Are you passionate about politics?

How do you argue?

Published on March 22, 2004 By Janders In Politics

I am married to a republican. I relate more independent or democrat, but vote more independent. Now my husband is not on the line at all, he is very Republican, involved in politics, and hopes to start running for offices.
We are both passionate on our political stance and this can be a cause for great emotions when we debate politically. All I need to say to get him riled up is, "My vote is going to cancel out your vote." He has wonderful debate skills and can get me in tears about an issue.
It is fair to say he is more educated on issues than I, a lot because this is a major interest of his, his degree is in Social Studies, his masters will be in political studies. I find it hard to argue on issues that he knows a lot about, because I do not have a lot of information to back my feelings up.
We probably sound like dorks, because we are only in our early 20's and we have no problem spending a weekend night wathcing CNN or MSNBC and debating issues.
My Questions: What political parties do you affiliate yourselves with? Are you passionate on your political stance? Does your spouse or significant other have the smae political views? If not, Does this result in many debates or arguments?

Comments (Page 1)

russellmz2

on Mar 22, 2004

i tend to be democrat but middle of the road in most things. i tend to argue online with whoever seems fairly normal but argues something that is wrong or at least inaccurate. few of my friends are as into politics as i am.

Shulamite

on Mar 22, 2004

because I do not have a lot of information to back my feelings up.

Do you find you vote with your feelings more often? Women do that. It's our nature. And that's not a flaw, it's just how we are. However, you noted that he makes it a point to be educated on the issues and to think his way around issues. C.S. Lewis says we're producing a generation of men without chests. He means our brains are in our heads, our instincts in our guts, and our hearts are in our chests. Men are taught to think with their heads and guts, but not their chests. Women, however, rarely perfect thinking with their heads to the degree men do and we only think with our hearts. If you were more educated, you'd think with your heart and still debate your way into your desired position on the issue, regardless of the issue. I think you've decided ahead of time the position you'll take and how you'll think. I think you probably don't listen to his arguments before already forming your own arguements in response to his. You want to cut him off to say your args don't you? and he does too, right? so you're not listening to each other. try this. First, listen to the other completely. when s/he is done, paraphrase their arg. back to them and ask if that's what they said. chances are, you got it wrong. so s/he'll have to say it again and you'll have to listen again. then you'll paraphrase it again. when you get it right, only then can you think of something to say back to it. the other person has to paraphrase your arg now. Got it? That way you're both clear and understand one another and ACTUALLY listen to each other!

I"m a political nut and I'm only 24. I've been one since I was 16. Politics rock. But don't argue with a person, argue against a stance, a policy or something. Not a person. remember, you're his helpmate and he's your best friend. Don't forget your roles.

If he's running for office, remember you swore stand by him. you don't have to agree with him, but it would be nice if you'd work to understand him well enough to defend him against others. He'll have plenty of people out to get him without his wife trying to eat him alive.

Politics are fun; keep it that way! genuinely try to understand each other and you'll both grow!

God bless!

Aaron Brandt

on Mar 22, 2004

I'm more republican than anything else, but I'm quite close to the center. Am I passionately republican? No. I'm passionately whatever my beliefs are. I don't let the party define me, I just tend to go that way because they are most in tune with what I believe. I have many friends who are very democrat. Just because they are Bush haters doesn't make me dislike them. We still get along fine.....we just can't debate politics a lot.

Draginol

on Mar 22, 2004

I consider myself an independent overall. I'm fiscally conservative but socially moderate. So I *tend* to vote for Republicans. But not always. I have voted for Democrats for governor and for state represenatives.

My wife is somewhat more conservative than I am both fiscally and socially. So we tend to agree on most things, particularly on fiscal issues but not all.

Wahkonta Anathema

on Mar 22, 2004

I was once a Democrat, became a Reaganite in my Ayn Rand days, then went Independent after reading on the "October Surprise" and finding short-wave radio.
For years various people had tried to advise me on the underside of politics and power. I always 'felt' it was nonsense and whacko. Then I began to see the predictions manifes just as I was told they would and started to open my eyes to the one-party system. Gone are the days of CNN, ABC, CBC, and the mostly B.S. of the 'controlled-media' for me.
I play with whichever Party is in power and despised Clinton as much as I now do Bush, Jr. I used to tell people I wouldn't vote for Clinton if you put a gun to my head. I mean I really had no use for the clown. The same goes for Jr. though as he has shown himself to be as abusive of his honor to his constituency as Clinton was.
I am also not a Nader type and have not found a philosophical explanation of Socialism or such that works for me. I was very proud of my Perot vote and now rub it in saying, "Remember when that whacko Perot had the crazy idea of balancing the budget deficit by raising the price of gasoline 5 cents a gallon?" We coiuld sure use such a Candidate now as this 'fiscal conservatism' is bankrupting us.
I mostly vent on the sheeple for allowing themselves to be duped by the Republicrats and am resigned that the lives lost and jobs leaving are part and parcel of the government Americans deserve. Everything is fixed and I can't change it I know, but am determined to go to my grave able to say it wasn't my fault for voting a Candidate or Party instead of a ideal. I think a Jefferson or Franklin would vote as I do were they here to see the debacle and shamble that these Republicrats have made of their Government.
My mate was a Johnson Democrat and became 'humanist' which is about as far from me as one can get. We just did not discuss it and made sure we got to the booth to cancel each other out and let it go at that. I can be quite the opposite on an issue and she knew to pack a lunch if she had a refutation to offer.
Over time I have become more tolerant and view most political opinion to be 'felt' more than 'thought' so let people have their fuzzy feelings and plan on the future when empires fall.

