Divisive vs. Unifying politics

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by IggySoda, Sep 13, 2018.

  1. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    Why is divisive politics better than unifying politics. Why is it better to segregate ourselves from opponents rather than find middle ground? What makes divisive rhetoric better than unifying speech?
     
    Meta777 likes this.
  2. Jonsa

    Jonsa Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2011
    Messages:
    39,871
    Likes Received:
    11,452
    Trophy Points:
    113
    They aren't. Its not. Nothing.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
    Thought Criminal and Meta777 like this.
  3. Sirius Black

    Sirius Black Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2011
    Messages:
    7,560
    Likes Received:
    6,403
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If not for divisive politics who would we blame for our problems?
     
    Pants likes this.
  4. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    Us instead of them?
     
    Jonsa likes this.
  5. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,683
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    I think it's just human nature. We seem to see ourselves as better than the others, and if there is a diversity of beliefs we feel threatened.
    Good point. We don't seem to like looking at the problems themselves, but at an enemy we can blame them on. https://www.britannica.com/topic/scapegoat

    Blame is much simpler than solutions, and killing goats is easy. Humans are such strange creatures.
     
  6. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    Messages:
    11,096
    Likes Received:
    3,393
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I actually 100% blame the media for this
     
  7. Just A Man

    Just A Man Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    12,300
    Likes Received:
    9,290
    Trophy Points:
    113
    As long as the loony democrats and the liberal MSM continue to criticize Trump for just getting out of bed and dressing we will have divisive politics. You have to look no further than to see Trump is now being blamed for hurricane Florence and also watch how Judge Kananaugh is being treated. I won't mention a certain congresswoman who wants to get in the face of any Trump staff member when they are seen in public. Yet the democrats and the MSM keep telling the republicans they should cross the aisle. The public is not as dumb as the MSM and the loony democrats assume they are. Tolerant democrats and an objective MSM my arse.
     
    Thought Criminal, Injeun and Stevew like this.
  8. Stevew

    Stevew Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Messages:
    6,501
    Likes Received:
    2,613
    Trophy Points:
    113

    Yes, it is the media.

    The problem they are creating is that fewer and fewer people are voting for any party that moves to the extremes.

    If you look at a "normal" bell curve of the voting population, then moving any direction away from center has a smaller number of voters. And the winner has a smaller and smaller number of constituents with a higher number of those against them.

    It used to be years ago that many complained there was no difference between the parties. I think Trump has solved that problem.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  9. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    Fewer people are voting for parties that move to the extremes? Really?

    How do you feel the media gets parties to move to the extremes?

    How is that the media's fault? Isn't it the parties' fault?
     
    rcfoolinca288 likes this.
  10. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    So it's their fault? Do you think the right contributed at all?

    Do you think you contribute to that divisive rhetoric, or is it only "the loony left"?
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
    rcfoolinca288 likes this.
  11. Sirius Black

    Sirius Black Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2011
    Messages:
    7,560
    Likes Received:
    6,403
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Isn't it illogical to believe that the entire mainstream media has come together to plot against conservatives? What's in it for them?
     
  12. Stevew

    Stevew Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Messages:
    6,501
    Likes Received:
    2,613
    Trophy Points:
    113

    If it doesn't dawn on you after dems losing well over 1000+ seats across the board SINCE 2010, the intro year of Obamacare, then there isn't anything I can tell you that will make you see the light.

    Enjoy losing elections.

    Steve
     
  13. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm not sure what that justifies.

    You're suggesting the current GOP is centrist? The current Democrats are centrist? What do you think a RINO is? You also didn't explain why the media is to blame?
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
    Meta777 and rcfoolinca288 like this.
  14. Belch

    Belch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2015
    Messages:
    16,275
    Likes Received:
    4,479
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It's better because the left is wrong and the right is right.

    Why pretend that liver tastes good when it tastes like ass? You keep your liver on your plate, I'll keep my ribeye on my plate, and we'll both be happier.
     
  15. rcfoolinca288

    rcfoolinca288 Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    Messages:
    14,301
    Likes Received:
    6,629
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Same with conservative media outlets, who some continued to lie about Obama's birthplace for 8 years. They too, are in the business for money and they aren't objectives.
     
  16. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    But rather than be divisive, why not convince the other side that you're right, and have everyone on one side rather than push them away?

