Why is it that political differences tear people apart?

[Wapsie B]

Maybe I'm overlooking some obvious point here, but why is it that people can break into fights over politics? By our very nature people are not going to agree on everything, even more so in this country with our supposed freedom of thought and expression.

I mean I buy a Ford and my neighbor buys a Chevy. My friends buys corn flakes for breakfast and I get shredded wheat. What is it about politics that bring out the worst in people?

[Parrcrow]

1. At its heart

politics is the very definition of how a society should be run.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

2. Because we care.

And they don't.

And they want to keep on not caring.

[mhr]

3. Perceived World View

We all live under a shroud that shields us from the world. That shroud is our world view and how we fit into the world. When the shroud is threatened our defenses are enabled and we fight back.

When there is plenty of food to go around and the money to buy it breakfast cereal matters little. Political choices, though, are at the core of ones place in modern society and are repeatedly reinforced by the media.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. It depends on the persons and the conversation

Disagreement and debate are the hallmarks of good policy and I find that true whether it's the legislature or ordinary citizens doing the deeds. I do, however, have SERIOUS disagreements with people when

A) there is some ISM to their logic..i.e. their reasoning for ANY policy is undercut by some bigotry be it racism or sexism to which they will not admit ( on edit..and even if they DO admit it)

B) They buy hook, line, sinker and whole friggin ocean the whole notion that as a RULE greed works and is a valuable trait or habit upon which to base economic policy.


C) They parrot right wing memes such as "welfare queen" to make their points and won't concede when confronted with who the real dependent welfare queens are..


Those two items cut to the CORE of who I am as a human. If we can talk them through...fine..I'll stay in the conversation and work on it with you..if we can't and you really are a greedy bigot then everything you are CUTS against the grain of everything I want to have in my life and we'll only antagonize each other...best to move on...and it's turned out to be so in even some long term relationships....where they or I have changed so much that's it's only torture to be around them and them around me.

[sasquatch]

5. Because politics is what philosiphy's or people will rule you.

And we fight because we disagre.

[Wapsie B]

6. Yeah.

And people's desire to rule others.