Do You Think That Democrats and Republicans Are Truly Irreconcilable?

[Anonymous]

OK, I'm going to just say upfront: Try to play nice, y'all.

But honestly, do you feel like there is really much difference between the people in each political party? At first glance, there are obviously opposing views, but if you look at the individuals that the internet/news like to highlight for each party, they seem to be extreme and unhinged on both sides. But what percentage of a person is encompassed by their politics? I mean, each side still has people who love their families, work hard, are trying to better themselves, worry about bills and the price of groceries, struggle with family of origin dynamics and trauma, can't afford housing, etc. People who are hurting. I just wonder if political party affiliation has become a form of groupthink or membership, rather than actually representative of the views of the people involved. If that's the case, it would affect our ability to develop solutions to problems and have working relationships with those whom we disagree with. What do you think?

Updates

13 d

I have my perspective, obviously, but it's interesting to see what people think about things like this. I don't really know what the solution is. I am just tired of the vitriol and hate over politics. It's tearing this country apart and I think it's legitimately unnecessary in a lot of cases. It's become emotional and clannish rather than oriented toward problem-solving, in my opinion. Just my two cents...

Updates

12 d

Thanks for the responses!

[NamerOfStars]

The parties? Yes. The people? No, but that's slowly fading.

Living in the modern age has made it easier and easier to block off things and ideas you find objectionable, and many people have no real ability to resist that temptation. It starts with trolling- blatantly inflammatory stuff intended purely to anger people- and then most people will gradually slip further and further down the slope. Eventually, you're only in regular communication with people who share the bulk of your beliefs, and then you slowly start to see them as rational- matters of logic, rather than opinion.

From there, it's a short hop to "only people who WANT to damage or disrupt society would believe otherwise", and things just degenerate from there.

[BCA6010]

Broadly speaking, the voters aren't as different as some would have you believe, though there are some specific subjects, such as abortion, which represent wildly different moral values and do not have a logical middle-ground.

As for the party electees themselves, their leaders (not the people you vote for) are playing their voters against each other as a performance. Only a slim minority (~10%) of representatives seem to be making a serious attempt at representing the interests of their districts and will even go against their own party to stand on that principle.

[Red_Arrow]

The two parties have always had differences, but they often can overcome them. But recently the Republicans have gotten weirder, and then The Republicans disappeared and became the Party of Trump and even many Republicans have become disgusted. But the followers of Trump have no brains and it appears they will follow him into chaos that brings America completely down, and the rest of us will be stuck trying to clean up their disaster.

[Astarlessnightsky]

No, they just want you believe they are different to give you an illusion of choice. Both are against the average American and founded by big corporations. So the average citizen is kept down in his dirt and corporate billionaires are getting richer and richer. Thats why they invent tiny little problems they disagree on, so you don't realize how big both parties screw your over.

[exitseven]

At this juncture i would say that the political landscape is fractured. A new slate of candidates that are moderate and are willing to work with members of the opposing party may be able to help fix this.

[WindAtMyBack]

They won't reconcile. There are two parties for a reason. The divide is getting larger and larger. I personally will NOT accept the other side. They are the enemy, to be destroyed.

[DrPepper12]

Yes. Their agendas are too different. It's going to take a good 8-12 more POTUS election cycles to purge the system of the vitriol and bad blood. TBH, it's our sclerotic anachronistic institutions that CAUSE the problems.

[KrakenAttackin]

A blood toll is needed.

[KrakenAttackin]

@DrPepper12. I am 54 and I can't remember the vitriol ever being so intense.

[Asker]

Politically speaking, it's just awful. I just cannot believe the viciousness. I have watched friends turn into people I do not recognize because of it. It's like they have dehumanized anyone who doesn't agree with every single thing to the degree that they do. I like to think through all of the things and explore all of the perspectives. Sometimes that means my opinion is not as strong as they like, or I have nuanced views. They say I'm a compromiser, and I am just like, "Why? Because I don't just agree with something because it has the party label on it?" It's insane.

[DrPepper12]

@KrakenAttackin same

[Chazmatazz269]

They have a lot more in common than they care to admit. First off, they’re all complete morons. Ell oh ell!

[AngryCarl]

The Republicans have gone completely out there. Unless they completely clear out the current bunch of lunatics there's no hope for them. Even the sane right wing are leaving the party.

[AngryCarl]

I'm referring to the politicians themselves rather than the voters.

[Asker]

I hear what you mean.

[handsomelad70]

The DUMBOCRATS and the REPIGLIKSCAM are part of the corrupt duopoly which swindles the poor at the behest of the rich and the military/industrial/prison complex.

[RoronoaZoro8]

One party is right wing and the other is even more right wing so I'm sure they can find some common ground

[In_Trance]

Same crap

[KrakenAttackin]

Best comment right here.

[gorydetails]

The difference is not between republican and democrat. The difference is between authoritarian uniparty deep state and free men.

[Staximus]

I think they are both idiots. Political parties need to be abolished

[Pterodon]

Yes we are. We’re both 100% convinced the other is pure evil

[Anonymous]

We are at a point where violent conflict may be needed to purge the angst.

[Anonymous]

Not a chance.