shadesofgrey

on Mar 22, 2004

I too consider myself an independent, just as equally voting Dem and Rep depending on the candidate and the important issues during that election cycle. My boyfriend is a staunch Republican, thinks Reagan was the best thing since sliced bread--thinks we'll be naming our first child Reagan--ha! It makes for interesting conversation, and even thugh we are both passionate about our poliltical beliefs, we tend to stay in the realm of debating rather than arguing.

Saint Ying

on Mar 22, 2004

I am a political nut and have been one since I was 7, when I was obsessed with presidents, kings and all sorts of power. I remember making colorful Clinton/Gore signs in second grade, because my parents supported him and I thought he was younger, better looking, and more charismatic than Bush. I'm 19 now and here we are again, but this time I'm gonna have the pleasure of removing a Bush from office with my own vote - and I'll be voting for the candidate that is younger, better looking, and more intellectual than Bush.

I consider myself a passionate liberal in theory, and I support the democratic party in presidential politics, and either democrats or greens in local politics. I think moderate candidates are very useful too, and I'm open to middle road politics. Neither party is perfect by any stretch, but its what we have, and we need to work with that.

csuperman7

on Mar 22, 2004

To exaggerate a little, I'm left of communist. I am very liberal on nearly every issue, both fiscally and on social issues. I hate Republicans and dislike and disagree most Democrats. I don't believe that Nader is liberal enough, but he's the closest there is. I am very passionate and I write my Congresspeople both on state and federal level every week at least, but usually daily. My parter is much more interested in politics than I am, but less active. He much more conservative than I am, but is an avid Democrat nonetheless. We argue all the time about politics, but that's all we fight about. We both know many sides of the issue and play devil's advocate with the other to fuel the debate. I hope that answers your questions, fell free to contact me if you want to know more.

Janders

on Mar 22, 2004

First off thanks to all for the comments, I like hearing others view so I know a little more on what others views, I find it kind of facinating.

Shulamite- In actuallity Husband and I do a vey goo job of listening to eachother. We try to repeat what the other is saying in our own words so we gain understanding. We often say to eachother, "I understand what you are saying, but I don;t agree because.....", or "Do you mean this(followed by explanantion. I know I really find it interesting to listen to him because we learn so much about eachother when we debate. Although I did use the word argue, and our debates can get heated. WE really enjoy debating and ussually do a good job of ending a debate if it could result in us fighting. I know that in a lot of couples this is not the case. My MIL does not allow anyone to talk politics in her house without it ending up in a screaming match!! : )

St. Ying- It is really cool that you started your political interest at such a young age. Congrats on getting to vote on your first presidental election in Nov.

To All: What do you think influences our political views or stance? Is it class structure, our parents views region that we live?

Janders

on Mar 22, 2004

What is your best resource for political information?

vincible

on Mar 22, 2004

Statistically, nothing has a stronger influence on people's political views than the views of their parents, according to political scientists.

Janders

on Mar 23, 2004

csuperman7- when you say you are left of communist would you say you are socialist or a supporter of fascism? I say this not to label or conclude, just curious.

Janders

on Mar 23, 2004

vincible- THanks that answers some ?'s I had. I sided with my parents in my days of being to young to vote, but once I turned 18 I thought my own way! : )
I remember in the 2000 election my parents were going to vote for Bush. I knew I would never be able to get them to vote for Gore, so I worked on getting them to vote for Nader! With enough hard work on them and knowledge of all the canidates I know Nader received 2 votes that Bush would have received the week before! So I think your kids can change your voting patterns too!

Saint Ying

on Mar 23, 2004

I wonder if children of liberal parents are more likely to remain liberal than children of conservative parents are likely to remain conservative, or become more conservative after at first rebelling against their parents values. I would think that neither ideology would be very easy to shake, especially if you are passionate about it from a young age.

I think the biggest factors, from my standard theoretical perspective, are worldview, cosmology, and view of human nature. Worldview might relate to the social and political organazation that is central to our conception of how the world is, cosmology could relate to a deeper understanding of values, human purpose, and religious issues, and view of human nature might be strongly influenced by experience and certain phobias or prejudices that people develop. Of course I'm just throwing out ideas, but these seem pretty important to me, and could obviously be said to come down through parents, churches, schools, peers, and of course the media.

Janders

on Mar 23, 2004

St. Ying- My husband and I were incredibly impressed by your reply. I think you are right in that there are many influences. I think a person's own veiw of human nature is very important depending on their political stance.

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