I see slander from the liberals to the conservatives and vice versa here all the time. I don't classify my self as either. It's safe the say that liberals and conservatives are the dominant two. Has anyone has even considered that both sides are there to divide you up into sub groups? Has anyone considered that there is a man behind the curtain? I believe, you can find "Divide and Conquer strategy from "Sun-tzu's, The Art of War."

Welp, lets get down and dirty... lol
 

It's not really a secret. Poltiicians on either side of the aisle call each other "friends" all the time. And that's absolutely fine that civility exists between them, it should be no other way, but its only amongst us finding allegiance in this party or that party do we tear each other completely apart.

I don't think we're being played against one another. If there was a lack of transparency in government and a bunch of reasons why we had no choice to behave any way other than the way we behave, I'd agree that the division was coming from the politicians.

As it stands though, its hard enough to get fellow Americans to actually read bills, congressional reports, watch CSPAN, in general expose themselves to facts and truths before daring to feel a certain way. Such behavior isn't due to any manipulation, its just unwillingness. Some people CHOOSE to be loyal to their political party before being loyal to their fellow American. It's sad and senseless since we all want the same thing; a better life for one another.

Anyway, we're perfectly free and have many reasons to stand by one another first, political organizations and politicians second. They aren't inserting themselves between us, we're inserting them.  

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No matter how hard you pray to a higher power or how many foam accoutrements you wear in support of the team from your area, your team will be defeated. We will win and you will lose. This is your fate.

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the above argument is much easier than informing yourself of the details and arguing on the merits of that information.

Originally posted by sepher

It's not really a secret. Poltiicians on either side of the aisle call each other "friends" all the time. And that's absolutely fine that civility exists between them, it should be no other way, but its only amongst us finding allegiance in this party or that party do we tear each other completely apart.

I don't think we're being played against one another. If there was a lack of transparency in government and a bunch of reasons why we had no choice to behave any way other than the way we behave, I'd agree that the division was coming from the politicians.

As it stands though, its hard enough to get fellow Americans to actually read bills, congressional reports, watch CSPAN, in general expose themselves to facts and truths before daring to feel a certain way. Such behavior isn't due to any manipulation, its just unwillingness. Some people CHOOSE to be loyal to their political party before being loyal to their fellow American. It's sad and senseless since we all want the same thing; a better life for one another.

Anyway, we're perfectly free and have many reasons to stand by one another first, political organizations and politicians second. They aren't inserting themselves between us, we're inserting them.  

Really could not have said it better. Especially the second paragraph... it's not like anyone is being forced into certain groups, and the vast majority of people either A) want to be told what to think for a variety of reasons or B) don't care enough and just have a "default" group they pick.
 

Still, I really wish we could do away with the division. Is it really that hard to say "yes I agree with this, no I don't agree with this" and then judge people based on their views instead of their nametag?

Originally posted by sepher

It's not really a secret. Poltiicians on either side of the aisle call each other "friends" all the time. And that's absolutely fine that civility exists between them, it should be no other way, but its only amongst us finding allegiance in this party or that party do we tear each other completely apart.

I don't think we're being played against one another. If there was a lack of transparency in government and a bunch of reasons why we had no choice to behave any way other than the way we behave, I'd agree that the division was coming from the politicians.

As it stands though, its hard enough to get fellow Americans to actually read bills, congressional reports, watch CSPAN, in general expose themselves to facts and truths before daring to feel a certain way. Such behavior isn't due to any manipulation, its just unwillingness. Some people CHOOSE to be loyal to their political party before being loyal to their fellow American. It's sad and senseless since we all want the same thing; a better life for one another.

Anyway, we're perfectly free and have many reasons to stand by one another first, political organizations and politicians second. They aren't inserting themselves between us, we're inserting them.  

I can't believe I didn't notice this before but I saw it with Bush. People refused to see what he was doing just because they believed in his parties ideology and what he was saying. People went along with whatever he did and said because it was status quo and patriotic to go along with the President no matter what. Now I see this with Obama but worse. People got so hyped and pumped up during the pre-election they actually thought he was going to do what he was saying. But when he got into office its turning into a different story.

Originally posted by sepher

 It's sad and senseless since we all want the same thing; a better life for one another.

