I just don't understand extremists

Not that you've said anything one way or the other, I am going to point out that the exact same was done to Bush and his supporters by many people. I know some people are going to suffer amnesia, so I'm just throwing that out there to remind everyone that those who aren't fans of Obama aren't doing anything different than those who weren't fans of Bush. This is a general statement, and I don't mean to single out the OP with it. When our leaders do something bone headed, they should be held accountable. If Obama does something some perceive as wrong, you can bet they're going to say so. The same can be said of any other leader. As for targeting his supporters - I don't care one way or the other about them. Sure, they are the reason he's in office, but it's not their fault when he screws up. I take issue with many of Obama's actions, but I don't blame him for everything. I did the same for Bush, and I'll do the same for every presidential administration I live through.

Unfortunately miamilady, we can't get rid of narrow-minded people. But you are right. It doesn't matter who is put in the White House and whoever is there will of course get some people upset. Now to blame one person for the way the country is would be wrong but I must say that our previous President of 8 years did kind of a huge mess for the country miamilady........he did. He was voted the worst president in history and that was for good reason. I liked his father as President better. Whoever wished someone to lose their job better hope he doesn't lose his and to say that whoever voted for Obama if something goes wrong it's their fault is absolutely ridiculous! for when he took the job he knew he was stepping into a HUGE pile of crap! When George Bush II took office the country was still in good standing financially and otherwise because of the good job Clinton did. But let me end it here because I can go on and on. Take care and God Bless!

People become narrow-minded because they believe that their way is the only way and that everyone else's way is wrong. Another name for these people are stoic people. Static characters, they cannot move or open their minds and they are out to make everyone's life miserable because their life is more miserable than others. These people become abusers, terrorists, murders, you name it. These people have been considered enemies to freedom, antagonist, and people who want to see the whole world burn down. They could care less who gets hurt as long as they get what they want.

you are absolutely right, black and white thinking is stupid, but you can't you meaning everyone naturally blame the people when you leaders who perpetuate that kind of thinking, bush said if you are not with us you are against us, utter nonsense, that means no one can think for him or herself just go with the flow, now that is fascism, do what your government tells you bone head, as you say no one can be blamed for everything either, each president will do good and bad, albeit some will be a lot worse than others. And you are so right, you will never get a the whole country to agree as long as their are two different points of political view, and you know what that is a great thing, that is democracy, that is what keeps our countries (me Canada) and the USA from being a tyranny, or fascist government.

Okay. So here is the scammy on it: People now days are one-minded, selfish, ignorant for the most part, and they don't even know both sides of the issue. Why? Because they don't care for anyone elses side but their own. Perfect fixes come from people actually caring about the outcome and striving to put forth something positive to help bring on change.

This is an issue that has interested me for several years, and during my recently completed 9 years in academia I studied fundamentalism both as part of my course work and also for my personal interest. Political ideology is identical in kind to religious belief. Some people interpret both with considerable flexibility, some with almost total inflexibility, and the rest fall somewhere in between. It is the inflexible ones who cause all the problems, and who can quite accurately be called "fundamentalist". I should mention that fundamentalism is not restricted to these two issues. Economic ideology, of both the far Right and the far Left, can equally be called fundamentalist because their proponents are almost completely inflexible. I have known feminist fundamentalists, and the extreme wing of male supremacists are also just as inflexible. Often several these inflexibilities can be combined in one person: e.g. the right wing free market super conservative Christian with his/her belief in traditional gender roles, or the hard left feminist atheist. What causes this inflexibility seems to come down to psychology, in particular personality or characterological psychology. Some of us appear to be born flexible, some inflexible. If an inflexible personality is brought up in a conservative religious home he or she can become an extremist; similarly a flexible personality brought up in a laissez-faire moderate humanist household can become flexible to the point of lability, with a decided difficulty in holding a firm position on anything. Most of us, whatever our basic character, seem to fall in between. Those of us brought up in households and social groups which are the opposite of our own tendencies tend to turn out either very confused or rebellious. The end result of this flexibility/inflexibility spectrum is that the inflexible seem to have an ascetic tendency which leads to a considerably stronger sense of discipline and motivation; they want to push their inflexible beliefs onto everyone else, possibly because having to live in a flexible world frightens and unsettles them, and this discipline and motivation means they tend to garner much more influence than they should. Their flexible antagonists seem to be too laid back and too willing to view all sides of an argument to have the same controlled focus, and tend to garner less influence than they should. Flexible types who embrace an ideology tend to have the habit of regularly questioning the correctness of their own ideological beliefs, whereas the inflexible types appear not to. In the context of your discussion, the answer could be boiled down to the fact that inflexible people truly do see things in black and white, and no amount of logic or proof can change their beliefs. This is why I dumped Religion and Politics from my interest list - it gets too frustrating being bogged down with and angered by extremist responses. Lash

