Political Polarization: Are We Party Puppets?

Posted: Mar 14, 2015

Viewing the posts here and elsewhere, it's disheartening how polarized this nation has become, how alienated we've become from one another, isn't it? I wonder if ISIS or North Korea or Russia (or fill in the blank) DID attack, would we even protect each other anymore? Or would we ask them their political beliefs first? Thank God that in the real world, in every day life, we really don't know what political party someone belongs to. We don't assess whether we like or will even listen to someone speak based on their political preference, do we? Your child's teacher? The nice lady who checks you out at the grocery? The guy who helped you change a flat tire? The server at the breakfast place you frequent who always remembers your name and brings your coffee just the way you like it? Be honest - would you suddenly treat those people differently, distrust them and mistreat them once you found out they believed differently than you do politically? Or think about people in the public eye who avoid talking about politics. For example, the very universally well-liked actor, JK Simmons, who won the award for Best Supporting Actor. He somehow managed to keep his speech very nonpolitical (and always does) during an otherwise very political-message laden Oscar ceremony this year. Everyone seems to like this guy! So would you suddenly dislike JK Simmons if you found out he was a Democrat or Republican or the now revamped "buzzwords" of "conservative" or "liberal"? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then I'm sorry, but you drank your party's Kool-Aid. I saw some discussion below about "buzzwords", but consider this: If you are even using the terms "conservative" or "liberal" to identify others or yourself - you know you drank that Kool-Aid, admit it! Because these terms have only been used in the last 10 years. They were developed by political PR strategists so that people would not automatically rule them out because of their prior affiliation with a certain political party,so that you would still listen to what they have to say. It's hilarious to me that one side or the other on here accuses the other of "getting attention/publicity" or "propaganda." Because that is "PR" and marketing and it's the way of business and politics and is not in and of itself inherently evil - and if they didn't do these things, no one would ever succeed at business or be elected! Now, important distinction - the actual dictionary definition of propaganda is negative fact or exaggeration meant to persuade or prevent an opponent's win. It is not our job to put a stop to propaganda or PR - just recognize and evaluate it. As for me, I personally have trouble with any media that is all negative, all the time, to the expense of the fact I never find out what the candidate running the campaign actually stands FOR instead of what they are against. In fact, though I view and read both "conservative" and "liberal" publications" to get a full story, the only news program I can't watch for too long is Fox News. Why? Because I find it very difficult to get other news on Fox BUT politics. Plus it's always negative PR that seems to ascribe the worst motivations for people sometimes doing everyday human things. Now, let's talk about POSITIVE publicity/public relations. Would somebody please tell me what is WRONG with POSITIVE PR if it's true? Or just humorous? If your problem with it is because you're afraid people will erroneously think they're "just like us", think about THIS: On this forum, are YOU voting for/supporting people you don't even know because YOU think they are "just like you" based on how they identified themselves politically? DOH! BUSTED! ;) Never forget, most of these politicians were lawyers - it was their job to get you to focus on what they wanted and distract you from what they don't want you to see. So you can keep pretending your party isn't guilty of that or you can wake up and smell the Kool-Aid. If most politicians were lawyers, then we should start acting more like a jury, sifting through the information, looking for indisputable evidence and THEN making our decisions as follows: 1. Never vote for anything unless you read the other sides opposition to it first - do they have a good point your party didn't inform you of? 2. Do not assume that just because someone "says" they're a liberal or conservative they're like you. 3. Don't assume everything the other party does has "evil" motivations because they disagree with you on this point or are from another party. 4. Don't confuse good PR with evil intent - PR is necessary to gain publicity in both business and politics. 5. Stop protecting the people in your party when they do crappy things. If they were wrong, admit it - why is that so hard? 6. The first amendment right to freedom of speech was not just designed just for you and/or your political party. It was never meant to be waved as some sort of flag over your individual tendency to speak and act like a (bleep). The government should NOT step in and try to control how you act and what you say, if it's not violent, but DO realize that if you choose to continue to act like a (bleep) - PC or not - you're probably going to be treated like a (bleep) - and you know very well when you're being a (bleep), so don't cry when those in your community point that out. 7. Stop trying to stuff other human beings in one box or the other politically just because they don't agree with you on everything. In fact, consider this - we are one of the only modern, civilized democratic countries left in the world that only has 2 political parties. In fact, most democratic countries have several political parties because no one fits into "either/or" and "always/never" boxes very well. Not to mention, other countries (like the UK) allow two different parties to be their prime minister and deputy prime minister. And guess where the push comes from to KEEP us with only 2 political parties and only one party at a time in control? The two political powers that be - they don't WANT you to figure that out because they'd lose power and control. So do you get it yet? It's a "divide and conquer" game so that a single party will win over a single other party - but that "singular win" comes at the cost of lack of solidarity when our country is faced with actual threat. You willing to risk that or continue being puppets? Not me. Thanks for your time, ;