mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
The thing is that we live in a binary world in general, where it's this OR that. That's how followers of a given religion can separate themselves from the "Infidels" and why they went after "heretics" who dared question parts of said religion. Monotheism itself is based on "Good" vs "Bad" people, and between "Heaven" or "Hell". The concept of purgatory, for example, isn't even accepted in all parts of Christianism.
Same with "racial purity". You've been on the Coli for a long time so you already know that people lose their shyt when discussing mixed people. It's the same in most of real life, where any mixing is seen as potentially dangerous, when it wasn't downright illegal.
So whatever happens in politics is just, as usual, an expression of deeper rooted ways of thinking.
Politics are extremely complex, despite politicans wanting to make us believe they have easy "answers" to whatever topic is at hand. You mix economics, history, georgraphy, culture, religions, sociology, race...all of which are broad sciences/issues themselves, and all of that is part of what we call "politics". But it's way too complex for most people to really comprehend, partly because they don't have the intellectual tools, partly because they have to work, take care of their kids, go that evening course, fix the house...
So as a politician, your best bet is to "keep it simple". Show that you don't need "complicated words". Show that, you too, are a "man of the people". Provide simple answers to complex issues. So obviously as time passes you have peopel repeating those simple "answers", and there's the polarisation.
Also, the fact that politics (and economy) are basically secular beliefs, in the sense that partisans of this political current or that economic theory BELIEVE they are right, often despite the facts. See the financial crisis (and all the other crises) that are presented as "anomalies" even though they keep on repeating themselves, with no one questionning the system itself. Democracy has been in crisis in Europe for like 20 years, and no government (except Iceland) is seriously considering changing the rules.
What I'm saying is that people get polarised partly for these reasons, because they want (need) to BELIEVE that they are right, despite whatever evidence you may bring forth. If someone doens't make it, it's not the system's fault, but THAT PERSON'S fault. So once you're in that mindstate, you will dismiss anything that may lead you to lean on the other side of the spectrum, because it will shake your very foundation.
IMO, every thing is a matter of balance, but to have said balance you already need the intellectual honesty and curiosity to learn stuff from the political affiliation opposite to yours, and THEN you need the courage to say "You know what, this isn't bad at all". But in this day and age of twitter politics there is little space for debate and nuance. And as politician, you therefore risk aleniating your own "base" who just want to believe in YOU and feels "betrayed" if your stance on an issue changes. So, you feed the polarisation.
Same with "racial purity". You've been on the Coli for a long time so you already know that people lose their shyt when discussing mixed people. It's the same in most of real life, where any mixing is seen as potentially dangerous, when it wasn't downright illegal.
So whatever happens in politics is just, as usual, an expression of deeper rooted ways of thinking.
Politics are extremely complex, despite politicans wanting to make us believe they have easy "answers" to whatever topic is at hand. You mix economics, history, georgraphy, culture, religions, sociology, race...all of which are broad sciences/issues themselves, and all of that is part of what we call "politics". But it's way too complex for most people to really comprehend, partly because they don't have the intellectual tools, partly because they have to work, take care of their kids, go that evening course, fix the house...
So as a politician, your best bet is to "keep it simple". Show that you don't need "complicated words". Show that, you too, are a "man of the people". Provide simple answers to complex issues. So obviously as time passes you have peopel repeating those simple "answers", and there's the polarisation.
Also, the fact that politics (and economy) are basically secular beliefs, in the sense that partisans of this political current or that economic theory BELIEVE they are right, often despite the facts. See the financial crisis (and all the other crises) that are presented as "anomalies" even though they keep on repeating themselves, with no one questionning the system itself. Democracy has been in crisis in Europe for like 20 years, and no government (except Iceland) is seriously considering changing the rules.
What I'm saying is that people get polarised partly for these reasons, because they want (need) to BELIEVE that they are right, despite whatever evidence you may bring forth. If someone doens't make it, it's not the system's fault, but THAT PERSON'S fault. So once you're in that mindstate, you will dismiss anything that may lead you to lean on the other side of the spectrum, because it will shake your very foundation.
IMO, every thing is a matter of balance, but to have said balance you already need the intellectual honesty and curiosity to learn stuff from the political affiliation opposite to yours, and THEN you need the courage to say "You know what, this isn't bad at all". But in this day and age of twitter politics there is little space for debate and nuance. And as politician, you therefore risk aleniating your own "base" who just want to believe in YOU and feels "betrayed" if your stance on an issue changes. So, you feed the polarisation.
. Most are stupid, some are self-interested, but at least they stand for their positions. I respect some of them a fair deal.
What's the "moderate" position on people threatening to kill or imprison their political opponents, threatening armed insurrection if an election doesn't go their way, threatening to silence the press, and sending brownshirts after anyone who criticizes you via Twitter?