But the devil is in the details isn't it.  It's all well and good to express sentiments of togetherness and fellowship but that only lasts untill you start talking about specifics.

Take a hot button issue like abortion.  Some people believe it should be allowed and some believe it shouldn't.  How do you reconcile those two viewpoints?  How do you find a compromise?  Do you tell the anti-abortion people, "Ok, we won't kill the babies we'll just cut their legs off."  Would that satisfy either side?  No.

And then look at big government socialists and small government libertarian types.  How do you bring these two philosophies together to find common ground?  You really can't.  So of course we end up with political divisiveness.  

The really odd thing about it in America is that the way things work here we will always have a two party system so we end up mashing all these different things into just two camps.  Things which aren't necessarily realated to each other at all.  Like the anti-abortion crowd and the libertarians being mostly in the republican party when in reality those two things don't really go together. 

One thing people don't seem to notice or maybe they don't care but BOTH parties have been infiltrated by Progressives. They are the ones using the divide and conquer technique. They get their Progressives in both parties and when we get tired of one party we vote in the other. The only problem is the Progressives are in both parties so they continue to do what they want by secretly getting their person in. Wake up people. It's time to purge both parties of Progressives and tell them we don't want their stink around here.

Any time that I see posts that support the "lets go back to the old days" reminds me of those lessons learned through history; societies that are unable to evolve and change with their times have and will cease to be, and those who don't learn from history a doomed to repeat it.

I've mentioned this website before: change-congress.org/

Another reason why everyone in America should support this^ is because caps on election funding may ultimately help give 3rd and 4th parties a chance instead of our flawed 2 party system. It would be nice to have parties for all political leanings so people don't get labeled as being in the "conservative party" or "liberal party". How about a "moderate party"?....  We could call them the republocrats.

I'd like to see everyone that decides to run for election sequestered like a jury, put up in identical accommodations with basic electronic and A/V access only and exactly the same opportunities for public exposure, with ZERO advertising or outside influence/ contributions.

They run on the merits of their ideas, charisma, and leadership ability only.  With no asshat staffers writing speeches and conducting focus groups.

I would also like a house on the moon and the winning numbers for the next powerball drawing.

Originally posted by Enkindu

I'd like to see everyone that decides to run for election sequestered like a jury, put up in identical accommodations with basic electronic and A/V access only and exactly the same opportunities for public exposure, with ZERO advertising or outside influence/ contributions.

They run on the merits of their ideas, charisma, and leadership ability only.  With no asshat staffers writing speeches and conducting focus groups.

 

I would also like a house on the moon and the winning numbers for the next powerball drawing.

Well the mission statement for change-congress is feasible; it might not be as great as what you are suggesting but it is 100x better than what we have now and since it is feasible I think everyone should respect it

Originally posted by sepher

It's not really a secret. Poltiicians on either side of the aisle call each other "friends" all the time. And that's absolutely fine that civility exists between them, it should be no other way, but its only amongst us finding allegiance in this party or that party do we tear each other completely apart.

I don't think we're being played against one another. If there was a lack of transparency in government and a bunch of reasons why we had no choice to behave any way other than the way we behave, I'd agree that the division was coming from the politicians.

As it stands though, its hard enough to get fellow Americans to actually read bills, congressional reports, watch CSPAN, in general expose themselves to facts and truths before daring to feel a certain way. Such behavior isn't due to any manipulation, its just unwillingness. Some people CHOOSE to be loyal to their political party before being loyal to their fellow American. It's sad and senseless since we all want the same thing; a better life for one another.

Anyway, we're perfectly free and have many reasons to stand by one another first, political organizations and politicians second. They aren't inserting themselves between us, we're inserting them.  

Yes very true.

I do think, these conditions, while not contrived, are used to maximum political advantage, without much choice. If your opponent takes advantage of human nature, to attempt service of it, so then must you.

I guess.

Nothing new, human nature, I feel remains essentially unchanged, to my thinking.

Our civil activities have seemed to make some small progress.

Tho I feel it more indicative of our nature, that we continue to throw rocks at one another. We just have much much beter rocks.

Perhaps this is more indicative of those who make the rock throwing decisions, than the actual throwers.

And being that Politicians, make these choices....