A real debate, a real conversation

[evil-in-deed]

democrats... a puppet for the people...

republicans... a puppet for one very rich person...

[eclps05975]

In order to carry on a debate and a real conversation without being personally attacked, a person first has to be civilized about what they are trying to debate. Anyhow, some people don't know the meaning of what a debate is. To them a debate is basically a verbal war against one another in use of their own opinions about the subject. They then start name calling and getting personal when others' opinions differ from that of theirs.   Truth of the matter is majority of peb hmong don't know how to debate.  

[3miao]

Both sides have some good points.  Repubicans wants less governments.  Democrats wants to help the disadvantaged.  Problem with republicans is hypocracy.  They want to codify moral behaviors.  Is that less government?  They want subsidies for businesses.  Less government?  Problem with democrats is  moral hazard.  Dead beats not carrying their wait.  And its okay?  Who could afford to pay for them forever?  It also creates more dead beats.  It has a snow ball effect.  Its bad really fast. Budget crisis.

[evil-in-deed]

this is actually a "argument" forum...

but calling it "debate" just so people can feel like they know what theyre talking about...

[3miao]

I noticed.

[joe]

I'm sick and tired of partisan politics. I'm sick of one side winning by a slim margin and calling it a mandate. I'd rather talk about our similarities rather than our differences. I'd rather focus on working together to achieve a better future for us all rather than selectively to achieve a better future for "some" and not others. I'm sick of the polarization and the ignorance.

I find these "debate" forums are not populated by fact based opinions but "feelings" and "assumptions". This kind of gut reaction thinking only stifles true debate and devolves into nothing more than a shouting match.

Yes I have been extremely passionate about some things (mostly social issues) but I am more than willing to objectively listen to the fact based opinions of my counterparts on the other side of the political spectrum and I hope they'd do the same for my fact based opinons as well.

Just for those who question my loyalty to any political party, I do not belong to any. I find myself too progressive even for Dems, but as they are the only group with any power whose values are more in line with my own I support them marginally over the Republicans. I do believe in practicality too though, that we should consider practical solutions, not idealized ones...this means compromise (a word that is rarely spoken in politics nowadays---especially by the right wing).

So please, if you're posting in these debate forums I'd like to hear more than just your "opinion". I'd like to hear WHY your opinion is valid and what facts you have to back it up...otherwise, it is not a debate, it's just a shouting match.

BS

In your case I make an exception, you are an idiot. You lack critical reading and comprehension skills, you cannot assert your position with any clarity or grace, you say stupid things often.

Also, anyone who takes a "moral" stand against another person's personal choice when that choice doesn't effect them negatively is an idiot. You cannot call yourself a thoughtful person if your morality is absolute, which in your case it seems to be.

Don't worry, you don't have to think for yourself, you seem to parrot conservative talking points like the human puppet you are.

Yep, it was BS.

My biggest issue with male Republicans generally is they cannot tell me why THEY THEMSELVES believe this crap. They believe it, but they don't have their own rational reasons for believing it. I cannot deal with these simpleton morons, I just don't have the patience for people who cannot critically analyze information and have some sort of practical rationale for believing in it.

I do notice that when men tend to be Democrats they can assert their beliefs with some sense of intelligence and rationale, instead of gut feelings.

If you haven't noticed, I only dismiss you in the Debate forums or threads on social issues. I don't carry that over to any other forum, in fact I recall trying to be helpful when you had questions in the Health forum.

I will not pull any punches, if you're acting like an idiot I will say so.

I see a pattern developing.