As an Englismen I've read in the press recentley on the growing polaristaion of the left and right in America. Many publications choose to imply that the Right is becoming more virulent and irasicble and hell bent on attacking anything that contradicts their views. Is this really the state in America or gross exagerration? Has simple democratic argument been overturned for playground style affronts of opinion? Are the papers just talking rubbish?
-
Liberal and Conservative tensions?
-
What do you expect, it's election time!
-
Although election years certainly precipitate political tension, you're right that the US has become extremely and unusually polarized---political polls will tell you that much, for what they're worth. Check out a political forum. Most political webforums are so polarized these days they fail to provide any rational or meaningful discussions. Wingnuts (from both sides)are becoming increasingly mainstream, and the center has shrunken. This is odd considering that the platforms of both parties has recently converged. Surprisingly, this site has some very good political discussions... I much prefer debates here to debates on "political" forums.
-
probably because 90% of people couldn't give jack and people on political forums are there for a reason
-
I think you're right, but the people who do "give jack" on this forum are typically reasonable. Most likely because they don't spend 100% of thier time obsessing about politics.
-
lol so call me unreasonable lol might actually help if I had any interest in the American election system
-
Lol, that's not what I was implying I meant that most people who post on political forums are not reasonable, not that all people who don't care about politics are unreasonable. Of course, you, Diver, are the paradigm of reason, whether or not you care about American politics
-
that's the nicest thing someones said to me all day... I think lol (after I had to look up the bloody word in the dictionary)
-
Getting back on topic here, I don't really think that our politics are any more polarized today than they were ten, twenty, or even a hundred years ago. I suppose you could say that people these days are a bit more vocal after the Sept. 11 attacks and the recent wars in Iraq and Afganistan, but if you compare the political climate in the US today to those of history, I'm pretty sure you'll find that we're not really anymore polarized, we're just fixated on a new issue at the moment. And of course, as was said before me, you also have the most vocal debaters being the guys on the fringes of either side; so their arguing with eachother so publicly seems to make us look much more polarized than we actually are. Don't get me wrong, everyone has their own opinions, but if people in this country took a hard, honest look at themselves, I think many of them would be surprised to find that they're more moderate than anything.
-
I think there's a good point there. When discussions about political philosophy are larely theoretical, most people tend to be fairly gentlemanly about it; but when there is a real, current, serious practical issue at stake, like a war that is killing people, emotions are stronger.