We as a nation seem to be momre divided today (liberal vs. conservative) more than ever before. Not since the issues of slavery and civil rights has the country been at odds with their neighbors and with the federal government.
What do you all think the out come of this split will be? Where do you see this country in five, ten years?
I for one dont see terrorism as the greatest threat to our democracy and freedoms but instead think out greatest danger is ourselves? essentially we have two major nations living in one country... this goes beyond sub cultures and counter cultures, just wanted to hear your 2 cents.
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"To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." ~Senator Richard Henry Lee, 1788
Support Our Troops, Honor Them, Thank Them!
I've been contrasting this election season to that of 2004 and disagree with you. I think the partisanbattles peaked on a national level in 2004. Since then, yes, the respective parties and their spokesmen and campaigners have been going aftereach other with rage and ferocity. But the voters are by this point jaded and cynical of the wholebunch. This bickering and hatred is not what the citizens want from theirgovernment.
from the look of a few people on this forum it seems like there is no place fornegotiation. Liberals for the most part want really liberal candidates and policies to battle the conservative movement while conservatives want true conservatives to battle the liberal menace... Most people say they will vote for an "in the middle" candidate just to keep the other side from holding office rather than actually believing that we should have a more moderate government. Do you think we as a nation can ever overcome our differences or are this something every democracy faces? It seems to me that many issues are part of a larger movement or eventuallity. Can an nation really have a long term successfulexistence when it has two rival schools that are not really willing to work together to accomplish anything and are willing to undermine eachother at every turn. Historically it just seems that every nation that has had similar problems eventually either divided or had some kind of radical period that resulted in a different kind of government. It just seems to me that conservatives and liberals in society as a wholejust want two radically different things and that they seem to settle every election. But it seems that after someone is elected niether side is happy with his actions. I know youcan never please everyone every time but how long do you think the people will be appeased by a typical politician that cares more about re-election instead about what is best for the nation?
how long until you feel that either a super liberal or super conservative comes to office and pushes the other side to a breaking point?
do you think there is a breaking point?
if so what do you feel will be that breaking points effect?
many people say that the 60's were closest that this country has come to a civil war since 1861. But it seems to me that a majority of those problems/issues are still the problemsthat seperate ustoday.
just want all your views on the issue.
__________________
"To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." ~Senator Richard Henry Lee, 1788
Support Our Troops, Honor Them, Thank Them!
from the look of a few people on this forum it seems like there is no place fornegotiation. Liberals for the most part want really liberal candidates and policies to battle the conservative movement while conservatives want true conservatives to battle the liberal menace... Most people say they will vote for an "in the middle" candidate just to keep the other side from holding office rather than actually believing that we should have a more moderate government. Do you think we as a nation can ever overcome our differences or are this something every democracy faces? It seems to me that many issues are part of a larger movement or eventuallity. Can an nation really have a long term successfulexistence when it has two rival schools that are not really willing to work together to accomplish anything and are willing to undermine eachother at every turn. Historically it just seems that every nation that has had similar problems eventually either divided or had some kind of radical period that resulted in a different kind of government. It just seems to me that conservatives and liberals in society as a wholejust want two radically different things and that they seem to settle every election. But it seems that after someone is elected niether side is happy with his actions. I know youcan never please everyone every time but how long do you think the people will be appeased by a typical politician that cares more about re-election instead about what is best for the nation?
The thing is that liberals and conservaties, of which we see many examples in this forum, are in reality minorities. The longer they bicker, the more support they lose from people who have had enough and leave the mainstream of either side.
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how long until you feel that either a super liberal or super conservative comes to office and pushes the other side to a breaking point?
Could be January, 2009...
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do you think there is a breaking point?
Theoretically, yes, but I don't know what it would be. I'm going out on a limb here, but I see a GOP split as most plausible in the near future as far as those things go. If Republicans leave en masse for the Constitution Party orequivalent, that could destroy the national right-of-center political establishment. The libs would be wetting their pants with excitement.
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if so what do you feel will be that breaking points effect?
Broken hopes, broken dreams, broken people, mass hysteria, dogs and cats living together...
But the dust will settle down eventually. It always does.
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many people say that the 60's were closest that this country has come to a civil war since 1861. But it seems to me that a majority of those problems/issues are still the problemsthat seperate ustoday.
The feds were worried about communist infiltration of the government and urban uprisings by black militants, but I don't think we were close to civil war. I wasn't around to see it for myself, but it seems that the commies were under the FBI's thumbs by the end of the decade and the hippies and peaceniks were strung out on all kinds of drugs. There was a great social and cultural legacy left from those years, but armed rebellion was a pipe dream just as it is today. Conditions aren't nearly bad enough to lead to that.
from the look of a few people on this forum it seems like there is no place fornegotiation. Liberals for the most part want really liberal candidates and policies to battle the conservative movement while conservatives want true conservatives to battle the liberal menace... Most people say they will vote for an "in the middle" candidate just to keep the other side from holding office rather than actually believing that we should have a more moderate government. Do you think we as a nation can ever overcome our differences or are this something every democracy faces? It seems to me that many issues are part of a larger movement or eventuallity. Can an nation really have a long term successfulexistence when it has two rival schools that are not really willing to work together to accomplish anything and are willing to undermine eachother at every turn. Historically it just seems that every nation that has had similar problems eventually either divided or had some kind of radical period that resulted in a different kind of government. It just seems to me that conservatives and liberals in society as a wholejust want two radically different things and that they seem to settle every election. But it seems that after someone is elected niether side is happy with his actions. I know youcan never please everyone every time but how long do you think the people will be appeased by a typical politician that cares more about re-election instead about what is best for the nation?
how long until you feel that either a super liberal or super conservative comes to office and pushes the other side to a breaking point?
do you think there is a breaking point?
if so what do you feel will be that breaking points effect?
many people say that the 60's were closest that this country has come to a civil war since 1861. But it seems to me that a majority of those problems/issues are still the problemsthat seperate ustoday.
just want all your views on the issue.
Why negotiate? If you have principles that you believe in, whether on the left or the right, why would you want to compromise those principles? Of coarse a breaking point will be reached because it is a natural progression of government. Will America still be here like we are in another 200 years? That is doubtful.
well any free society is founded on compromise, if it isnt then its an autocracy. Think about it... no two people have exactly the same beliefs, principles, morals... yet we must all live and work together on a daily basis. Compromise is something people MUST do to not only survive but to thrive. I dont think we can compromise on the constitution however, that is something that isnt negotable and as long as we can agree to respect and up hold those then everything else is open to compromise. I mean think about it, we compromise everyday with our spouses, children, family and friends.
if we never compromise then we run the risk of becoming intolerant and that is, in my opinion,one of the greatestthreats to the constitution and our freedoms.
__________________
"To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." ~Senator Richard Henry Lee, 1788
Support Our Troops, Honor Them, Thank Them!
if we never compromise then we run the risk of becoming intolerant and that is, in my opinion,one of the greatestthreats to the constitution and our freedoms.
How do you feel on the goverment banning smoking in public places? Manditory seat belts, motor cycle helmets?
"The thing is that liberals and conservaties, of which we see many examples in this forum, are in reality minorities. The longer they bicker, the more support they lose from people who have had enough and leave the mainstream of either side."
Yep, there are all those sticky, polarizing, feel good issues like abortion, prayer in schools, flag burning and gay marriage. Politicians bicker about thisstuff while the country goes to hell in a hand basket.
Polarized nation
