Politics

[CaraAmericana]

I wanted to add real quick to the comment about voting for Hilary to have the first woman pres or Obama for first Black pres is shallow and wrong, the flip is also true. I engaged in a conversation with a female friend and she said she didn't want Hilary to be the first woman pres. OK....but why? The friend really didn't have a response to that, just that she didn't want her to be the first woman in office. *shaking head*

I believe we all have a responsibility to vote but if a person isn't going to take the time to educate themselves and investigate issues and analyze how their own beliefs hold against the runner's beliefs and who would be their best match to vote for then stay away from the polls...please.

And commercials are not the way to educate yourself.

 

[Shimmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaraAmericana I wanted to add real quick to the comment about voting for Hilary to have the first woman pres or Obama for first Black pres is shallow and wrong, the flip is also true. I engaged in a conversation with a female friend and she said she didn't want Hilary to be the first woman pres. OK....but why? The friend really didn't have a response to that, just that she didn't want her to be the first woman in office. *shaking head* I believe we all have a responsibility to vote but if a person isn't going to take the time to educate themselves and investigate issues and analyze how their own beliefs hold against the runner's beliefs and who would be their best match to vote for then stay away from the polls...please. And commercials are not the way to educate yourself.

I would never ever tell someone to stay away from the polls. More people need to use them.

 

[CaraAmericana]

I would......take it seriously or just don't

BUt I also encourage to educate yourself too

 

[S.S.BlackOrchid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaraAmericana Why do people not like discussing politics with others? Why is so taboo? I have more thoughts on this....but I will save it to see how far this question gets me.....

I have no problem discussing politics as long as people are respectful when discussing and listening to opposing views. What I have a problem with is when people talk louder or over others to seem more important or when they think people are being ignorant when they simply don't want to talk about the subject at the time.

 

[ginger9]

Politics and Religon are subjects that get to the core of people. I think it's healthy to talk about these subjects but I only engage when I feel the environment is right. A lot of my co-workers voice their opinions on politics at work, I always stay out of it. But I have to say just listening to them (even though its invountary) is very educational, I learn so much about tolerance, ignorance and in essence where I stand and what I want to represent in my own political stance.

As for people who don't vote, and doesn't know much about politics and find it boring - you must educate yourself. Understanding politics and voting is to choose your future and the future of your loved ones!

 

[CaraAmericana]

I like when someone opposes me because it does still teach you about your own stance and how much you allow yourself to know and how exactly you feel and are willing to defend your belief. I have had people persuade me to see their side and sometimes have change my mind fully on a issue when they have presented good enough evidence.

side comment: the only disadvantage I have when I engage in a debate or disagreement is I am not quick with a response often. I need to walk away on heavy issues and think and come back. uh oh did I reveal my weakness??

 

[lipstickandhate]

I think its appropriate to discuss politics if its a subject you can keep level-headed and rationale about. Some people just go crazy. I have no desire to wade through their insanity to glean the few nuggest of insight they may or may not have. I would rather talk about shoes and have a pleasant, mundane conversation. I might not learn anything, but at least my ears don't hurt.

I also think there are times and places to discuss your political views/life views. A family party is usually not one of them. Similarly, I really hate when I'm trying to buy a bottle of wine and the liquor store clerk starts going off on George Bush or when I'm in line at the deli and the man behind me asks what I think about Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine. This happens all of the time where I live and I really do hate it. Sometimes I even agree with the speaker's position but I just can't stand how presumputous it is to be talking about Barack Obama in Payless with a total stranger.

 

[Dahlia_Rayn]

I have no problem talking politics with people who are respectful and willing to hear a different POV. Generally I don't engage in political discussion with people I don't know, or people who are rabidly right or left, because I find these conversations, no matter how eloquently and judiciously one approaches them, end with blanket statements (ie liberals/conservatives are ignorant/stupid/bad for this country).

 

[FullWroth]

It's a hand-me-down of social behavior from Victorian times, when introducing "heavy" topics for conversation was considered inappropriate when you're visiting someone's home.

You can get a list of this and a bunch of other rules (some of which make sense and man I wish we still had them, some I'm glad have seen their last days) here: http://timegames.org/old site/dickens/manners.htm

 

[Hilly]

I am really, really bad at arguing and basically, you need to argue your stance on politics. Or to others, you look stupid and uneducated if you don't shoot back an appropriate response. I hate confrontation anyways.

This election has caused many fights in my home. My fiance and I are on two ends of the spectrum. When I hear him say certain things about X, Y, Z, it really hurts my feelings. Blah.

Here's something to shake it up a bit, and I am just adding this for discussion:

"It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush." Hillary Clinton

Any thoughts?

 

[SquirrelQueen]

People feel deeply about so many issues that it's hard to talk about politics without stepping on someone else's toes. When you consider the issues that affect people---from Iraq to the economy to environment to health care---it just seems that this election is so very crucial to determine the direction this country takes.

