There Is No Political Middle Ground

[Donnachaidh]

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/bob-burnett/38720/there-is-no-political-middle-ground

The defining characteristic of the 112th Congress has been extreme Republican partisanship, an unprecedented willingness to hold the Federal government hostage until conservative demands are satisfied. The GOP tactic has disrupted the U.S. and demolished the myth of a middle ground in American politics.

There are four explanations for the Republican rejection of bipartisanship. The first is political. Republican legislators have been indoctrinated to believe that if they do not toe the conservative Party line, radical "Tea Party" activists will campaign against them in the next election. As a consequence, many Republican politicians are afraid to compromise lest they lose office.

Cultural differences provide a second explanation for Republican political rigidity. Since the 2000 election, the United States has become more polarized and the differences between Blue and Red areas have increased. Even in a Blue state, such as California, gerrymandering has created congressional districts that are deeply Red. Across the U.S., public sentiment differs dramatically in Blue and Red districts. Blue and Red districts have widely different information silos. Blues listen to Rachel Maddow and Reds hang on every word Rush Limbaugh utters. As a consequence of these cultural differences there are two radically different perceptions of "reality." Republicans don't appreciate a Democratic policy position because they never hear it discussed seriously; the conventional "wisdom" in Red districts is dramatically different from that in Blue districts. There is a huge communication failure.

Republican dogmatism reinforces their negative worldview. UC Professor George Lakoff's classic Moral Politics postulates that Democrats see the world in positive terms -- the "nurturing parent" model -- and value collaboration and empathy. In contrast Republicans adhere to the "strict father" worldview, where life is dangerous and citizens must take a defensive stance and organize hierarchically. Republicans regard compromise as a sign of weakness; they consider President Obama a wimp who doesn't understand how perilous the U.S. situation is.

More at the link --

[tblue]

1. Would somebody please tell the president?

[truebrit71]

2. No shit....

...you know, before it's too frickin' late..

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[defendandprotect]

4. We have two rightwing parties -- one right wing and one radically right wing -- !!

To even suggest that anyone is in the "center" of that still puts them on the RIGHT!!