Extremism

PLC1

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Looking through the latest posts on this forum, it occurs to me that House of Politics is beginning to reflect the voters of this great nation in that we're becoming increasingly polarized. Either we think that the Democrats are the essence of evil, or that the Republicans are. Either this is the greatest free nation on Earth, or we're sliding into "Marxism", "Communism" or "Fascism", never just implementing policies with which we find some fault.

Reasoned debate is being supplanted by ranting and verbal assaults on the person with whom we disagree, and not just on this forum, but in the larger arena of national discourse as well. The most popular commentators are the ones preaching that anyone who disagrees with their own rather narrow point of view are not just people with a different philosophy, but are deluded, conspiratorial, or perhaps just evil.

The lightning rod for extremism of all kinds is the president. Either people love him and can find no fault with anything he does, or they hate him and see him as the representative of whatever sort of -ism them detest most, usually, the dreaded "liberalism". He tends to be seen as single handedly bringing the nation down, or as the great hope for the future, not just as a fallible individual who has been given what is probably the most difficult job in the world.

Liberalism and conservatism alike are ill defined, and tend to refer to those evil ones who disagree with one's point of view, those with whom there can be no compromise or points of agreement, either the "other team", or perhaps even the essence of evil, bent on destroying our nation.

What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?
 
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PLC1 Said: What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?
Possibly...or are the middle of the road Republicans just afraid to talk 'fairness/in an equal relaxed attitude/wait & see about our newly elected president' for fear that these LOUD REDUNDANT 'RIGHT WINGED NUT JOBS' posters around here will regale them with radical comments & INSULTS.

I've read where some of the REAL WRITTEN IN STONE REPUBLICANS have been called 'LEFTISTS' because they disagree with a couple of newbies to this site...{NEW WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS}.

To me and my Independent POV...the hate and vitriol that permeates this country/community forum is just amazing:eek: I fully understand the frustration/pain/agony that most are feeling {I too have felt some serious financial set backs/unemployment/reduced work hours}...but the work that it is going to take to FIX the plethora of problems is going to take longer then just 'an overnight band-aide'...but the volume of the WHINE/ANGST is becoming deafening to the EAR!
 
Looking through the latest posts on this forum, it occurs to me that House of Politics is beginning to reflect the voters of this great nation in that we're becoming increasingly polarized. Either we think that the Democrats are the essence of evil, or that the Republicans are.
Nahhhhhhhh.....Evil is terminology (pretty-much) limited to ill-educated "moralists".

Evil is a fairy-tale concept; the ultimate-excuse/justification for brutalizing other people (See: ReRon Reagan), 'cause they don't really count, and...after-all, you're doing God's work. :rolleyes:

Evil is a dangerous-word.​

What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?
No doubt.

What're you suggesting.....Change?

Those dice have been rolled.​
 
Looking through the latest posts on this forum, it occurs to me that House of Politics is beginning to reflect the voters of this great nation in that we're becoming increasingly polarized. Either we think that the Democrats are the essence of evil, or that the Republicans are. Either this is the greatest free nation on Earth, or we're sliding into "Marxism", "Communism" or "Fascism", never just implementing policies with which we find some fault.

Reasoned debate is being supplanted by ranting and verbal assaults on the person with whom we disagree, and not just on this forum, but in the larger arena of national discourse as well. The most popular commentators are the ones preaching that anyone who disagrees with their own rather narrow point of view are not just people with a different philosophy, but are deluded, conspiratorial, or perhaps just evil.

The lightning rod for extremism of all kinds is the president. Either people love him and can find no fault with anything he does, or they hate him and see him as the representative of whatever sort of -ism them detest most, usually, the dreaded "liberalism". He tends to be seen as single handedly bringing the nation down, or as the great hope for the future, not just as a fallible individual who has been given what is probably the most difficult job in the world.

Liberalism and conservatism alike are ill defined, and tend to refer to those evil ones who disagree with one's point of view, those with whom there can be no compromise or points of agreement, either the "other team", or perhaps even the essence of evil, bent on destroying our nation.

What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?

Yep, everyone seems to be either hard right or hard left, with perhaps a couple in the middle. Some here think they are middle of the road but I think they are kidding only themselves. I know I am hard right and I am proud of it, though I do lean left on the death penalty. I think it is good and healthy to figure out what you are and be proud of it. I know many liberals who hate to be called liberal but I know of no conservative who is ashamed to be called conservative. I think we should all figure out what we are and be proud of it.
 
Yep, everyone seems to be either hard right or hard left, with perhaps a couple in the middle. Some here think they are middle of the road but I think they are kidding only themselves. I know I am hard right and I am proud of it, though I do lean left on the death penalty. I think it is good and healthy to figure out what you are and be proud of it. I know many liberals who hate to be called liberal but I know of no conservative who is ashamed to be called conservative. I think we should all figure out what we are and be proud of it.

