...simply think differently. They each trust distinct sources. They are each forgiving of their own candidates' gaffes, and equally critical of the other. They ascribe corruption in their respective parties to "bad apples" and not as a result or side effect of the underlying ideology. To some degree, they each see the other side as being evil.

Maybe a social psychologist or a psycho-sociologist (joke) can explain just how the polarization took place. I'm thinking that it was hidden in our heritage, and now has come to the forefront.

I try to be neutral, but neutral to me is liberal. Sitting the fence between neutrality and partisanship, the latter finally won out. I have more conservative websites in my bookmarks than liberal ones. I read the conservative sites and shake my head.

Truth is, I can't think any differently. I'm believing others here are the same way. Therefore, I'm done arguing. I will post, though. At least till the election.  

Depending on who is responding to me, I forget whether I am supposed to be right-wing, socialist, Likudist, elitist, Democrat, Republican, Independent, or a member of AIPAC.

It can be so confusing keeping my biases straight.

The American variety of liberalism and conservatism probably has its roots in the diverse cultures that settled here.  The dominate culture is British which includes England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The British developed a culture based on individual freedom and the respect for individual rights. The British who settled here had a feeling of freedom and independence and didn’t distrust the government that they established.  On the other hand, immigrants from oppressive cultures had a built in distrust for authority since the governments in their homelands were corrupt and usually brutal. It was natural for them to band together and constantly protest anything the government did. The British tended to be conservative and the eastern and southern European immigrants tended to be liberal.  Conservatives are generally individualists and Liberals are generally collectivist. The people who felt they were part of the mainstream were drawn to the Republican Party and people who felt they were on the outside looking in were drawn to the Democrat Party.  A simple explanation for a complex issue.

Definitely Most{not all} Liberals are unhappy and pessimistic and can usually find something to complain about.

Definitely Most{not all}  Conservatives are happy and optimistic and tend not to whine ..


 So the bottom line ..Half the country is happy and Half the Country is sad..  If my day gets me down, I remind myself, I am not a liberal and all is well again.

I think you are probably right.  I see it in myself.  I, too, will post commments or replies, but I'll try to avoid protracted arguments that go nowhere (let's see how successful I am).

I think one big part of it depends on how you make your living. It is unusual around here to find a conservative on the public payroll or teaching at any level. Many of the local union people are conservative but vote Democrat because they think of the D's as protecting their bread and butter issues.

Personally, I made the trip from liberal to conservative because almost all the liberal "answers" have demonstrably proven they don't work.

"It is unusual around here to find a conservative on the public payroll ..."

I guess that means its rare to find a conservative holding elected office, working in the police department or sheriff's office, serving on the judicial bench, hired as contractors, ....

You are a partisan and that is the way that partisans(on both sides feel). It is also the reason that I lose patience with partisans. You don't want debate, you want validation. Your mind is already made up on most subjects "before" you get the facts. If you would go back and reread some of your own posts you might understand where I am coming from. Start with the ones that begin with the statement "I haven't read the article but" and than you go on to give your view of something you haven't even read.

The thing is, not everyone is a partisan like you. You and Moosie on the the left and Harry and Geezer on the right might think that way, but there are many of us that don't. Zisk, Xiao(dont you just hate it), Breaker,Kerrakles, Blackbelt etc I think you get the point. There are a lot of independents that don't blindly follow either party.

BTW, just how did you get kicked off that other board you were on? I can't believe it was for not being "not liberal enough" the only time in recent memory I can rembemer you breaking with the left was on the 2nd Ammendent. I would be curious to know.

And remember I promise to spend your money foolishly after the election. lol

It's not that conservatives are happy, IMO, it's that conservatism looks to be an effort to reach happiness, or preserve it. It works half the time, but some of the most dour, grouchiest people I've met are conservatives by any measure you want to make.

As a liberal, the goal of my belief is not to make me happy. I don't think of changing my beliefs to make myself happier. My value is, it's better to understand the world, and make decisions accordingly.

It's not true that I don't feel happiness, but preserving happiness is not a goal. I'd rather feel happiness when appropriate, which wouldn't and shouldn't be all the time. As they say, "life isn't a bowl of cherries." Changing your beliefs to make it one is-- twisted.  

-- Modified on 8/17/2008 8:46:05 AM

They are more individual. Like I can't expect that you'll be swayed by an editorial about gun control. Or I could cite polls showing a pretty consistent lead for Obama-- and you will never believe he would win.

Their biases just aren't coherent enough to form a party.

I did say I have more conservative than liberal bookmarks in my browser. The problem is, most of the time, I come away from a conservative article thinking: now that was a waste of time. Why? Because I could have guessed 90 percent at what it said, and where it surprised me, usually it's in being disappointing. This is why I would tend to be jaded about partisan articles.

Okay, I've vented that. I don't read quickly enough. Not from lack of effort. My home is chock full of books and magazines. I had to put a moratorium on buying reading material to balance my budget. My bookmarks have a folder named "read." Meaning, come back to it, it's important. It has eighty bookmarks in it. Now, I'm trying things to remedy the lack of reading speed, but it takes time.

But seriously, if you really want to pursue your “new found” enlightenment, try as your next step to understand WHY conservatives believe the things that they believe. Put your “neutral hat” back on and go beyond whatever biases you have that makes you think that we are this way because we are for example, selfish, greedy and uncompassionate.

Also, as a experiment, try reviewing your personal, daily activities. As you planned your day, interacted one on one, etc. were you exhibiting any conservative traits? What are the consevative traits that you think are positive?

Just what the fuck is that supposed to mean?

You also say that you could have guessed 90% of what was said in a conservative article, does that mean you could not guess 90% of what was in an article written by a liberal?

Partisan thinking is no better when it comes from the left than when it comes from the right. It rarely has anything original, that should be the reason that you are jaded about partisan politics, not just the fact that those on the other side of the aisle will always be at odds with your opinions.

As an independent at least my biases are my own. As you said, I doubt I would be swayed by any "editorial" supporting gun control, and knowing what I know about polls, showing me a poll showing Obama in the lead would also mean nothing to me. OTOH if you could show me something new, not a poll and not just some editor's opinion, but show me new facts, facts that I am not currently aware of, then yes I can be influenced. My mind is not closed to new information, but it is closed to the same old rhetoric.

than look at facts. Truth of the matter is politics is a game that promotes partisan interests. This is the reason why Gen. George Washington abhored political parties.

I myself have my biases, but I have also read the Communist Manifesto, Libertion Theology, Silent Spring etc. Actions though, speak louder than words and is the reason why I lean towards the conservative side. Those on the left tend to be irrational and talk and talk.

I will say this I am not happy with the Republican party and their deficit spending. However, because I do not trust Obama to protect and preserve the United States Consitution, I'm stickin' with McCain. Nor do I like the prospect of Harry Reid, Pelosi and Obama leading the country and our troops. That unholy trinity frightens me.

and raised me an "unholy trinity" lol

I also don't like the way the Repulicans of late are spending money like they think they are Democrats, but your "unholy trinity" just scares the shit out of me, and for that reason I too am stuck with McCain.

Yes, around here----where I am, in MA almost no one on the public payroll, except for some PD& FD maybe, are conservative.