I am so tired of how polarized our nation has become. It's good and necessary to have a bipartisan system. Ideally, we should have thoughtful men and women, Democrats and Republicans alike, who can work together for the good of our country. But the nastiness---the inability to put aside petty differences to work toward the common good---is simply too much to handle. I'm tired of the talk show hosts, the newspaper pundits who attack those who do not hold the same point of view. And I'm tired of regular, normal people who refuse to acknowledge and respect differing opinions.

My DH and I are supporting different candidates; in fact, our preferred candidates are from different parties. We agree on most issues but disagree on who is the best person to address those issues. Then again, his first choice is my second choice and my first choice is his second so maybe that's why we are okay with each other's perspective.

But for the most part, people don't seem able---or willing---to agree to disagree. Yes, politics is a very emotional subject but what's the point of endlessly fighting?

Off the soapbox!

 

[SparklingWaves]

Okay, here is a question? How many politicians really give specifics on anything? One left a message on my phone the other day - "I want to unite; not divide." Alright, buddy, what does that mean and what are you going to do to make that happen specifically. His message on my telephone was a bunch of nothing. Actually, it was his mother talking for him.

Oh, here is another favorite - education. Anything they are asked - response - education. Well, how are you going to come up with the money to educate all the people and encourage all of them to be educated. Why are there always budget cuts in education? (Don't get me wrong. I know education is important, but tell me the plan).

Just another response - It's the other's guys fault. Well, if it is, what are you going to do about specifically? Response - education is always part of the answer guaranteed.

Oh, let's not forget the war of fear. I mean on TERROR. If we are are watching everyone so closely now, why can't we slow down the amount of people coming into the U.S.? Response - We are currently in the process of making a plan. What does that plan entail exactly. We are in the early stages of it. ????

How will we know we won the war on fear? I mean TERROR. Fill in the generalization

I can sit for several hours watching a debate and see these people have said NOTHING concrete.

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

I dont talk about politics because I am a republican. and my family and most of my friends are Democrats.. I usually get some ridiculous speech about some stupid "Conspiracy" that the republicans created. So I just stay FAR away from those convos.

 

[blazeno.8]

Ugh... Yesterday I found myself confronted by some people who wanted me to sign a petition for health care. Ok, good cause. Now at the top it says the specific state and my question was, if I live in a different state and I am not registered to vote in this state, how can my signing the petition for "issue x" in your state hold any worth. Basically every thing came down to:
1) Regardless of what state you're from, there's strength in numbers (ok, maybe if it was a national campaign I would buy that argument).
2) We're setting a precedent for all other states... oh wait, your state already has this health care plan? All the more reason to sign ours (how does A connect to B?).
3) What do you have against our petition, do you not want kids to get the health care they need? Don't mail it in, sign it now. (this came because I had to go to a meeting and said that I could mail it in)
4) We're "your people", you can trust us. (why is my race even at issue in who I can or can't trust? What about you being X race mean I can trust you? Who said I didn't trust you to begin with? I always take things to read through them before just signing.)
All in all, a very good cause, but I don't think I'll turn in the petition because overall it was poorly presented and conducted, and I think that they still never gave me a satisfactory answer for my initial question for state citizenship.

 

[lovekrumpet]

I'm a political science major with a minor in philosophy and religion, actually. I always find it sad when someone doesn't feel they're in a safe environment to talk about how they truly stand on an issue, or the people who are so very much set in their ways they can't understand the opposing sides views. The discussion of politics is so vital to our community/society, as is the process of voting. If you don't have your say in who runs your country, you're throwing away one of the few opportunities you have to make a difference in the world without having to really god anywhere. But that's just my two cents. I find the discussion of both politics and religion to fascinating, even if I don't always agree with the speaker.

 

[SparklingWaves]

Maybe, this will sound totally silly. But, I wish that we couldn't see the candidates, no their names, & they didn't need money for their campaigns. This would provide an opportunity for people to see only what someone was saying and nothing else. Also, they would only serve one term and couldn't be related to someone that had run in the same office previously - like a kingship or nepotism. I wish that we could know what they actually had a plan to do. They didn't have to have a background as a politician or be related to one. Ultimately, at the end of the voting, we finally see who the people fairly elected. We would act as the lady Justice and have our blindfold removed at the end of the voting to see who the people really wanted to put as our leader(s).

I just don't like the ways things are done now. "It's not always what you know, but who you know." I wish that could change. I am dreaming and sounding silly again.

 

[kimmy]

i don't think it's taboo...i just think there aren't very many people who are mature enough to talk about politics without getting personal. when people get personal, people fight and when people fight, people get pissed off. so i think it's easier not to.

i like talking politics, but only if the other party is willing to agree to disagree, because in the end that's what will have to happen.