Alienated America

[CJD]

(03-01-2019, 09:56 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: The Balkanization of the US has a lot to do with the recent advent of opposing political views making a person "evil".  Two prime examples;

1. Abortion: If you are pro choice then you kill children and advocate moral degeneracy.  If you're pro life then you're a misogynist who wants to enact a real life Handmaids Tale.

2. Gun ownership: If you're pro 2A then you're compensating for inadequate manhood, you're a redneck with delusions of grandeur about taking on "tyranny" and you kill children (notice how "the children" comes up a lot on both sides?).  If you're anti-2A then you're anti-American and want to disarm the populace so you can enact your tyrannical rules while you wipe your ass with the Constitution.


I could make a similar list for other hot topics such as illegal immigration, social programs and law enforcement.  Point being, people used to be able to respectfully disagree, now extremism is becoming the norm.  Extremism begets more extremism.  We desperately need a rational, even tempered moderate POTUS, and soon, if we're going to stop this self-perpetuating cycle.

You know, the interesting thing about today's Politics is I think they've improved my view of Republicans.

Not Trump sycophants (or extreme fanatics, I suppose), mind you. But actual Republicans. The pro-life, pro 2nd amendment, pro small government, pro low taxes Republicans.

When I was growing up in the George W Bush years, I was convinced (arguably, propagandized) into thinking that all Republcans were racist. All Republicans were sexist. All Republicans were immoral millionaires who's only concern was keeping their money and to hell with anyone else who may need help in this country (or people tricked into voting that way by immoral millionaires).

I've spoken to many many many Republicans over the last 3 years. And I've learned that, while there are those people and they do exist, there are also a lot of Republicans who vote that way for the aforementioned reasons. I have my reasons for voting Democratic, despite their characteristic flaws. And there are Republicans who are exactly the same in that regard.

A Republican voter may disagree with the lack of corporate tax and increasingly steep tax cuts that are increasing the deficit (along with the inordinate amount of money spent on wars and other imperialistic ventures), but they are also a Catholic and believe that abortion is a hell worthy offense. 

Or there may be a Republican who disagrees that immigrants are the reason our economy is a mess (whether it is or is not) and is not all that concerned with immigration reform, but they really care about their rights to owning a gun.

You don't need to agree with every stance of your party in order to vote with them.

Of course, there are also Republicans who just really really hate black people, gays and trans people. And, to be fair, there are Democrats who feel that way as well.

But my view of Republicans, as a whole, has generally improved over the last few years. All they have to do is say "Trump is a terrible person" and I at least know we're on the same wavelength, as human beings.