Really interesting -- iReport: political opposites see eye-to-eye


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eHA_Admin_Lori is offline eHA_Admin_Lori — Advice Official Moderator Post #1  October 14,2009, 5:48pm
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Saw this really interesting sort of social experiment online:

Political opposites see eye-to-eye - CNN.com

I especially thought the video in position number 6 (middle thumbnail in the right column) was interesting. If both sides acknowledge that there are good people on the other side, why CAN'T we all get along?

If you're interested in seeing the entire iReport, it's here:
What if we found common ground?: News & Videos about What if we found common ground? - iReport.com

Looking forward to an interesting and respectful discussion.
 
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Jacquesne is offline Jacquesne Post #2  October 14,2009, 8:40pm
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knows the answer...42

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I didn't watch every video (for some reason I was only getting audio and it was annoying) but I think it should be noted that just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you don't respect them. Personally I believe the vast majority of liberals are good people who are honestly doing what they believe is best. That knowledge does nothing to convince me, however, that what they believe is the best is actually the best.

It's sort of like when your parents push you to go to law school instead of art school. They're not doing it because they're mean, terrible people who want you to be miserable. They're doing it because your parents believe your better off with a high paying, secure job like being a lawyer rather than being an artist. Even if you know that art school is better for yourself that doesn't mean you hate your parents for their perspective or believe they want you to be stuck in a job you hate for the rest of your life. You know they have your best interest at heart.

I feel the same way towards the left, the progressives, and the liberals. I don't doubt they honestly believe government intervention is the solution to our problems. I simply don't agree. I believe we are the solution to our problems. As long as we keep wishing for someone else (the government) to take care of our problems without any effort on our part it simply isn't going to work. It's easier to solve our problems by saying "The government/president will fix it! Let's just let them do it and cheer for them!" It's hard to accept that the financial crisis, unemployment, and all these other problems are because we are not acting and instead giving the power to act to an organization we already know is inefficient and wasteful.

That doesn't mean I don't agree with liberals' goals. I disagree with their solutions. And I would hope the feeling is mutual, that liberals would not see me as a hate-mongering, violent, ignorant, and selfish person because of my political views.

The reason we can't get along is simply because both sides truly believe that their solution is the best. I believe in capitalism, I believe that competition breeds success, I believe in the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail. From my perspective liberals believe in socialism, they believe that by working towards a group goal instead of a personal goal we become stronger, they believe our environment is fragile and that humans are causing harm to themselves by abusing it, they believe that a united government can clean out the corruption of selfish individuals. Granted both of those are simply a microcosm of the political views and do not summarize everyone's worldview...I'm generalizing.

What can I say that would convince a liberal that universal health care hurts people? That the rich getting richer helps everyone? It's not as simple as mere economics; plenty of economics professors are liberals and they know it better than I do. It's a matter of perspective and we all have our own.

Everyone has an incomplete piece of the puzzle. No one has enough information to make the "right" decision. So we do the best we can with our limited knowledge.

Depending on which parts we have we get different conclusions. Different conclusions lead to different solutions. And when the solutions of one person conflict with those of another we have "politics" =).

That's the way I see it, anyway .

Jacquesne
 
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shoopthedoop is offline shoopthedoop Post #3  October 14,2009, 9:01pm
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eHA_Admin_Lori wrote :
I especially thought the video in position number 6 (middle thumbnail in the right column) was interesting. If both sides acknowledge that there are good people on the other side, why CAN'T we all get along?
I studied politics and worked in DC.

I had friends on both sides of the aisle.

Working (and volunteering) in politics back home I have friends on both sides of the aisle.

I have found that the disrespect for differing political views is really annoying and childish. It comes from the left and the right.

I wouldn't mind dating a woman with different views from my own. As long as she is willing to discuss the issue and be respectful of my opinions that is all I can ask.

Sadly, that is easier said than found...
 
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