A rare political rant from me
I posted this as a comment in a friend's journal, with apologies to her because I've heard what she said before but for some reason it really set me off this morning - it's totally not her. :) just finally pushed over the edge
( Read more... )
I will say (not that I'm asking for this from you, btw, just saying) that I wish I could have more interesting discourse with people who are republicans and open-minded.
You're right, in that a lot of hate gets spewed around during conversations about politics. A lot of that is spouting platitudes, but a lot of that is also that some of the issues that traditionally divide democrats and republicans are ... um... I can't think of a better way to say it than "divisive." Roe v. Wade, for example... this isn't one of those topics that are often linked to calm debate.
I think, BTW, that it seems to focus on republicans right now because of the current administration. Whether or not Clinton had much to do with the current economic or international situations (for example) is completely lost on 99% of democrats, who are basically like "OMG look at how bad these things are now? How could you possibly want more of the same?" Whether or not it was Bush's fault. The present has a powerful sway, regardless of the past.
I would like to see more intelligent discussion. The presidental debate and vice-presidential debates have been frustrating to me, because there's no give and take, just all "we're right we're right we're right", because admitting fault in a position is a "huge blunder." Additionally, both sides spout a lot of numbers and "facts" that don't have a lot of basis, and that's frustrating to me as well. Who has voted fore more tax increases? Both sides would have you think the other side, and use different numbers to point it out, with completely different metrics, and NEITHER side can possibly step up and say "well hey, sometimes you want to increase taxes, because the benefits are huge." Might as well just throw away votes.
Anyway, I'm frustrated too, but for largely different reasons. I definitely agree, though, that the current discourse is not conducive to actual learning, or reason, or anything that changes minds, and is more conducive to causing people to more firmly entrench their positions. >_
Reply
Leave a comment