Is partisan politics eroding our country?

I wish as a people of this nation we could begin anew to be more reasonable toward each other. Watching the outpouring of anger at these town hall meetings during August was something I have not seen since the Vietnam war days of the late 1960s, and it was disturbing to see such exchanges of behavior from people shouting at each other in such a vitriolic manner. Perhaps it's the recession that has everyone so scared and worked up into such an excitable state of mind--millions of Americans unemployed, people losing their homes, family savings lost, and hope along with it.

I don't know what the answer is to swing things around. I'm just a working stiff like everyone else trying to scratch out a living as best I can. However, I do know this much; the more we put a divide between ourselves as a people, the weaker we become as a country, and that is the part which concerns me the most.

None of us can be right all of the time, regardless of our political doctrine. Asked by rhine44 27 months ago Similar questions: partisan politics eroding country Society > story.

Similar questions: partisan politics eroding country.

I agree that it's disturbing and seems to be more serious now than it ever was. People are worried about the economy and the debt and it's understandable that they are stressed with the prospect of more debt incurred with health care reform. We've never been in such bad shape since the Great Depression of the 1930's.

But, the way we are acting out toward each other is new and abominable. It is creating a breach between friends and countrymen. I lost a friend of 32 years because we are of different parties and she feels we have nothing in common any more--32 years of friendship down the drain because she will not allow me a difference of opinion.

That seems to be the case 100 times over all over the land. The anger of the Town Hall meetings, the Birthers, and the recent signs displayed at the Washington demonstration of the Tea Party group is disturbing. This country allows freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate and object to the policies of the president's administration.

But, this level of anger and viciousness is new. It is so disrespectful to attack the president in a personal way. In the case of Obama, signs that show Obama as black face with white lips (as used in oldtime Vaudeville to denigrate blacks), and a characature of him as a Witch Doctor are disturbing.

This, to me, is vicious, personal and has undertones of racism to it. It's one thing to object to health care reform that smacks of too much government, but this is out of control. Object to policies; don't resort to personal attacks.

Allowing people to attend Town Hall meetings with guns strapped to their thighs is insanity. We know from history that all it takes for a tragedy to happen is one lone disturbed person with a gun. On the campaign trail, you will remember that a woman got up and said she would not vote for Obama because he was a Muslim.

John McCain took the microphone from her and said that Obama was a good family man, and that he was a christian. That stopped her cold. He is a good man and a patriot.

That is the key. Where are the moderate Republicans who could stand up and stop this kind of rhetoric? That is what is needed--for dignified and respected members of the Republican party to call for a stop to this kind of behavior."All that is required for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing.

" Edmund Burke .

Years ago, when I learned history in college, one of the things I learned about was the infighting and the nastiness that pervaded politics from the beginning in our country. I forget who, but one early candidate for President had his opponent declared dead in an obituary in the newspaper! Duels were fought.

The Civil War was perhaps the ultimate in-house argument. No, no one can be right all the time, humanly speaking, but when people feel they are right, they are often willing to fight for it.It's part of the nature of the beast. This is nothing new at all.

Not nice, but certainly not new. The human heart being what it is, don't expect it to change.

2 Re-reading my post, I did not mean that fighting for what a person feels is right is not nice; rather, it is not nice the way some people do it! .

Re-reading my post, I did not mean that fighting for what a person feels is right is not nice; rather, it is not nice the way some people do it!

3 > However, I do know this much; the more we put a divide between ourselves as a people, the weaker we become as a country, and that is the part which concerns me the most. I agree. I can never remember this much hatred between the two political parties.

The mud slinging, infighting, fanatical spreading of lies, and the fixation on meaningless issues is far worst than anything I have ever seen - and I remember the Vietnam war. This is new. And yes, people do have to right to speak out for what they think is right, and they have the right to be heard.

But when it gets to the point that personal passions are inflamed to the point that the President of the United States is heckled during a speech on the ll proves there is more to this than the "nature of the beast". Until we cut the crap and work together, I worry for the future of this country. If we spent half as much time trying to figure out a solution as we did screaming about things, this country would be a much better place.

Too much energy is wasted disproving things, rather than working toward a solution. We pulled together after 9/11. We were Americans - not Republicians and Democrats.

Sad that feeling is gone. While we fight among ourselves - in front of the entire world, our enemies gain strength.

However, I do know this much; the more we put a divide between ourselves as a people, the weaker we become as a country, and that is the part which concerns me the most. I agree. I can never remember this much hatred between the two political parties.

The mud slinging, infighting, fanatical spreading of lies, and the fixation on meaningless issues is far worst than anything I have ever seen - and I remember the Vietnam war. This is new. And yes, people do have to right to speak out for what they think is right, and they have the right to be heard.

But when it gets to the point that personal passions are inflamed to the point that the President of the United States is heckled during a speech on the ll proves there is more to this than the "nature of the beast". Until we cut the crap and work together, I worry for the future of this country. If we spent half as much time trying to figure out a solution as we did screaming about things, this country would be a much better place.

Too much energy is wasted disproving things, rather than working toward a solution. We pulled together after 9/11. We were Americans - not Republicians and Democrats.

Sad that feeling is gone. While we fight among ourselves - in front of the entire world, our enemies gain strength.

Rock replied to post #3: 4 "Until we cut the crap and work together, I worry for the future of this country. "You say that but then you attack Republicans as viciously as you know how.

Until we cut the crap and work together, I worry for the future of this country. "You say that but then you attack Republicans as viciously as you know how.

Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - Taxing policy" "Good grief. Is this what politics has come to in this country? " "How can politics ever truly unify a country, when their precepts are based on division?

Isn't that an oxymoron? " "Forget About Partisan Politics - What Time Do You Think The Networks Will Declare A Winner In The Election? " "Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - Health Care" "I'm looking for the best book that will be an introduction to Russia and its history (politics, literature, all etc)" "At this point in our country's history, would we be better off without a two party system?" "Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - The Economy" "Why did Bush not join Obama at Ground Zero?

Partisan politics? " "Have you ever considered that politics, by its very nature has never and will never heal this country?

Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - Taxing policy.

Good grief. Is this what politics has come to in this country?

Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - Health Care.

I'm looking for the best book that will be an introduction to Russia and its history (politics, literature, all etc).

Ok... Let's put partisan politics aside and talk about issues - The Economy.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.