the fact that not everyone is born with a silver spoon in mouth.

Answer 3

Actually, I believe it is all relative. Kinda like trying to understand the differences between religions. I believe there is a common goal or end result, but different views on how to achieve them.

In politics the end result (now a days) is obviously "the almighty vote".

Immigration was a main stream topic recently. In my opinion, it was forced as a result of the ever growing Hispanic population in the U.S., which will play a significant role in the outcome of the 2008 election.

I think both parties were temporarily blinded by the votes and forgot about the American people and what we want (the borders secured).

I of course will not be promoting the Dems or Repubs as a whole. I will vote for the person based on their individual beliefs and how it will affect American citizens.

To bad we don't have another Ronald Reagan running for president.

Answer 4

In the back of my mind I feel that political debate within our government should lead to some sort of compromise that considers the ramifications of the reasons for the opposing views. This seldom happens. It seems as if they are just trying their best to make each other look bad which is mostly the resulting accomplishment. Party loyalty should not take precedence over the good of the country.

The choice of one's political party is highly personal and most people do not follow party lines in their beliefs or needs completely. The more party is put above issues, the less apt one is to try to understand the opposing views. Each issue should be considered as non-political, but instead, to what the result will be for the American people. Then good debate and good results would naturally follow.

Answer 5

Yes, and on a few issues, I've actually been swayed. There is one that I simply can't understand and never will. That is the Socialism issue and those who support it. Many of them use Europe as a 'good' example and again, I can not see their side at all. Here's much of Europe trying to pull themselves out of the muck they now find themselves in and many people over here applauding the destruction that was created across the big pond and wanting to pull us into the same direction.

Some things are beyond me. :)

Answer 6

If we are focussing on the question as a whole, let's leave specific issues out of it.

Any good debater understands the importance of being able to comprehend (and even advocate) any side of any issue, so yes, I am constantly trying to honestly understand opposing political views.




I must say though, this is one of the more civil posts
I've seen yet with your byline.

It remains to be seen whether you are just trying to get liberals to formulate their versions of conservative views so that you can savage them, (as happens frequently) or if you're really trying to understand the other side.

Answer 7

I do try to understand the opposing view, but many times they leave out or distort relevant information that would be vital to a balanced opinion. That is when I get aggravated at what appears to be shortsightedness on their part. There are many on the other side who give reasoned and intelligent arguments to support their view, and some of these I have given serious consideration, but it boils down to the moral imperative I adhere to, therefore, much of the time I am not swayed if their view boils down to selfishness, greed, blind loyalty and/or stubborn refusal to face up to facts.

Answer 8

Sure I try to understand Liberal views because I have two sisters that are very Liberal and they show me the same respect and try to understand my conservative views but at the end of the day all we can do is agree to disagree. I must note they are my younger sisters and I can only hope they will grow out of it :)

Answer 9

YES! So much so that my head wants to explode! I do try to make sense of what they believe in, I do. But their logic is seriously skewed on most matters.

A friend, and I use the term loosely, called me 'pro rape' because I do not believe in abortion! In my own home. I could have leaped across the table and...I don't know what! I simply looked at him and laughed telling him he was pathetic for it was quite obvious he was getting his talking points from Hollywood air head, Cameron Diaz. As far as I was concerned, enough said.

This is just one of MANY clashes I have had with this person and not to forget Earnest, I am surrounded at my place of employment. Sigh...

Answer 10

Yes

same reason as below

For example, I know every counter argument global warming skeptics give and why they are wrong. However, sometimes in researching the other sides view I realize that they are in fact right. I have never changed my mind after doing research on a scientific issue, but I have changed my mind a couple times on economic ones.