There is a basic difference in temperament between Democrats and Republicans

[Peacetrain]

Just set aside our political, philosophical, etc etc differences..

Just looking at the temperament of Democratic and Republican voters and politicans

Democrats are more social,.. they have a higher trust factor in their fellow Democrat's. We gather as groups to try and find ways to help others who are not faring as well.. We like being together..

Republicans fear the "other" and always worry about someone else getting ahead and getting something they do not have.. they embrace weaponry to fight off the "other"

There is an absolute difference in how we look at life, at our fellow humans, at our abilities to make things better.

[Elessar Zappa]

1. Agree.

I bet if one were to infiltrate a MAGA group that they’d find a lot of backstabbing going on.

[grumpyduck]

2. From what I've seen,

Republicans are also angrier. They seem to need to find reasons to be pissed off.

Back when Conservstive Underground was around (I snooped now and then), it was all about anger at Democrats. Here at DU we talk about stuff other than politics, including science, humor, and animals.

[Peacetrain]

3. Precisely!!.. we are more than our politics and look to find areas of commonality with one another

[Harker]

19. Yes.

Lots of animals.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Republicans gather in groups, to plan ways to kill people. :(

Yes I think there is a fundamental personality and cognitive difference between the two groups.

[Peacetrain]

5. True that!

[Irish_Dem]

6. Hi!

Interesting thread for sure. Shows us the worst in human nature has become widespread and acceptable, and is taking over control of the country.

[tinrobot]

7. They're still selfish teenagers, we're the responsible parents.

A lot of it is about emotional growth.

When you're young, you tend to be self-focused. You worry mostly about yourself.

As you mature, you learn to put your selfish needs aside for your kids, your friends, your aging parents, etc. That circle can expand to the community and the planet as a whole as you realize we're all connected.

Republicans don't see that. They're still stuck in high school.

[walkingman]

8. Agreed - especially your quote

Republicans fear the "other" and always worry about someone else getting ahead and getting something they do not have.. they embrace weaponry to fight off the "other"

Those are the traits that I hear from most Rethugs that I know. They worry about what "others" are getting "that they don't deserve".

[BlueBloodedAmerican]

9. Because they are too stupid to even grasp how stupid they are.

[Sympthsical]

10. People are people everywhere

The Democratic party is a coalition of many disparate groups who are joined together out of self-interest.

Because we're a coalition, our solutions need to be more far-reaching and a bit more universal. Think of something like health care. It's something we all want and can generally (mostly) agree upon. And it's vital for the health of the party to be a bit more focused on universal issues, because getting into the nitty gritty of what each coalition member wants can drive division and fracture the party. It's why we'll never have a serious conversation about, say, reparations. (Outside of, "Yes, interesting. We should talk about it. Sometime. That is not now." ) Because it would divide the party. But generally being against racism? Easier, includes more people, something to agree upon.

So, this assessment in the OP is awfully rose-colored and a little self-serving in the direction of being what one wants to believe of oneself. (Spoiler: It will be good things).

"We don't create others."

I mean, really? Have you met us? Even I, who strive harder than most, I think, to be even-handed, have some others lurking about in my head. All day everyday is talking shit about the other in most political spaces. I could spend all day everyday just picking off all kinds of ideas and assertions, "Newp. Wrong. Untrue. That's not how they think. Stop reading Twitter."

We create others just fine.

But that's because we're humans. Folks is folks. We don't have to sniff our own farts.

If we'd just be normalsauce for one day and recognize that, our country would be in a better place. But we're (everyone) entrenched, partisan, toxic, and draw cultural lines. Toss it into the internet and social media and you've got a shit stew going.

Makes for interesting coffee reading, though.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. I recc'd it, but, yeah. I don't trust. Probably because of my local experiences.

Democrats didn't come together at a time when shit was hitting the fan. They either became part of the problem, or ran.

But, I'm willing to call them old guard Dems, and I'm willing, today, to reach out to find the Dems that are as you described.

Happy to say that I think I found a local online group, where people come out and let us know they're progressive, and I'm thrilled to discover that I know them by their job descriptions and amazed to know that they have been here all along.

