Originally posted by: brencat
If we've become more partisan and polarized, it's because of a profound change in our culture over the last 15 or so years, IMO. Pop culture, sports superstars, 'bling', and media foster a "winner take all" mentality that has weaved its way into our lives -- even in politics.
There used to be a time when Dems and Repubs worked together, and there was an understanding that no one would get everything they wanted. Now, people 'fight to the death' -- an all or nothing mentality. And it's got to stop. But neither party wants to be the one to extend the olive branch -- a sign of weakness in today's age.
I'm done wanting one party to control our govt for precisely this reason. My political leanings are center-right, but the extremes of both parties have shown themselves to be completely unacceptable. Vote for divided govt and force these a$$holes to work together or fail at getting anything done.
I think there's some merit to the above. OTOH, I think the origin of the divisiveness is really on the Right.
First off, the influence of talk radio has been huge, and damned little of that has anything to do with anything other than absolutist positions about anything and everything. Those who so desire can tune in to their choice of rightwing rants 24/7/365...
And I think there's a lot of Denial in self-styled "conservatives" wrt who they elected in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Leaders who represented themselves to be moderately Right tending to center have shown themselves to be anything but.
After 9/11, the greatest political windfall since pearl harbor, the Bush Admin and their congressional allies took a hard right turn and slapped the pedal to the metal. They set out to crush anybody who got in their way, adversaries both foreign and domestic.
"With us or against us" didn't just apply to Saddam Hussein, but to Tom Daschle and others as well... all driven by fearmongering and hurt pride.
"Free, freedom and Liberty!" didn't apply just to the Iraqis, but to various financial entities looting the economy, as well. "Let the Market (the SACRED MARKET) decide!" Well, until the Market decides you're all taking up the backside because of your foolishness, and then it's bailout time...
Anybody else remember all the raving about terrarist sympathizers, appeasers, defeatists, pussies and pansies? Mission accomplished? Duct tape and plastic sheeting? Spinning the terrar color wheel to whatever suited their purposes at the moment? How about the Grover Norquist definition of "bipartisanship"?
The only way these guys will come around at all is when they're utterly beaten, humiliated, discredited. I'm sure, however, that they'll receive greater mercy at the hands of Dems than they ever offered when they were on top... we're kinda soft-headed that way...
