Why is the liberal v. conservative debate always an "us" versus "them" contest?
961748
The "left-rigth polarization" technique is the most effective technique of both parties. However, and I hate to say this, I find the technique to be used in it's worse by Conservatives (Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists). Has Clinton ever said anything like that? Even Reagan didn't go to that extreme.
719397
The USA does not go to war because of a difference in ideology. It is because of economic and defensive strategies. The war in Iraq was as much about protecting oil reserves as it was protecting US citizens from the big bad terrorists. Every country seeks to advance its financial and political interests. The US just has more resources to do it than any other nations. It follows in a long line of historical examples where a nation has gone to war on the pretence of making a better world where the actual aim was betterment of their own nation, for example the crusades, where ultimately it was just a land grab as opposed to enlightening the world to the "joys of christianity". It is, was and always will be a major issue facing the world, as nations jostle for position in the global hierarchy.
190249
I think the problem with this country right now is that both sides are grandstanding on each and every topic.  Mainstream America is neither Democratic or Republican.  Most Americans are independent, middle of the road types.  People should use their mind and the situation at hand to determine what stand they should take and what decision should be made.  Make a decision based on what political party you belong to is ludicris.  Call me a liberal Republican or a conservative Democrat, I really don't care.  But do call me an independent self thinking American.
1030259
Conservatives are typically protection-minded, as in typically protective of the country and our way of life. Liberals tend to do a lot of america-bashing, they hate this, they hate that, they have a 'favorite minority of the month' kind of thing, they care more about starving kids somewhere else than starving kids in america, that kind of thing...their focus is more on 'the poor' and some other country than on fixing america....
1058694
This whole Liberal vs Conservative debate does nobody any good. All that happens is more polarization.\n\nThe differences come from basic assumptions about life, government and the country's role in the world. But no one discusses the assumptions, only the differences.\n\nBasic assumptions such as help someone going through hard times vs. self reliance. These ultimately lead to arguments regarding welfare, medicare,  social security, etc.\n\nPersonal liberties and state's rights vs. government involvement in regulating business, security, etc. Which is causing much of the bashing on both sides at present.\n\nLabeling other's as Liberal, Conservative, weak minded, etc. does not help anyone. It just leads to more bashing. And laying the responsibility at the feet of one side ignores the fact that the blame goes both ways. Rush Limbaugh is just as much of a Liberal basher (he says liberal in a way that suggests the very word dirties his mouth) as Ted Kennedy is a Conservative basher.\n\nHonest debate over issues without resorting to labels, name calling, mud slinging and all other tactics to confuse the issues is what this country needs. The national debate we need to be having is what does this country truly stand for, what is the role of government at all levels and what is the role of this country in the world. Assumptions have to be made clear and understood. Etc. etc.
157452
I think liberals have a valid point when they say that we have alienated some countries over Iraq, but most of those countries weren't really lining up to help us anyway. The prevailing attitude that you see with many liberals is that America's foreign policies are to blame for 9/11 and other terror attacks, and this is simply not true. The terrorists who attacked America on 9/11 were the same terrorist who attacked America several times during the Clinton administration, when Clinton went out of his way to be "the good guy" towards the islamic world. Foreign policy is not to blame. The terrorists simply hate the Israelis, and therefore, we are guilty by association.
89481
(I'm assuming the question about conservatives is merely an example of the type of speech you are really asking about.)\n\nIt's because reasoned political discourse is rare in our society.  Intelligent debate has long ago been drowned out by name-calling, sound bites, and invective hurled from both sides of the political spectrum.  When you have the Bill O'Reillys and the Michael Moores casting the other side as traitors, crooks, liars, and hypocrites, is it any wonder that the general populace does the same?  \n\nThere is no willingness to believe that the other side has good intentions, or might have good ideas.  The Right has done a wonderful job turning "Liberal" into a sneer word, while the left increasingly says "Conservative" with a roll-eyed "You know how *they* are" expression.  \n\nSo let me see if I can sum up politics in America as succinctly as I can.  Republicans are evil, authoritative bastards who want to ram Christian living down the nation's throat while simultaneously raping the environment, turning business loose to squeeze every last dime out of the poor man, cutting any aid to the needy, and giving the rich whichever laws they can pay for.  Democrats are evil, tree-hugging socialists who want to spread homosexuality, tax the rich man into oblivion so they can give free money to welfare mothers, burn the flag, have free abortions for all, and they want God dead.  Moderate politicians are those who haven't been entirely bought and paid for yet, while moderate voters are just indecisive wimps who haven't seen that Our Side is superior in every way.  The fringe parties like the Greens and the Constitution Party are just nutballs that don't matter anyway.