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. The population divide between rural and urban life surely plays into the equation.

Large urban areas are diverse in terms of population, culture, and ideas. Rural areas are more insulated, less diverse and more culturally isolated . That impacts greatly greatly on world view and temperament.

[Bayard]

13. Old adage

Democrats climb the ladder, then reach back behind them to help others up. Rethuglicans climb to the top of the ladder, then pull it up behind them.

[raccoon]

14. And Republicans are dicks. Nt

[Patterson]

26. Dumbasses and assholes.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

15. Republicans fear the "other"

"Republicans fear the "other" and always worry about someone else getting ahead and getting something they do not have."

That's populism in a nutshell.

[ashredux]

16. I believe this phenomenon is called Human Nature

[Caliman73]

22. You can call it that, but it is more nuanced.

Studies into the differences of people who tend toward conservatism and liberalism have been done and there are some physiological differences in the activation of the Amygdala (the part of the brain that regulates fear and anger) as well as ideas about authority, group cohesion, and the need for simplicity.

Self identified Conservatives tend to have a more active Amygdala, which correlates with higher levels of fear and anger. They tend to organize themselves into more rigid "in groups" and out groups, and they tend to desire more simple and concrete answers about the world.

Self identified Liberals tend to have a less active Amygdala. They tend to organize themselves into broader coalitions with less rigid in and out groups. They also tend to embrace more ambiguity and nuance in their worlds.

This is of course subject to overlap and is not absolute, but while we all possess qualities and react different ways to different stimuli, this is what the research shows with regards to differences in people who identify with different parts of the political spectrum.

Human Nature is extremely wide and varying.

[mwb970]

17. It's smart vs. stupid.

We have a LOT of stupid people in America.

[rickford66]

18. Dems got empathy. GQPers don't.

That is all.

[CanonRay]

20. Being less social, perhaps that is why conservatives gravitate to rural areas?

Or does living in rural areas and not having to deal with others make one less social?

[OMGWTF]

21. Basically, it's "we" vs. 'me.'

Democrats care about people, Rethuglicans care about money and power.

[halfulglas]

23. That's one of the reasons they are virulently against anything to give

Other people a break. They HATE affirmative action because they look it as a "Special" break the "other" have not earned and are not qualified for. They hate any kind of welfare because it gives people who have economic hardship "something they didn't work for," laws protecting women and children because maybe their men should protect them or something (?) and don't get me started on just recognizing other marginalized groups such as gay people, etc. as human beings equal to the same rights as any other Americans. They always have an excuse as to why all such laws should not exist. It's their own fear that if everybody is equal, they will be less and they hate that feeling. If they lose power why some of these other groups may have power over them and that is so scary.

They look at society as everyone has to "earn" their way. You have to work to "earn" a living (but they give the super wealthy a pass because someone in their family tree "earned" that wealth. You have to compete to "earn" a spot in the best schools. Many are completely against the state supplying a public education (that will give the state control over what kids learn not help teaching them to think). You have to "earn" a job. You're "lucky" to have a job, you know, and it's right that your boss can fire you at will. Unions are definitely bad always, because they are for the employee, not to mention the fact that they invented pensions for the common worker. Your employer controlling your health care along with the insurance company is a good thing because you and your doctor don't know what's the best for you. And finally, they want control over Social Security. It's okay to continue it for them but let it sunset for you or have to revote on it every 5 years or so, because they look at it as government money, not part of the social contract we have had for almost 90 years that all classes in the US can count on not being completely destitute in our old age.

[dlk]

24. There is some evidence Republicans' brains are wired differently

n/t

[Skittles]

25. Democrats are motivated by hope while repukes are motivated by fear

absolutely that is a huge difference

[KentuckyWoman]

27. Oh I'm actually quite introverted.

My husband was awkward around people too. I agree working together for the common good is what separates us from Republicans, even for those of us who aren't big on groups.

And the group thing is much easier for introverts if we are concentrated on the work. My husband got to shake President Carter's hand once at a Habitat build. 30 years later the nieces still patiently let him tell it yet again.