Dumb Democrats and Evil Republicans

Republicans think Democrats are dumb, while Democrats think Republicans are evil. But why? Republicans and Democrat generally want to help others. Democrats think anyone who doesn't like their ideas on how to do so must be evil. Republicans know better. So when Democrats call Republicans evil (or greedy, racist, etc), they know that Democrats are just stupid. Thus Republicans know Democrats are dumb, because Democrats think Republicans are evil. ℹ️ Info           ~ Aristotle Sabouni Created: 2017-11-23

In this case, Republicans are more right than Democrats. We can't fix the problems, until we fix Democrats perceptions of the world. As long as Democracts/Progressives act, think or pretend that Republicans/Conservatives are evil... Republicans will know that Democrats are just being stupid (self centered, ignorant, and resistant to growth). The two world views are mutually exclusive -- thus one is valid, and the other is wrong. And the Democrats demands that Republicans are only motivated by greed/harm/bigotry, is not valid.

Deeper

The above truism doesn't mean Republicans are always right, or Democrats are always wrong. Or that Republicans don't have problems of their own. It's just that in this topic, as long as one of the beliefs of the Democrats is in their own moral superiority (whether intellectual, emotional, or cultural), despite all the evidence to the contrary, the other side has all the evidence they need to conclude "the other side" just aren't as smart as they think they are. (Which is pretty easy to be right on, since there's few humans in history that could ever live up to the left's confidence in their own self worth).

But arrogance doesn't make one right or wrong, it just changes how others might see you. And of course there's a few areas where the roles reverse (like abortion), with the exact same outcome. Once one side stakes out "the moral high ground" the other side must assume the other side is stupid.

Do Democrats Hate America?

An outraged Democrat complained that a Republican told her, "liberals don't love our country". And that was her justification for frustration on Republicans. How could they think that?

I explained,

It's the vocal 80% that give the rest a bad name." Imagine a friend of yours was a bit of a train wreck in her personal life, but had a daughter, and all they did is criticize everything she did wrong, in elaborate and often exaggerated form. They trashed her dates, every decisions she made, and tried to control her and change everything about her. Would you say they loved her? Or they loved the potential of what they thought they could make her into? That's how conservatives see liberals. Because that's how most of the vocal ones express the need for change -- by trashing what is. They keep elevating the crisis until they get the desired response (no matter how absurd or overstated). So Republicans see that: Democrats screw up the states and cities they run. They attack traditions, laws, history, patriotism (and the people that value them) They belittle red states or anyone in them as "deplorable". Many spew a very "Howard Zinn" negative and fictionalized version of History... and get furious when you show them any errors or biases in that fiction. And then they call anyone who doesn't agree with changing America, re-inventing the constitution in their image, as racist/xenophobic/homophobic/etc. Then they want to tax, regulate and punish, as if that's the America they want to become. And are often horribly intolerant to anyone who doesn't think like them. All while claiming they love liberty and tolerance.

Again, that's not attacking any individual, but it is pointing out a problem with the group message (and what they're sending).

I have weekly debates with folks. And while I know a handful of moderate liberals that can have sincere discussions and admit some of that. These are more the exception than the norm. Far more common is the person so impassioned by what they think is right, that they can rationalizing attacking others, not considering their points (waiving them off as "Faux News Watchers"), exaggerating every problem, denying any successes by those people or means they don't like. Then wonder why the other side sees them as "hating America" and traditions?

So I don't think that Liberals hate the country... I just think they're like the abusive Parent in the allegory above. They want to help, they just want to tell people what to do, even more. They are often blind to how they come across, or how the other side might internalize their actions (or why). But I know most are honestly trying to improve the country and do the best they can. And Republicans propagating, "They hate America", is one of those cases where they assume the moral high ground, and thus the other side (which knows better), assumes the Republicans must be stupid.

But what about Conservatives?

I could say some very similar/but different things about conservatives. But a lot of that brings us back to the start and perceptions.

• Liberals think that the only way to solve things is with government/taxes/regulations to try to fight injustice... thus not doing so, must be because they just don't care. Which is where the left's view of the right as being greedy and morally inferior comes from.
• But not choosing the same solutions, isn't the same as not caring. Some just know they can help more by NOT getting involved and letting them learn/work it out on their own. Or that short term economic benefits with long term economic costs aren't always a good trade (look at Venezuela and the benefits of Socialism, or how many more are on welfare since we created the program).
• That doesn't mean Republicans are never wrong, or don't go too far. And of course Government CAN help with some problems, in the short term. Just long term, many of those solutions will make things worse (if not that thing, then other things, as people adapt). But either extreme: (a) Always Government or (b) Never Government - can be equally wrong. But the point is perceptions. Once you assume the other side is evil (and they know they're not), they're going to get back to assuming your stupid.

The majority of impassioned and frank discussions with the left, from my side (sort of a moderate libertarian'ish view), often gets them to claim I hate the poor, or am just greedy, self deluded and so on. And when I share what I've done in my past, to try to convince them otherwise, they get mad (they think it's about one-upsmanship or "winning" an argument, instead of trying to get them to understand that it's not black and white). Good people can disagree on how to solve things. Or even on priorities of what should be solved first.

Again, that's not impugning ALL liberals. I'm just sharing what the average conservative, libertarian or not-quite-liberal enough person gets from the liberal orthodoxy (the larger general tone).

So I get why the Liberals think what they think about Conservatives. (And why Conservatives think what they think about Liberals). But as long as they don't leave room for the other to think it without being evil, there will be no progress made towards civility.

If only we could see two reasonable people discuss various tradeoffs and experiences on TV or in the news. But it seems drama and polarization gets better ratings. And as long as both sides mimic their most strident voices, and make no efforts to coexist with the other side, we'll continue to get more polarized.

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