128901
We do absolutely. "We the people" have chosen our President, our Congress and our local officials by elections held to legal standards. We have a peaceful succession of elected leaders. We have the power to choose who makes our laws and for how long. The answer to this question will depend on which side of the aisle you sit on.\n\nObviously, Republicans and conservatives will tend to say we have a government by, of and for the people. They will argue that Americans were fed up with the Democrats and the Bill Clinton political machine and made a choice to remove it from government and emplace a more conservative government. They will point to the fact that elections work.\n\nMany Democrats and liberals, however, will argue that we do not. They will argue that George Bush stole the election of 2000 and has brainwashed the American people into re-electing him. They cannot believe that there are enough conservatives in the country to vote anyone into national office, let alone enough to have control of it.\n\nI am a conservative Republican, and I believe the government is of, for and by the people. I did so even when the Clintons were at their liberal and moral worst. Clinton was my President, too. Just because I disagreed with him (more in the foreign policy arena than domestic) did not mean I became bitter and began calling him names and de-humanizing him.\n\nIn the past, Americans debated the ideas and chose their President. Didn't matter if your side won or not. You respected the man, backed him up no questions asked in periods of war and crisis, praised or criticized his policies, and did not make personal attacks. A man was judged on the merits of his service.\n\nNow, a man is judged on one or two issues. Bush has reached across the aisle and helped promote many Democrat and liberal ideas. His policies are constantly being criticized by Republicans and conservatives as too liberal. But liberals don't recognize this because they are still so caught up in losing the 2000 election. NOTHING Bush does will ever be right for them.\n\nAmericans need to get back to the basics. Hard work yields results. Look out for yourself and your neighbor. Stop asking, "What's in it for me?" and start controlling your own destiny. Live and let live.\n\nYou win some, you lose some.
688953
No its your brain. Its the belief systems that create the divisiveness. Americans have always taken sides based on what they believe. Their party affiliation is a result of those beliefs not the other way around.
315652
There is nothing wrond with being liberal, its the opposite of conservative...  Liberal covers the entire left side of the political spectrum - it's generic for people who believe in individualism, freedom, equality, the social contract and rational evidence-based (as opposed to morality-based) public policy but often disagree on the application of these principles.
394705
I believe this is true for any political party anywhere in the world, don't you? I mean, you have O'Reilly blaming everything on the liberals, Al Franken blaming everything on the conservatives....and that's just in the US. And frankly, we're all so busy blaming each other that nothing will improve! People are far too stupid to look into the facts and get a real, intelligent argument going. They will parrot anything their party tells them to. This is not a phenomenon that is exclusive to liberals.
669462
No one seems to know; people argue interchangeably over the two.\n\nThe ref below describes this in more detail.
1012676
It's all about greed, power and self righteousness.\nMedia blasts us with biased information (if we listen to Liberal radio, TV and websites we get an anti Con message and visa verse).  This disinformation actually "uneducates" us spreading hate and intolerance just as uneducated people tend to be racists and bigots. \n\nLiberals will say that conservatives are greedy because they want to keep the money they have worked so hard to get and distribute it the way they see fit ie the government should control your bank account.Basically "what's mine is mine whats yours is mine." \nMost conservatives support many charities but they are charities that they choose. "What's mine is mine."\n\nConservatives think liberals "hate this country" simply because they voice their disdain of the current president and GOP congress. And fear that the Liberals will take the money they worked so hard for just to give to someone else.\n\nThe fundamental of each party have skewn together GOP used to want a smaller government but support "moral laws" while Liberals want bigger government yet taught personal liberties.  \n\nIt will not end, political differences have been around since the dawn of man and woman.
972351
It's as simple as this.  Liberals feel that they are better able to spend money collectively for the good of a society than individuals are able to spend their own money for the good of society.  It is a mindset.  Liberals think society first at all costs and conservatives feel individual first.  On the outside the liberal side sounds better but to achieve their mindset they have to forcibly take from others (continuously higher taxes) which unless it's done by a government is generally called stealing.
768951
THANK YOU.  I have experienced the very same thing in this forum.  It's the reason I mention the fact that I am a moderate Independent so often.  I'm tired of being labeled a left wing liberal because I don't agree with the ultra-conservative Republicans.  I'm not real fond of extremism in either camp, but lately I have disagreed with the Republican manner of handling this country.  Contrary to their beliefs that does NOT make me a freaking liberal.
863347
There is still quite a difference between our two countries, and I'd say vive le difference.  Of course, our good institutions like medicare are being undermined by corporate U.S., and I'm sad to say we have lots of traitors in our government who set their policies in tune with U.S. government.  We lost a lot of our sovereignty when a former conservative PM integrated us a lot into the American economy, and the present conservative government is continuing this path.  For example, we are now becoming associated with deservedly hated American foreign policy and losing our reputation of being fair and peace keepers.
1165128
For the same reason that libs do the same.  It is all just a game.  Think of it like an orange that they pass back and forth....keeping us distracted and divided against the real threat that they both pose.