I know what you mean. A lot of people say not to discuss religion and politics. I, on the other hand, along with my husband, love to discuss religion and politics. He and I know how to present our side as our side, and not ruffle feathers. We question others because we want to know about them, and don't do it disrespectfully. If others can't do that then it's their problem. I don't understand what is wrong with the world. Why can't everyone just respect eeachother?

At last! A sensible, balanced discussion on the U.S.A's current President. I'm English, but I'm appalled at some of the discussions which are being started here and I'm worn out with trying to explain that the Queen loves her IPod and Gordon Brown didn't take any offense at all over his gift. It's the media who think the gifts are not appropriate, and the American media at that! There's nothing derogatory being written in our newspapers or being screened on our television. The gifts are just gestures and it really matters not what they are. But, can you tell these skeptics that Rome wasn't built in a day, nor did Pompeii fall into ruin in a day? Nope... they won't even give the guy a chance. President Obama is actively making it known that he seeks world peace. Ok, pigs might fly, but at least he's making an effort and I admire him for that. Naturally, we don't know all the ins and outs of his term of office so far, in this country, but for goodness sake, as you say, can't they open their minds to him and give him a chance? He's in office now, for a whole term, and it's my opinion that he needs that whole term to show any turnaround. He and his government have taken over one big mess, and they're not going to solve it overnight. Obama was very well received here and as far as I can see, has made a good impression throughout the G20 summit, so far, despite what the doubters are saying. He's getting good press and he's making good progress with both the Queen and Gordon Brown. Come on guys... I'm with Miamilady here... give the guy a fighting chance. Support him... whatever you need to do, but don't close your mind to the possibilities. The majority of you voted him in, as the majority of mine voted in Gordon Brown. I don't support Gordon Brown or his party, but in my book, they have four years to get this country back on track. If they don't, then they'll lose the vote next election. But, at least they've been given the chance. What they do with that chance is up to them, and we have to trust that they do it well. Brightest Blessings Miamilady, and thank you for a sensible discussion amongst many insecure ones!

I wondered that same thing for the last 8 years... how did anyone justify blaming Bush for all of the worlds ills? As to this idiot we have now, his policies have done more damage to our economy in 3 months then Bush did in 8 years. I look at the issues, and what people do Bush made several mistakes... the biggest one was that sharp left turn when he started this whole bailout trend. The 0nbamunist has not only continued the bailouts, he has accelerated the damage to our economy... and he has ensured that the next several generations will be paying for his mistakes. So who do we blame, if not the president, considering that Bush was blamed for everything that happened while he was in office... and is still being blamed for the things that are happening now... because the 0bamunist claims he inherited a problem that he and the democrats helped to create in the first place? Reagan inherited a far worse economy from Carter and turned it around. Reaganomics lasted for 26 years before the liberals finally manged to destroy it. I look at the facts, at what the different players stand for, and what their platform is. I also look at the Constitution, and see how our Congress and presidents have ignored it over the years. I can see the damage being done, and I read the news, the opinions of both the political and the economists, and I look at trends, and that is where I get my views. My opinions are the result of careful consideration of the facts. I saw what the 0bamunist was all about before the election, and I knew who he associated with and what his political beliefs were. He is a socialist, and an enemy of freedom... and for right now he is the president. With him, the buck doesn't stop there, he passes the buck to others, who join the many that he has already thrown under the bus. What you call being narrow minded, I call being informed, and being a realist. Look beyond the propaganda, and see the reality of the situation. Do you really want America to sink to Third World status and be just like a banana republic?... because that is the direction that we are headed.