And we'll just all have to come to the BIB book of WHAT IS CORRECT AND PROUD OF IT TO GET HER ALL ANOINTED OPINION OF WHAT SHE BELIEVES TO BE ACCURATE...OMG, GOOD GRIEF AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER HOLY BAT CRAP COMMENTS...:eek:
Insufferable and so unrealistic :cool:

I know a 'nut job' when I hear one too...those 'screeching monkey' sounds are just so tell-tale...LMAO And I'm PROUD of the times that I've nailed you for your lies, the misinformation, the continual assaults on the good name of our newly elected president & family...YEP, I"M ONE PROUD INDEPENDENT AMERICAN!
 
Looking through the latest posts on this forum, it occurs to me that House of Politics is beginning to reflect the voters of this great nation in that we're becoming increasingly polarized. Either we think that the Democrats are the essence of evil, or that the Republicans are. Either this is the greatest free nation on Earth, or we're sliding into "Marxism", "Communism" or "Fascism", never just implementing policies with which we find some fault.

Reasoned debate is being supplanted by ranting and verbal assaults on the person with whom we disagree, and not just on this forum, but in the larger arena of national discourse as well. The most popular commentators are the ones preaching that anyone who disagrees with their own rather narrow point of view are not just people with a different philosophy, but are deluded, conspiratorial, or perhaps just evil.

The lightning rod for extremism of all kinds is the president. Either people love him and can find no fault with anything he does, or they hate him and see him as the representative of whatever sort of -ism them detest most, usually, the dreaded "liberalism". He tends to be seen as single handedly bringing the nation down, or as the great hope for the future, not just as a fallible individual who has been given what is probably the most difficult job in the world.

Liberalism and conservatism alike are ill defined, and tend to refer to those evil ones who disagree with one's point of view, those with whom there can be no compromise or points of agreement, either the "other team", or perhaps even the essence of evil, bent on destroying our nation.

What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?

Yes you are certainly correct.

I'm certain that one of the reasons you were asked to be a Mod is because you are a very deliberate and thoughtful person when it comes to how you address your side of a debate. I see you as a slightly Left leaning Independent. Some of the other Mods like Bunz (Left) and Big Rob (Right) while probably sometimes a little more hard hitting in their responses are also really in it as you are to discuss political actions and reactions, policy and effect, the history leading up to events and various documentation to state or rebut something.

But just as in the real world there are always (no pun intended;)) extremists that simply hate the other side for hates sake. To be honest it's usually the side out of power (either side Left or Right) that takes on the position of attack dog as they desperately want their power back.

This leaves a void in the Force so to speak if there is not some counter extremism to try an balance some of the more vicious rhetoric.

But the good news is there are often good points brought up to seriously take under consideration even if on the surface those seeming most extreme could never admit it. Even with all the harsh banter sometimes... this forum does serve a good purpose.
 
Looking through the latest posts on this forum, it occurs to me that House of Politics is beginning to reflect the voters of this great nation in that we're becoming increasingly polarized. Either we think that the Democrats are the essence of evil, or that the Republicans are. Either this is the greatest free nation on Earth, or we're sliding into "Marxism", "Communism" or "Fascism", never just implementing policies with which we find some fault.

Reasoned debate is being supplanted by ranting and verbal assaults on the person with whom we disagree, and not just on this forum, but in the larger arena of national discourse as well. The most popular commentators are the ones preaching that anyone who disagrees with their own rather narrow point of view are not just people with a different philosophy, but are deluded, conspiratorial, or perhaps just evil.

The lightning rod for extremism of all kinds is the president. Either people love him and can find no fault with anything he does, or they hate him and see him as the representative of whatever sort of -ism them detest most, usually, the dreaded "liberalism". He tends to be seen as single handedly bringing the nation down, or as the great hope for the future, not just as a fallible individual who has been given what is probably the most difficult job in the world.

Liberalism and conservatism alike are ill defined, and tend to refer to those evil ones who disagree with one's point of view, those with whom there can be no compromise or points of agreement, either the "other team", or perhaps even the essence of evil, bent on destroying our nation.

What do you think? Do you agree that there is a polarization on this forum? Does that reflect the same sort of extremism that is becoming common in the nation at large?



