The biggest problem.. Us vs Them mentality in politics..

[Starlight]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

 

[Altfish]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

It is a problem but it certainly works for the right wing - I don't see it changing anytime soon; let's be honest Trump would have been re-elected if he hadn't been so obnoxious.
The right have found a winning formula and they will stick with it.

Us in the centre are left disenfranchised.

 

[Starlight]

It is a problem but it certainly works for the right wing - I don't see it changing anytime soon; let's be honest Trump would have been re-elected if he hadn't been so obnoxious.
The right have found a winning formula and they will stick with it.

Us in the centre are left disenfranchised.

hmm.. what does this answer have to do with my opening post?

 

[Altfish]

hmm.. what does this answer have to do with my opening post?

It gets politicians elected

 

[Stevicus]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

I think many people in our culture harbor a great deal of angst and anger already - even apart from whatever they feel about politics. A lot of it may be due to economic pressures, along with cultural and social pressures to conform, fit in, and keep up with the Joneses. A lot of people feel like or conditioned to feel like victims of some sort of injustice, whether it's from the government, the establishment, their parents, their schools, various bullies they've encountered, their ex-girlfriend/wife, their boss, the police, or just the average Joe on the street who's being a jerk.

EDIT: Sorry pressed "submit" prematurely.

So, my point with the above paragraph is that the level of anger and cumulative resentment in society is high, largely because of a culture which tolerates general negativity and nastiness. Some people are close to the brink and might come out shooting if someone inadvertently cuts them off in traffic. Or if their French fries are cold.

With so many people feeling disaffected, outcast, isolated, resentful, and angry - along with genuine fears over their finances, bills, jobs and wondering if we'll ever get out of this pandemic - it's not surprising that a lot of people are stressed out and on edge. The top 1% never gave a darn, but now they're worried because the people are upset. Yet they don't do anything to help, so it makes people even more upset.

So, it's only natural that a lot of this anger and venom comes out in the political rhetoric. As Americans, it's the bed we've made for ourselves, with our me-first and dog-eat-dog attitudes.

 

[Sunstone]

@Meandflower, I would suggest your thesis needs to be qualified. Here's why. Since the early 1980s, the political elites in America have progressively shifted to the right. A 1980s centrist of either party would now be thought of as 'far left'. An Eisenhower Republican would be vilified and demonized by today's Republican elites as a 'radical', a 'socialist', a 'communist' -- or all of those combined.

In my opinion, you need to take into account that many on the left who are labeled as 'far left' are peaceful, law-abiding people who simply do not fit your characterization of the 'far left' as violent. I am not saying your thesis is wrong, I am saying that it is vague, possibly misleading, and needs further definition.


By the way, hundreds of polls in recent years have consistently found that on many major issues, the majority of the American public has been progressively moving left, while most of the political elites of both parties -- but especially the Republicans -- are still moving right.

People to the left, leaders to the right. What could possibly go wrong?

HINT: In the 1920s and 1930s, first Mussolini, and then Hitler, found a path to power by rising up through just such a gap between the people and their leaders. Once in power, of course, they discarded the centrist policies they had temporarily tacked on to their authoritarian agendas in order to rise up through the center.

 

[sun rise]

Ideology is one thing. Someone can be pretty extreme from an ideological point of view without the absolutist insistence on getting our way by any means including violence.

I have no problem debating communists and libertarians on RF (and visa versa) without picking up a weapon and trying to find their true names and where they live.

And as @Sunstone reminded me indirectly, "whataboutism" is a problem when it comes to "what about their violence" claims.

So I'd restate the OP in terms I would agree with: extreme political positions can invoke fanaticism and violence but not necessarily.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The problem with the "Us vs Them mentality" is that it reflects an egregious reality.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Take this a step farther: if you take the extremist view, the other side is evil rather than wrong. This is dehumanizing and dehumanization is the first step toward oppression and ultimately murder.

And when we pigeon hole everyone in the opposition based on the actions of the extremists, we will justify genocide.

Do we really want to go down that path?

 

[metis]

In the 1920s and 1930s, first Mussolini, and then Hitler, found a path to power by rising up through just such a gap between the people and their leaders. Once in power, of course, they discarded the centrist policies they had temporarily tacked on to their authoritarian agendas in order to rise up through the center.

And this is basically what Trump has done, and that's no coincidence. During the 2016, he attacked numerous Republicans in the process, and the more they attacked back at him the more this fed into increasing number of people who were getting angry with their own party.

BTW, according to Ivana Trump (wife #1), Trump kept NAZI reading materials on his bed-stand so as to read and relax him before sleeping. Trump's father taught the Donald that he should always remember that his German side was from "warriors and kings" and that he should act accordingly.

 

[Sunstone]

The problem with the "Us vs Them mentality" is that it reflects an egregious reality.

I'm afraid so. We live in extremely polarized times. Regrettably, "All customary bets are off.", as one might say.

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

Very few other countries have a two party system like the good ol' US of A. Any more than two parties, even as little as 3, makes for a sense of 'we have to compromise'. Minority governments can be really effective, as they don't become like dictatorships. It's too bad America didn't have more. 4 would be nice, like extreme right, moderate right, extreme left, and moderate left. But unless both existing parties realised the value in both splitting, it'll never happen.

Certainly there are many folks on both sides that see the polarity as being absurd. One does wonder if a new party formed by moderates on both sides, couldn't come up the middle and win it all.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

Thats true.

There is also the mentality that my side can do no wrong that also significantly contributes to division.

 

[AgnosticGuy]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

Your points are very important to consider. When I look at the problem in America, I see issues on both sides. The Democrats might make you think it's just Trump especially in light of the pro-Trump riots, but then I recall recent memory of Blm and Antifa and how some were defending or even enabling it.

I can only conclude that both sides are getting extreme.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Take this a step farther: if you take the extremist view, the other side is evil rather than wrong.

The other side is evil.

 

[Yerda]

I'm dislike both far right and far left. The further to the right or left the more extreme the opinions become. And it is most often only extremists who involve themselves in violence. The closer to the center the less extreme the opinions become. The center equals non-extreme.

I have nothing against left and right side of politics. I understand why people have different opionions, and the left and right side is not bad, BUT when people get to far out on the left or right side then the problem start. When people ends up in far left og far right then the danger happen.. then it becomes us vs them mentality. then one begins to believe the side one agrees with never does anything wrong. Then one starts to demonice people who have other opinions

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

And

Both the left and the right do mistakes. The side one agrees on is not without mistakes

I can agree with that although I'm probably what you'd call far-left. It's like sports rivalry. We often see the same event differently and we interpret the other team's response as unethical motivated by spite. Can't see it changing.

 

[Wandering Monk]

The other side is evil.

All of them? Really?

Another thing that contributes to the polarization: believing that all members of the other group are accurately represented by the actions of their extremists.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The fact is this:
All the violence and murders both far left and far right is behind is terrible. Both the far right and far left is dangerous. Both the far left and far right is behind terrible actions.

Could you give some examples of these murders that you say the far left has committed?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

All of them? Really?

How nice. We now get to revisit Trump's "there are very fine people on both sides."

 

[Wandering Monk]

How nice. We now get to revisit Trump's "there are very fine people on both sides."

Do you really think that all Americans support violence as long as it is their side doing it?