I'll discard the comments you quoted and go straight to the point, as I haven't made such comments myself. I am neither a democrat or republican, I don't support or vote for either party, they are both ruining this country. Different routes, same end destination. You8 state proudly you are "Republican OR a Democrat", yet you tow the party line of a democrat and I have never seen you once critisize a democratic action no matter how unconstitutional it was. If you are truly not supporting EITHER party, an unconstitutional act by one is an unconstitutional actand you should be railing loudly at it. I'm not calling you a poser specificly, but I have found many people who claim to be "independant" are only so on the voting regisry and not in philosophy or action. What a lot of the supporters of the current administration don't seem to get is that I don't blame the problems on one man or government body, they have developed over a period of time and BOTH parties are to blame. What gets me is I have yet to see but one or two people who support Obama recognize or acknowlege that fact. Something else that gets me, is the pereption that it's all about Obama, it's NOT, it's about a federal gopvernment that has consinualy ignored the constitution and the fact that the last 3 presidents have grossly ignored as has the last few batches of congress. I don't care how new age someone's idea's are, how eloquently they can speak, how much hope they offer or that they do a few good things, if they are stepping outside their cosntitutional bounds, then they have no business in the U.S government and I don't care WHAT party they belong to. I have posted in a number of threads and respsonses a number of constitutional issues that pertain to both Obama AND Bush and to date, not one of Obama supporters or supporters of the current congress have yet defended on the merrits of those issues. Oh sure, I got the usual cliche' canned replies like "bush blah blah" or "you didn't complain when Bush did it" (yes, i did, LOUDLY) or "he's only been in office a few months". SO, Defend the following ENTIRELY on their merrit, not by pointing to the last administration or by the lame excuse that "he's only been in office for a few months. If you are truly a supporter of the actions, it should be no problem, right? 1.)border patrol checkpoints in the MIDDLE of my state new hampshire), 75 miles from any border 2.)Blackmailing of states by with holding funds until they pass certain laws 3.)The new 9 year extension of the patriot act. 4.)the tak of signing on to U.N. treaties that directly violate our constitution and many state constitutions 5.) FISA

yes indeed miamilady no matter who is in the presidents seat there are going to be a lot of people blaming him for everything under the sun.even some who voted for him,.for one thing Americans tend to want fast service on everything not just fast food, they want a president who can wave his magic wand and 'fix it all in one day. All the dissenters are just expecting too much too soon,the economy did not get bad in a few months it took a long time, and its going to take a long time to fix it.oh yes I would love to see a zillion jobs open right now and my son working for high wages but it is not going to happen all at once. give any man who is the president a chance before you blacklist him. a lot of mylotters seem to think he should have undone everything their pet bush did in eight years, well if it took him 8 years to make this mess, guess what it is not going to be done over night.

I'd love to know the answer to that question myself! These people seem to believe that, unless you agree with them, you are TOTALLY wrong. They would NEVER think that maybe, just maybe, their opinion is wrong. These people would also never think to respect you for your opinion. I respect everyone's opinion. I don't agree with some, but I'm not going to condemn or verbally chew their heads off for not agreeing with me! Nor would I ever try to change their opinions. They are as entitled to theirs as I am to mine. My stepfather was a diehard Republican. I did all I could to avoid discussing politics with him because there was nothing you could say that, if it differed even slightly from his opinion, even a tiny bit, he would verbally attack! He seemed to believe that there was no way he could be wrong and had every right to make sure anyone who disagreed with him was wrong to the point where they should be committed! Oh, how I hated when he started talking politics! Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it seems that there is quite a large group who believe that you're only entitled to that opinion IF it totally agrees with theirs. Yes, there are a lot of nay-sayers putting Obama down and claiming that he is solely responsible for our economy being in such a bad state. Yes, I agree that some things that he's approved of weren't what I would have approved of, but he didn't do it alone! Every decision that's made goes through many, many hands before it gets approved. Our country began it's downward spiral during the Bush administration and I have to say that Obama had one HECK of a job handed to him! But, there are some people who LOVE to point fingers and place blame. My motto is, "If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem." Pointing fingers and placing blame doesn't do a darned thing to help anything. These people don't deserve anything better if they're not willing to get up off their butts and do something about the problems we face. If these people would take a closer look at our country's problems and find something that they, personally, can do to improve it instead of just pointing fingers, we MIGHT have a chance of improving this country. But, the type you and I are talking about aren't about to lift a finger to do any good... they just want to blame someone else for all their woes. There's no way that any one person could have caused our country's recession and it will surely take more than one person to pull it back up out of that recession, no matter what their political affiliation. It is what it is and we all have to work together to make things better. You don't tell someone they are wrong without having a plan to make it better and have a willingness to work side-by-side to make it better.

