Political Myopia: Where you stand depends on where you sit.



OK...speaking of depending on where you are sitting when developing a point of view...

I am surprised Rationalwicki didn't say that everyone to the right of Bernie Sanders is a neo-con.

I clicked an was reading what is (purposefully) supposed to look like a wiki-page without looking at the URL or scrolling up to the header...

I had a Scoobydoo moment reading that.. "Zoinks, Raggy!"

Got a smile out of it.

It is interesting to see how someone of a liberal mindset views congressmen and issues that look remarkably different when seen across the aisle.

Kind of depends on the issue, too. Congresspeople are not monolithic. Mary Landrieu put us on the eventual path to single payer, but she IS campaigning against the EPA legislating around congress.

We very rarely talk about them. It's part of that inclusiveness. You'll also notice that there is no commonly used term for a Democrat in Name Only.

A lot of them were blue dogs because they are in right of center districts. Those got bumped off in the 2010 mid-terms.

From my admittedly biased point of view it often seems that Democrats and their supporters are in lockstep. I suspect though you are right because several of the things sitting on Reids desk had 10-20 Democrats in concurrence... The most you see of Republicans crossing over is maybe Snow who is a Democrat, and one maybe two other randoms.

I dont believe in "Political Myopia". To me politicians seem just to be unscrupulous and coldblooded in pursuing their own selfish agendas. The rest is a camouflage.

I think a politician's point of view is often obscure to us as, political calculations are made before they decide which position they will support. I think that the people that vote for those politicians are more honest about expressing what their point of view is, and generally less likely to have had the time and taken the effort to be fully informed on the issue, whatever it is.

I think politicians are generally aware that the contents and especially the amendments and riders on the bill often have little to nothing to do with the title of the bill.

I don't think the bi-partisan supporters of "The Patriot Act" or those who have voted to re-authorize it since, think it has anything to do with patriotism.

No it depends on how honest you are with yourself. Blindly agreeing with the left or the right just shows self deceit, and the lack of the ability to reason.

Agreed. But not blindly with your position.

I think a lot of people who one could pretty easily demonstrate are in fact "blindly" agreeing with their "team" would argue that they are in fact very well-informed and carefully reasoned on the issues.

During the 2012 election I finally in exasperation began to add some political content to my Facebook page when a friend's wife kept posting hackneyed insta-gram memes multiple times a day saying breathlessly, "GUYS! Do your research on this stuff!!" Her research consisted of clicking the links provided daily by email from her favored candidate.

The majority of it had no substance with which to find disagreement, appeals to patriotism and generalized statements of the intentions of the opposition need no response. The ones that advocated a policy position were easily debunked with the typical misapplied statistics or the like. She had zero interest in any reply but "You sing it sister!"

I am convinced those insta-blurbs disseminated through social media accounts for the few point difference between the candidates.

There are instances where well-informed people of good conscience can come to opposing points of view. I would think that should happen most when the disagreement is about methods of dealing with an issue, not fundamental principles.
 
Last edited:
OK...speaking of depending on where you are sitting when developing a point of view...



A lot of them were blue dogs because they are in right of center districts. Those got bumped off in the 2010 mid-terms.

From my admittedly biased point of view it often seems that Democrats and their supporters are in lockstep. I suspect though you are right because several of the things sitting on Reids desk had 10-20 Democrats in concurrence... The most you see of Republicans crossing over is maybe Snow who is a Democrat, and one maybe two other randoms.







.



Those that don't want to admit being a liberal now call themselves "progressives."
 
No it depends on how honest you are with yourself. Blindly agreeing with the left or the right just shows self deceit, and the lack of the ability to reason.
I wouldn't go that far, however, I'm registered as "Unenrolled" in Massachusetts, (which is Independent), and have voted all over the board because I can't buy what either party sells wholesale. There are just so many important issues to tend to but there are no tenders. I don't trust the far of any party/religion/etc.

It's time for reason to make a comeback but from where will the players come? I had a teacher (a long, long time ago) say "If everyone things alike, then no one thinks." There are so many good minds in this country and I believe the middle ground is from where good can come.

The impatience to get the next word in means listening isn't happening.
 
Those that don't want to admit being a liberal now call themselves "progressives."

They cycle. At first they were proud Socialists, then Communists, Fabians, Progressives and Liberals and with each brand they tarnish, they move on to the next one...

They even tried "Pragmatic Centrists." ;) ;)
 
A lot of them were blue dogs because they are in right of center districts. Those got bumped off in the 2010 mid-terms.

From my admittedly biased point of view it often seems that Democrats and their supporters are in lockstep. I suspect though you are right because several of the things sitting on Reids desk had 10-20 Democrats in concurrence... The most you see of Republicans crossing over is maybe Snow who is a Democrat, and one maybe two other randoms.

I rarely see Democrats in lock step on a great many issues. You thing minorities, especially older blacks who remember first hand the Civil Rights movement have ANY interest in giving up their guns at all? (Actually if you look at maps pro-gun vs gun control is largely a matter of where you live. If you live in an area where calling the police to do their job and protect your ass is likely to be a half hour wait you cling to that gun. On the other hand if you live in a place where a stray bullet is likely to hit someone you're more likely to be pro-gun control. Which more or less makes sense.)

We're far from any sort of lockstep on immigration reform. To be fair I think AMERICA is pretty much in agreement that illegal immigration is bad, needs to be controlled and it's just that one party refuses to even think about inconvience rich people. I promise you if you started sending employers to jail on the regular this shit would stop right quick.

We're not all doves by a long shot. Hell in America you seem to be labeled a dove if your attitude is ask questions first, shoot second as opposed to shoot first. If you missed cus you're a noob you can ask questions but don't miss.

Honestly do you think a 60 (58 if you don't count the two independents who caucused with the Dems, 57 or 59 if you're polite enough to recall that Kennedy was very rude and died on us some six months into Obama's first term. It's worth noting because it technically never was filibuster proof and even if it was that didn't even last to 2010) <--So feel free to take your pick from amongst those numbers if need be. Would be as completely helpless as a Democrat Congress proved to be?

Cus I'll tell you from my admittedly biased point of view 2008-2010 basically boiled down to what's the point in winning if you don't get the goddamn trophy?
 
"Where you stand depends on where you sit."

It is an age-old expression that I've heard a thousand times and often found quite relevant. Intelligent and honest people can be looking at the same question, but through different lenses, and thus see different things. Sadly, though, in today's culture, rarely can there be a reasonable difference of opinion. Anyone holding an alternative view is seen as stupid, unknowledgeable, dishonest, corrupt, hypocritical, or some combination thereof.

"Political Myopia" -Charles Cook in "The National Journal." Rest Here

Still rings true today.

Look how far we haven't come baby.
 
Back
Top