OH, I think YOU are correct , The American VOTER has finnaly awakened and our Nation is surely DIVIDED. BUT , for once it is DIVIDED in such a way that "GOOD" is much larger and favorable than "EVIL". There is no doubt EVIL is represented by the majority of our National News Media except for Fox News , Conservative Talk Radio, and Conservative members of our Congress , regardless of Party. Our CONGRESS and Executive Branch is controlled by fascist and is insisting on Congress passing fascist controll bills like Obamas' Health Care Control Bill, Cap and TAX ENERGY and CITIZEN CONTROL BILL.
Our White House appointed Czars and other questionable characters to positions of power , positions that answer to noone but Obama. Their backgrounds are marxist, socialist , communist , everything and anything but FREE MARKET or CAPITALISM advocates. AS we have seen the first year of this Anti- America reign of economic TERROR has almost DESTROYED our nation. YES,it is well, good , and necessary that ALL clear thinking American REVOLT at the 2010 BALLOT BOX and begin to sweep this DIRT from our Congress, From our State Governments , and start to make American CLEAN and Whole again!Then in 2012, We must thow out the remaining debris from office, including our totally INEPT radical LEFTIST President.
YES, the words from CONSERVATIVES are LOUD and will become LOUDER if need to do so. We can no allow lliberal Republicans , democrats , or independents to speak for us and CONTROL POLITICS in AMERICA. In 2008 , the nation saw what happens when voters allow radicals to select Americas' leadership. We receive so called leaders who have a foreign agenda , do not love or know America or her CONSTITUTION. WE must NEVER allow this to happen again , do not believe ot trust the radical leftist media, they are the messengers of EVIL, DECEIT is their weapon.
VOTE YOUR PRINCIPLES OVER PARTY IN 2010 and 2012!!
CONSERVATIVE VALUES WERE WITH OUR FOUNDERS AND CREATED AMERICA with FAVOR from GOD .
2008 was a MISTAKE, 2010, WE CAN BEGIN TO SAVE AMERICA, GOD BLESS!
 
And we'll just all have to come to the BIB book of WHAT IS CORRECT AND PROUD OF IT TO GET HER ALL ANOINTED OPINION OF WHAT SHE BELIEVES TO BE ACCURATE...OMG, GOOD GRIEF AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER HOLY BAT CRAP COMMENTS...:eek:
Insufferable and so unrealistic :cool:

I know a 'nut job' when I hear one too...those 'screeching monkey' sounds are just so tell-tale...LMAO And I'm PROUD of the times that I've nailed you for your lies, the misinformation, the continual assaults on the good name of our newly elected president & family...YEP, I"M ONE PROUD INDEPENDENT AMERICAN!

YES, It could be Obama is just "BACK ON DRUGS, AGAIN" he may be a conservative when he puts down the pipe or needle!
 
And we'll just all have to come to the BIB book of WHAT IS CORRECT AND PROUD OF IT TO GET HER ALL ANOINTED OPINION OF WHAT SHE BELIEVES TO BE ACCURATE...OMG, GOOD GRIEF AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER HOLY BAT CRAP COMMENTS...:eek:
Insufferable and so unrealistic :cool:

I know a 'nut job' when I hear one too...those 'screeching monkey' sounds are just so tell-tale...LMAO And I'm PROUD of the times that I've nailed you for your lies, the misinformation, the continual assaults on the good name of our newly elected president & family...YEP, I"M ONE PROUD INDEPENDENT AMERICAN!

Well then you are proud of nothing because I have not lied. Dont get me wrong I know you have accused me of it a number of times but that is a normal part of your personal attacks.
 
Yes you are certainly correct.

I'm certain that one of the reasons you were asked to be a Mod is because you are a very deliberate and thoughtful person when it comes to how you address your side of a debate. I see you as a slightly Left leaning Independent. Some of the other Mods like Bunz (Left) and Big Rob (Right) while probably sometimes a little more hard hitting in their responses are also really in it as you are to discuss political actions and reactions, policy and effect, the history leading up to events and various documentation to state or rebut something.

But just as in the real world there are always (no pun intended;)) extremists that simply hate the other side for hates sake. To be honest it's usually the side out of power (either side Left or Right) that takes on the position of attack dog as they desperately want their power back.

This leaves a void in the Force so to speak if there is not some counter extremism to try an balance some of the more vicious rhetoric.

But the good news is there are often good points brought up to seriously take under consideration even if on the surface those seeming most extreme could never admit it. Even with all the harsh banter sometimes... this forum does serve a good purpose.



Well said TopGun
 
... Our CONGRESS and Executive Branch is controlled by fascist and is insisting on Congress passing fascist controll bills like Obamas' Health Care Control Bill, Cap and TAX ENERGY and CITIZEN CONTROL BILL.
Our White House appointed Czars and other questionable characters to positions of power , positions that answer to noone but Obama. Their backgrounds are marxist, socialist , communist , everything and anything but FREE MARKET or CAPITALISM advocates.

Well, well, always. You certainly underline PCL1's point. What's it like to hear with two right ears and nothing in between? Our government is controlled by fascists who appoint Marxists, socialists, and communists as czars? That is a concept that must be hard to justify, being that those appellations describe polar opposites on the political spectrum. But don't be troubled about the details, just be happy you can throw as much mud as you possibly can at those you are unhappy with.