Hey miamilady! I think you have put into words quite eloquently! It is true that things are not black or white, and no pun intended! The problems we are facing were years in the making and who we blame no longer matters! The only thing that does matter is how are we going to fix the problem! We all need to stand together no matter what and try to help fix this mess that we are in! It doesn't matter what Party we are from, only that we need to all be behind the President so he can try to do what he needs to do to help get us out of this horrendous mess! Being narrow minded now is not the answer! We must all do our part to stand together as Americans! There is no other way that will work!

I think they do it either to stir up unnecessary contreversy or because they think they're God (which, of course, they're not) - and want to reign over everyone with their close-minded opinions. I know of MANY people on myLot who don't start discussion with the intention of discussing things - but with the intention of STARTING FIGHTS and trying to coerce people into thinking that THEIR opinion is right. It's just silly. It's actually kind of aggravating, too, if you ask me, but I try not to let it get to me. Some people are SO staunch in their opinions, it's pretty ridiculous. What's nice is that for every one person like that (that we have here on myLot), we have FIVE nice & caring myLotters who are willing to actually DISCUSS a topic, even if they have strong opinions on it.

Super-fantastic discussion!! I don't understand extremists and we have them from both sides of the aisle, there's not question about that. If we're hearing m ore from the right at the moment, at least here on myLot, that's no doubt because they're out of power right now and being OUT of power seems to make them feel like they have MORE power, if that makes any sense, and it makes them even more vocal than before the election. You're so totally correct - one person didn't get us into the mess we're in, as much as I disagreed with most of Bush's policies and feel they sure didn't help matters, even I wouldn't blame everything 100% on him and one person is sure not going to get us out of it, especially overnight! Also, whoever makes the policies and comes up with the ideas to get us back on track is going to pi$$ someone off. Everybody is going to have to make sacrifices, to do a part in our "recovery" and some people aren't going to like that, some aren't going to want to give anything up. I truly believe that greed and selfishness was at least partly to blame for our current economic situation and more of the same isn't going to help matters. It seems that some on the right have forgotten that elections have consequences and meaning. Voters came out last November in record-breaking numbers and they chose a change in direction for our nation. The left had to accept that in 2000 and I'll admit some weren't as gracious about it as they could have been but now it's the right's turn to open their minds and get over their anger. Annie

Wow! hats of to u my friend. i respect ur views. Its not only in politics or comfined to ur country but everywhwere. People only understand problems when they are stuck in it. Otherwise they love to pass negetive comments about everybody else. We all are often blamed for no reason by others arounf us and all we have left is either to keep quiet and keep compromisisng saying that i am being positive or else we have to fight and go against all relations and live alone in a corner. The world and life is really going to an extreme. I just hope people realise this and come out of being extreemists.

I don't think it matters which party is in power as they are all corrupt. The UK government is supposed to be labour, which is supposed to be the working class party and all they've done since being in power is to make the rich richer and the working class people who were there main supporters poorer. I agree completely with you how can people blame Obama for the present credit crunch and recession they're nothing to do with him. I usually find the ones who shout the loudest are the ones who never bother to vote.