I've been trying to analyze why the topic of politics is such ... well, it is what it is, and we all know what it is.

I was just trying to figure out *why*.

If there is a politics board, I probably won't visit it often. I am highly interested in politics, but admittedly, my interest goes in spurts. Sometimes, for months on end, I simply can't get enough. And other times, all I want to do is watch HGTV and pretend that we don't elect anyone and that laws are not being passed and that no one has been taken down for bad personal behavior.

And I find that with politics, while there have been times that I've become more empathetic with someone whose view is different than mine, my core principles have not changed and that ultimately the arguments that happen on the web over these matters just frustrate my day more than they add to my knowledge base....

So I try to just stay away. My head is a more peaceful place for my thoughts to reside when it hasn't been butting against a head that disagrees with it.

Why is it that head-butting over politics creates headaches like no other?

Is it the fact that with other things in life, we can agree to disagree, or not agree to disagree, but at the end of the day, none of us has to *live* with a theory we disagreed with that someone else caused to make a reality? You can like Swiss and I can like Cheddar Jack, but your preference imposes nothing on me.

With politics, however, when one wins, the other loses, and it's a loss that often carries restraints the loser can do nothing about until perhaps the next election cycle.

It sucks to lose, and it sucks to not be able to change things that will be imposed upon you and it sucks to see those whose votes created your doom and gloom gleefully dancing on the tombs of the dreams you had to bury.

This is true for both sides, I'm sure.

Is that why politics is such a hard subject to confront?

You think politics is bad?! Shall we discuss religion? Peanut butter in schools? Surely no one has forgotten the great Roseart v. Crayola debates? Or the bottle v. breast discussion?

I agree, though, it's true I remember people's politics more than their crayon preferences. Probably because I consider political stances to be very important and, in some areas, to be indicative of a person's character.

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Reading is Fundamental.

"Why is it that head-butting over politics creates headaches like no other?

Is it the fact that with other things in life, we can agree to disagree, or not agree to disagree, but at the end of the day, none of us has to *live* with a theory we disagreed with that someone else caused to make a reality? You can like Swiss and I can like Cheddar Jack, but your preference imposes nothing on me.

With politics, however, when one wins, the other loses, and it's a loss that often carries restraints the loser can do nothing about until perhaps the next election cycle."

That.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

wowitsdark I have also thought of the same things you discussed. I can only come to the conclusion that this past election was by far a very difficult one for all parties concerned. Partly because of the last years administration ran by ex president Bush, partly by electing our first new African American President. To the democrats who felt as I do that under the Bush Administration, with all the ecomonic problems, the worse the country as seen in so many years, talking about depression, the war so many issues. I personally feel those people so wanted a change.Those who did receive a change by the way of President Obama are of course happy. Those who are Republicans and still stand behind ex president Bush are not happy.I guess it comes down to like a professional sports game being played, in the end there will always be a winner and sadly always a loser.I also agree with you, that there are times I can not stop talking about the subject and then other times I just get so wrapped up in it and stop and say you know I know how I personally feel and I know in my heart time has come for change, but again thats me and so many others. Again I feel because of the past 8 years and so much that has gone on with this country and all the problems our country still faces, sadly I do not think we will come to agreement. I personally also feel another board should be set up, for discussion on politics, as this is not the right place. As with any personal or deep heated discussion, politics, religion, same sex marriage we will all will never see eye to eye. I am not going to lie here and say I have not say negative comments about Bush, because I have,but as least I am honest and do not pretend he was perfect, because he was not and nor will Obama be, but as our new president we all should at least give a try and we did for Bush for 8 years. Will Obama be perfect no way will he make mistakes I am sure he is human as all are. If anyone remembers I spoke about Clinton alot and I truly thought he was the best president in my time, however when all his personal life got in the mix and he out and out denied all on national television I personally thought they should have had him impeached. At least I try to admit the faults, but what gets to me , it that the Bush supporters cannot admit one wrong thing or one fault with him and thats just not right. So in the end as you have said I am done on this subject. I know I voted for the right person and change was so needed and hopefully for this wonderful country we may see some help soon. I will not waste anymore time on the subject as it does me no good either. So for others who want to continue feel free, but again I personally feel the mods should make a new site to discuss politics.. Peace out on the subject of Obama and Bush and all politics thank god...I am glad you made this post I was sincerely thinking of doing it myself. Again peace to all . Catherine

I think what frustrates me most with politics is that it seems so CLEAR to me why can't the other side see what I see???
Also I believe we all want the same things in the end: job security, good health, spiritual enlightenment, love, happiness, and personal fulfillment for ourselves and our loved ones. We all just see different ways to achieve it. Kind of like arguing about how we are all going to get to the same spot across the country. Some insist on driving, some on the train, some on flying, some ride their bikes and we all think the people that take the other way are not thinking as clearly as we are but we hope to see them all when we get there.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I agree with this.

The other thing that makes it difficult is all the name calling. It does not seem possible to discuss politics in a rational way. It seems every time it comes up people resort to name calling and put downs while trying to make their points, as if those who don't see it their way are stupid.

My sister is on the polar opposite political side as me and whenever we discuss it (which is RARE because I can't stand it) she always tells me that I don't get it.

YES I DO! But, I disagree with you! That does not make me wrong!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

From what I've seen, and keep in mind that this is my opinion... political discussions (online anyway, I don't see it as much in real life) tend to turn to name calling/sarcasm. In general, a few people seem to lack respect for others' opinions and perhaps think that since they don't personally *know* the person, they can bash them?! I don't know but it frustrates me so I tend to steer clear.