CONSERVATIVE VALUES WERE WITH OUR FOUNDERS AND CREATED AMERICA with FAVOR from GOD .

There ya go again. In our founders day, conservatives were greatly agitated with those radical rabble-rousing patriots. They were called Tories or loyalists, and opposed any change to the established rules of law under English control for the nearly two hundred years prior to the Revolution.

As for the favor of god, funny there's not one mention of him in the Constitution. And religion is only mentioned to declare that the state shall not establish, nor favor any particular religion over another.
 
Its painfully normal that people taking the time to post on these sorts of boards will be passionate and often further from the middle. If you are just noticing it here then you are not the norm. Out there in the interwebs its been this way for years.

I refer to most of the voting public as the mushy middle for a reason. They do not feel all that strongly about things and so are somewhat easlily tugged back and forth across the voting line.

The nation is not polarized as most people whould have you believe but the opposite ends of the political spectrum have been edging farther fro the center and taking greater interest in party politics which makes the politicians pay attention. Most are just trying to get through each day and as they feel no connection to government they pay it little mind. Their kids have a game to get to, gotta pay the bills and oh yeah, Idol's coming on in 20 minutes.

The left tend to run left into idealism while the right tend to focus on principle. You can make your own case for why either is good or bad.

The ratcheting you note has more to do with the massive expansion of government thats occurred over the last 75 years (or more). When it didn't impact your pocketbook so much you cared a little less. This has driven out of the mushy middle either because they are fed up with taxes increases or looking for a bigger hand out.

Will this ever change ? For the better ?

Who knows but tI do see a possibility in the (despite what the left would have you believe) broad based Teabag Movement. They are united on fiscal responsibility. Adn boy could we use some of that about now.
 
Well, well, always. You certainly underline PCL1's point. What's it like to hear with two right ears and nothing in between? Our government is controlled by fascists who appoint Marxists, socialists, and communists as czars? That is a concept that must be hard to justify, being that those appellations describe polar opposites on the political spectrum. But don't be troubled about the details, just be happy you can throw as much mud as you possibly can at those you are unhappy with.

There ya go again. In our founders day, conservatives were greatly agitated with those radical rabble-rousing patriots. They were called Tories or loyalists, and opposed any change to the established rules of law under English control for the nearly two hundred years prior to the Revolution.

As for the favor of god, funny there's not one mention of him in the Constitution. And religion is only mentioned to declare that the state shall not establish, nor favor any particular religion over another.

WOW...that didn't take long, but BRAVO and that's exactly the response that 'ALWAYS' always receives {well except for the ever fawning support and adulation from PANDORA} but you're figuring it out really fast!

Amazing how those I.Q. triggers are just so evident to the adults that come on board and read the constant B.S...but then the 'ring in the nose followers' of Rush Limbaugh/Glenn Becks of this forum just huddle together and pat each other on the FANNY regardless of how idiotic they sound, how wrong their facts are, and how heinous their vitriol is :cool:





 
Excellent responses. Some prove my point that there is an extreme polarization on this board, which I think, reflects a polarization among the nation at large. We have some members who identify themselves as "left" lumping some fairly diverse viewpoints together is "right wing", and some who identify themselves as right wing doing the same for the other side. Did I really read about Pandora being grouped together with ALWAYS? How do the two of you view that one?


Now, I've said this before, but I don't identify myself as middle, nor as left or right. I firmly reject the idea that politics is a one dimensional left to right continuum. Much of what is identified as "right wing" is really a militaristic and authoritarian point of view, which I personally firmly reject.
Some of my views are admittedly far from moderate.

Ive said this before, too, but I'll say it again: The forum would not be any good if everyone agreed. One of the best things about is being able to post one's thoughts secure in the knowledge that someone will think they're a pile of crap and tell you why, while others may applaud them. That makes for a great sounding board, IMO, but doesn't mean that someone who disagrees firmly is an idiot or ignorant, or any of the other epithets that keep getting hurled around. If someone sees things from a different perspective, that's great.
 
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WOW...that didn't take long, but BRAVO and that's exactly the response that 'ALWAYS' always receives {well except for the ever fawning support and adulation from PANDORA} but you're figuring it out really fast!

Amazing how those I.Q. triggers are just so evident to the adults that come on board and read the constant B.S...but then the 'ring in the nose followers' of Rush Limbaugh/Glenn Becks of this forum just huddle together and pat each other on the FANNY regardless of how idiotic they sound, how wrong their facts are, and how heinous their vitriol is :cool:


OH, Its YOU again Dr. Tiller!! What is your ABORTION QUOTA TODAY??

Will OBAMA keep paying for them with TAX DOLLARS??

OVER FIFTY MILLION ABORTIONS , plus those RETROACTIVE , so called because they are destroyed AFTER BEING BORN. YOUR president obama voted to kill any baby who survived an abortion attempt!! HOW CRUEL IS HE??
 
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