Quote:
Originally Posted by BoLevi
This is pew data from 2017, and I suspect if we found a similar poll today, the results would be even more extreme. Both sides think the other side is subhuman trash - because most people are highly susceptible to propaganda about the other side. This is especially true when combined with a general strong confirmation bias present in most people. In short: the average person takes much more extreme positions now than before. One unfortunate effect of this is that the average person in the Red Camp or the Blue Camp now views moderates as extremists because a moderate position is now also distant from their own. This is quite apparent in this thread (and I would say in this forum in general, which is very left/democrat/progressive).
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This conveniently ignores WHY American politics has become more polarized. When Newt Gingrich, in 1994, as the leader of the GOP enacted the new policy of going against the Democrats on almost all issues, even if they were conservative. He used demonizing, combative language and rejected any form of compromise. He essentially kicked-off the hyper-partisanship that is now commonplace in the US and is, of course, drifting north. That has become the defacto mantra of the GOP ever since including during the Obama Presidency where the GOP became the 'Party of No' by opposing every measure by the Democrats even if it was originally a Republican idea.
Generally this idea of 'both sides are doing it' is really naive. Yes, there is hypocrisy on both sides. That's normal for politics. However, only one side believes in science and that something should be done to avoid a climate catastrophe; only one side believes in equality and human rights for all; only one side believes that everyone should have the right to vote...and so on. The Dems aren't perfect by a long shot, including Biden, but to equate them with the GOP, particularly since 1994 when Gingrich became Speaker, is either naive or intentionally misleading.