"I know I voted for the right person and change was so needed and hopefully for this wonderful country we may see some help soon. " It is thinking like that and comments like that I believe that get things stirred up.... Instead of saying "I voted for the person who I believe was right..." That above sentence comes across as "Everyone who did not vote for my guy is wrong..." and that is not the case. It just so happens that your person got more votes and won.. Doesnt make your vote right or anyone elses wrong....
I think that is what got to me the most in the most recent posts...
Those who believed in Obama CRAMMED it down everyones throat. Thats great that you believe in him. However he wasnt in office longer then a hot minute and a majority of the posters here had him solving the financial problems of the world, creating peace and harmony among others... When the man did nothing of the sort at that time. I think it is great to believe in someone but to literrally cram him at people I think was wrong. And alot of people who did not vote for him were told that we were wrong and made the wrong decision, etc.... Just because it was not the same as everyone elses does not mean it was wrong...


And anna as far as this quote from you goes: "I think what frustrates me most with politics is that it seems so CLEAR to me why can't the other side see what I see???" The other side could say the SAME exact thing....so Touche to you....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Exactly why I stay clear of most of the discussions. They aren't *discussions* at all. As already said, a lot of things that go wrong deal with wording: "I voted for the right person" instead of "I believe in the person I voted for". Stuff like that. Just because I voted for the other guy doesn't make me wrong. I felt a lot of republican bashing through specific wording. Which is why I didn't visit the politics board and why I don't like the politics things here. I mean, even when the bumper sticker thread came up, OP asked it to not be political but I saw more than a few political ones.

It's a topic most believe REALLY strongly in. It's like religion. I know better than to "go there" online. Oh, or spanking: do you or don't you. I remember that coming up and holy crap....don't want to go there again either. Working moms versus stay at home moms....I could go on.

People can't seem to say "that's great but I disagree". It's "I'm right and you are wrong". Both sides of every issue are guilty of it.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

There is probably a place for every discussion somewhere on our boards, but most of them have occurred recently enough (available on archive boards), and I know what I personally did (and didn't) get out of supplying my own, as well as hearing all points of view.

For me, there's little to no need to discuss the same ol' hot topics again any time in the near future. Nothing here ever changed my mind, and only ONE poster on ONE of the dozen or so hot topics presented a point of view that helped me empathize with those on that side of the argument. It didn't change my mind in the least, but it provided additional perspective.

In general, we all have the beliefs we have. And even if a few are still undecided on anything, the vast majority are NOT looking for guidance here on our boards.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I think your problem might be in the "translation". You might take things too personally. When I say "I voted for the right person" (if I did say that or whomever said it) they are NOT saying "you voted for the wrong person" you are taking it that way the "in my opinion" part is implied. It's like me saying "My favorite dessert is chocolate cake that is the best and that is what I am serving" does NOT mean
"everything except chocolate cake sucks". That is something you are taking it to mean. At least I don't mean it that way.




See there you go again. You proved my point for me exactly. Once again I am NOT saying "I am right you are wrong" I am specifically saying that EACH PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW SEEMS CLEAR TO THAT PERSON.

Now do you get it? I hope so.

One BIG reason people cannot have a political discussion is because people take it so PERSONALLY and read so much into what other people are saying.

I am not saying that people who disagree with me are stupid, blind, ignorant, or anything else. I just think their perspective on life and their point of view is different.

For the love of God I am telling the truth I have NEVER in real life had problems with negativity during political discussions that I have had on mycoupons.com and I think it's because you guys (many of you) take things as a personal insult.

Get some confidence and be self assured. Just because someone votes for a different person and has a different political point of view doesn't mean they find you an inferior person.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

It is hard to hear how something comes across when someone is typing VS talking...
And no you dont call people names and you didnt call people names however there are plenty of people here who did... I truly dont think that you mean any thing bad by what you say however not everyone can say that.


And you didnt say that you voted for the right person, that was ILL.

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Dannic my username is iluvlucy not ILL and everyone here knows my name is Catheirne, thanks so very much.. Peace. Catherine

For craps sake, It was an abbreviation....I did not feel like typing the whole thing out..
There is more then one Catherine here...

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Be careful what you wish for.....

hard as this may be for you to believe---but I agree with you on the whole ILL
abbreviations are often used when people have longer usernames.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Yes but Marilynk the abbreviated form of my username was poked at before when someone else used it as ILL and it was poked at a few times and after they wrote ILL they agreed the name fit me, I have no problems for abbreviated names however in this case it clearly spells out the word ILL. Furthermore at this point I know Dannic knows my name is Catherine clearly she does and so does many others. If this was your username would you be happy I do not think so. Thanks for the vent. Catherine

Politics like religion have no place on boards that are not specific for them IMO. And on a lot of other boards neither are allowed.

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"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way."
Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

To be honest CATHERINE, if the abbreviation upsets you then perhaps you should change your name. People use abbreviations all the time for user names.
Its a name for ****s sake. Nothing to make a big deal about...

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Be careful what you wish for.....

I share this opinion as well. You can learn a lot about a person from their political stance.

I think that people are so passionate about politics (and their views) because don't we all want to be "RIGHT"?? and to have it our way??

I think the most heated debate tho, is the abortion debate.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

The thing about abortion is that I think it's used often in the media to distract us from other issues. Because the fact of the matter is that most people will NOT change their opinions on the subject no matter what.
The abortion issue is one that we MUST all agree to disagree on.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.