Why so angry?

Question

And I think we may have established that I am either a liberal republican or conservative democrat? The extreme right on this board have bashed and lumped all democrats into a liberal categor, have bitched and moaned about increasing the minimum wage, and grossly misrepresented percentages and those who know how to do math. Question: Does the extreme right not see the nation for the individuals that make it up? Does the extreme left not see that if you abuse the system, or you are illegal, you do not deserve the social benefits?

Answer 1

Well put--but a couple of points.
First of all--the politics of polarization come from the neoconservatives (the far right,not true American conservativism). And they do in fact class anyone whodoes not adhere totheir dogma as "liberal."

The problem with the extreme left is a bit different . Aside from a few nut cases (you always have those) they tend to be reactive, rather than taking the initiative to formulate and advocate policy.

What I mean is well illustrated by the whole health-caaremess (though the pattern applies to other issues as well). Here we have a system tha tobviously is not working. In reaction, you hear "we need for the state to guarantee health care." That may be fine--but ask htem how, or what should be the respective roles of government and private health care--and you get a blank stare or more slogans.

Ideology isn't about getting things done--it is aboutour values. Getting results takes work--and MUST be based on solid facts. Because yourresults will follow--inevitably--from hte causes. Substitute ideological slogans for fact-based reasoning and you will get results--but they won't be what you expect--or what you want.

Answer 2

That Democrats and Republicans are NOT representatives of all US citizens and yet they run the government at all levels.

Answer 3

By definition the "extreme" of anything has difficulty with middle ground.

Answer 4

great question.

extremest have very narrow vision.