Antagonistic Politics

I can agree with that, wonderwoman, to an extent. I have no problem with people of different political views when we share the same essential values. I have conservative friends who are very interested in helping the poor, for example; and while we might differ on the details of whether we support/don't support specific government programs to serve that population, we all agree that there are those who need help. Some of them volunteer extensively and do great work. That leaves us plenty to talk about, even when we aren't supporting the same candidates. And of course, people's views can change. I have a good friend who voted for Bush in 2004 when I voted for Kerry, but by 2006 she was just as negative about Bush as I, if not more so.

neardc, I think your point about cable news and its influence is well taken. Public officials are often called upon to give opinions and to respond to other people's statements with little or no time to discuss and/or reflect before having to fill time and make news on the latest interview show. I think it leads to overstatements and rash statements by members of both parties that then have to be walked back (the charges of racism against Judge Sotomayor being just one recent example, but almost every week brings more). This can't lead to much thoughtful deliberation, and it puts many on Capitol Hill in a near-constant mode of being reactive rather than proactive.

I also wonder if the incessant cycle of political fundraising is having a corrosive effect on civil dialogue in Washington? There was a time when members of the House and Senate and their staffs could relax together at the end of a long day. They'd see each other at various DC restaurants, clubs, and other watering holes (not to mention golf courses, country clubs, etc.), where they had a chance to converse and get to know each other socially. Sometimes, in an earlier generation, fierce political opponents were close personal friends (Bob Dole and George McGovern, for one example). Nowadays, a member of congress is much more likely to spend evenings in DC in the company of lobbyists or at PAC events and other partisan fundraisers. Often that means they spend their time hearing the extreme wings of their respective parties demonizing the other side, as opposed to sitting down to a drink with a member of "the other side". It's got to affect them after a while; how could it not?

When did the US become so antagonistic about politics?

When did the US become so antagonistic about politics?

And, the advent of the internet has surely made it all uglier, providing a platform for a lot vitriolic extremists from both ends of the spectrum to spew their particular brand of "discourse"

Yeah, the Internet has provided a means for most anyone to "share" their views with the world, regardless of how biased or unintelligent the arguments. Some people have such low self-esteem they need to put others down in order to feel good about their own position ... and some are just lunatics.

Tell me why i should respect you or anybody else who seeks to take away my freedom or property just because they think it should be that way.I genuinely and sincerly don't care how anyone else lives their life,i have enough trouble trying to live my own without blowing it,yet i'm surrounded at times by little do gooders,busybodies and crusaders who think people should do this or not do that,most of the time trying to protect them from themselves which is neither their responsability or right...if not that then they are trying to find ways to transfer the consequences of the choices people make to others...always and forever busy trying to force their perspective of life on others...usualy on someone else's dime...so why should i have anything but contempt for such people ?

WOW! What a leap in logic! I didn't even say what ANY of my political views are and you're assuming I want to take away your freedom and property?

Some people are just antagonistic for the sake of being antagonistic.

WOW! What a leap in logic! I didn't even say what ANY of my political views are and you're assuming I want to take away your freedom and property?

Some people are just antagonistic for the sake of being antagonistic.

Yes, and some of them post here.

Welcome, by the way! We could use some additional folks posting on these boards .

Yeah, the Internet has provided a means for most anyone to "share" their views with the world, regardless of how biased or unintelligent the arguments. Some people have such low self-esteem they need to put others down in order to feel good about their own position ... and some are just lunatics.