    Nikki Haley wrote an op-ed a while ago saying that the right is making a mistake by taking joy in ridiculing and mocking the left rather than engaging them. This gives them reason to be convinced of our convictions rather than writing us off as uninformed, unsophisticated, or unintelligent, merely causing them to dig in deeper to their beliefs and causing more divisiveness. If we believe that we are right and they are wrong, that the facts are on our side then we can prove it by convincing them thst we are right...and it would be unifying. Which is probably better than divisive.

    Of course Haley was talked down to and disparaged for her op-ed, and I expect I will be too.
     
    Meta777 likes this.
  17. rcfoolinca288

    rcfoolinca288 Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    Messages:
    14,301
    Likes Received:
    6,629
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    The right isn't "right" by a long shot. They claim to love small government but then turn around and do stupid things like passing the Patriot Act.

    On the OP, you can look at the responses here and stop wondering about why we are divisive.
     
  18. Belch

    Belch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2015
    Messages:
    16,275
    Likes Received:
    4,479
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I wouldn't say FOX is plotting against conservatives. I also don't understand where you find anything illogical.

    How do you figure?
     
  19. IggySoda

    IggySoda Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2018
    Messages:
    665
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    The outlets all compete against each other. Why would they conspire together?
     
  20. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,683
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Only girly-men don't like liver.
     
  21. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,683
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Well . . . you do realize she's a woman in the Republican party?
     
  22. perotista

    perotista Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2014
    Messages:
    16,902
    Likes Received:
    5,680
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Negative personal attack ads work during a campaign, that is why they are used. Both parties have a strategy of divide and conquer. Pit different groups of voters against each other. Use fear to energize one's base and to convince those who don't affiliate with either party that they better vote for their party's candidates or doom and gloom is right around the corner.

    The problem with using negative attack ads, dividing groups of voters against each other, using fear to get elected, is that all of this doesn't go away after the election. It makes it harder to govern and harder to come to a consensus with your opponents party. It leaves a, "You done me wrong," attitude, don't ask me for help. The losing side immediately begins to look for payback, ways to get revenge for their perceived wrongs done to them during the campaign.

    Hence, gridlock. No compromise, positions written in stone. One party totally against what ever the other party proposes, only because the other party proposed it. Not whether it might be good or bad for the country or if the proposal has merit.

    We've long gone past the days when a president or any political leader can unify the country. Way too many of us believe the fear being preached, the negativity of the other guy or party. The other party is this nation's worst or number one enemy and the other party is out to destroy this country. People believe these things after awhile. Especially those who affiliate or belong to the two major parties. Differences can't be worked out anymore. To try means your party's base will attack you and probably deprive you of renomination.

    Don't ever cross that line of cooperation or compromise with the other guy or party. Look at what happened to McCain who was willing to play the game of give and take, who placed country above party. He was ravaged even in death.

    I suppose the bottom line today when it comes to our politics, it's much more important to be a Republican or a Democrat first, an American somewhere down the line. It has become party first, loyalty to party and the good of the party above the good of the country, loyalty to country and placing the nation first.

    This has been happening for a good 20 years, probably the movement towards it began 40 years ago. Reagan and Tip O'Neal could work together and come to the meeting of the minds, compromise, work things out. Perhaps they were the last although others have tried. Dole and Mitchell as senate leaders would work together as did Lott and Daschel. The last ones, replaced by Reid and McConnell and now Schumer. The latter three, all party firsters.

    Divide and conquer is the name of the game today. Unify, it isn't going to happen.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
    AmericanNationalist likes this.
  23. Belch

    Belch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2015
    Messages:
    16,275
    Likes Received:
    4,479
    Trophy Points:
    113
    There's a time for diplomats until diplomacy fails, and then it's time for generals. You seem to feel that diplomats should get back to the table, but I think that time has past. You can only talk for so long before you realize that talking is a waste of time.

    The time for diplomats like Haley is over. She's free to head on down to an antifa stronghold and try to give a rousing "Let's buy the world a coke" speech and ending it with an emotional rendition of kumbaya, but I'm guessing when it's all over, she'll be whisked out the back door with her secret service guys waiting in an armored limo to take her back to her bunker, while the suckers who went to her speech have to walk out the front door unarmed so they can be attacked, and the local cops will sit back and do absolutely nothing.
     
    Thought Criminal likes this.
  24. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,683
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    How long ago was it that the word "compromise" became a negative political attack word? That was another one of those red flags.
     
    Meta777 and perotista like this.
  25. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,683
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Hey, go easy on her. After all, she's just a woman, right? You know women just can't be tough enough when it comes to diplomacy.
     

Share This Page