Which category does my categorization put virtually all Americans and why?
ChrisL
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See the last paragraph of my post 178 how I made the conclusion from the examples you offered. Unless I didn't understand what you are saying in them.
Still, the second paragraph of that second post is a question on how you would apply your binary choice to two cases. Even if I didn't understand your examples if you answer the question I may be able to figure out how you want your criteria applied.
So having said this what do you think it would take to change policies that would allow people to feel more included and get into the tent? That's truly where to power lies.
Whether your right or wrong is there any chance that our society can really improve for all it's members if our choices continue to be polar opposites? Shouldn't we all be looking for something in the middle of these 2? Isn't that the goal here? If not why are we doing this? A fundamental change that will help all of us has to happen. It just doesn't reside at either of these positions.
If I understand you correctly, you seem to be saying that you are for more government on some things and for less government on other things. I agree with you that that would realistically apply to most all of us save for those at the extremes on either end.
However, you also seem to be saying that because you're "for" and "against", depending on the particular issues that you can't personally quantify your leanings one way or another. You're split equally. You believe generally neither in more government involvement nor in less government involvement. That's interesting to me if you believe that.
Chrisl
Not sure I understand, you seem to be saying that you can not put him in either of your camps based on his two preferences, and you need to know his preferences on more issues. What would be your objective criterion if he is "less government=good" on 50.1% of the issues you are able to get an answer from him and "more government=good" on 49.9%. Is it a simple numerical comparison or some of the issues are more important than others and you need to do a weighted average?Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisL
Yes, this is exactly what I am saying and I am going beyond that and saying that I am willing to put money that it's not just me but the vast majority of people that are split, it's just that they have different combination in the split than me.
I'm not sure I can solve that one. I don't think it is possible to be all inclusive in this day and time. We have so many differences which seem to generate prejudices which get in the way. There are some folks that do not want to be included. I think I'm saying that right. Har!
Am I on the right track? ;)
You will never satisfy all the people all the time. The best you can hope for is that everyone involved can create a compromise solution that is amenable to the majority of the society in order to create some sense of harmony. A strictly adversarial approach with the only goal being winning every time won't get you there. Ask anyone who has been in a successful long term marriage or an unsuccessful one for that matter.
The larger and more diversified a society becomes the more difficult it gets. When did compromise become such a bad thing?
Bob
Hey! Did anyone notice something? We may be building a consensus. Look closely at all these posts. What's the common theme. Go past the actual verbiage and look between the lines for the soft underbelly known as feelings & wishes. We all understand there is no winning at the extremes. We all agree that most people are willing to move away from the extremes to make things better for all. We all understand that it's not going to easy. These are all the positives things. Now the question becomes can we all abandon the current electoral/party process in favor of one that allows a true freedom of choice? Are we even willing to do that? It's scary but I don't see any other way out of this.