Insightful column by NYTimes's Kristol about "echo chambers" of political discussion (enemy, generation)

[ParkTwain]

This idea explains a lot of what you see happening on the City-Data.com chat boards about American politics.

He mentions a sociological study in which Rs and Ds were most eager to read arguments from those who reflected their own points of view.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/op...19kristof.html
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Almost half of Americans now live in counties that vote in landslides either for Democrats or for Republicans, he said. In the 1960s and 1970s, in similarly competitive national elections, only about one-third lived in landslide counties.

“The nation grows more politically segregated — and the benefit that ought to come with having a variety of opinions is lost to the righteousness that is the special entitlement of homogeneous groups,” Mr. Bishop writes.
...
The danger is that this self-selected “news” acts as a narcotic, lulling us into a self-confident stupor through which we will perceive in blacks and whites a world that typically unfolds in grays.
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PLEASE READ THE COLUMN. I'M ONLY VERY INCOMPLETELY DESCRIBING ITS CONTENTS.

[padcrasher]

He's projecting....Kristol the hack has spent his whole career trying to lump people and issues as either black or white, good or evil....Wow! What nerve he has!

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by ParkTwain

This idea explains a lot of what you see happening on the City-Data.com chat boards about American politics.

He mentions a sociological study in which Rs and Ds were most eager to read arguments from those who reflected their own points of view.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/op...19kristof.html
//
Almost half of Americans now live in counties that vote in landslides either for Democrats or for Republicans, he said. In the 1960s and 1970s, in similarly competitive national elections, only about one-third lived in landslide counties.

“The nation grows more politically segregated — and the benefit that ought to come with having a variety of opinions is lost to the righteousness that is the special entitlement of homogeneous groups,” Mr. Bishop writes.
...
The danger is that this self-selected “news” acts as a narcotic, lulling us into a self-confident stupor through which we will perceive in blacks and whites a world that typically unfolds in grays.
//

Amazing serendipity. I was just saying in another thread the need for confirmation bias is like a blankie, and the deep seated insecurities that apparently go along with that are so easily exploitable by pundits. I'm worried about our country... yet another joke to an international OP... america is having a psychiatric emergency, don't mind us.

Partial origins in media- absolutely. Fear mongering over sold- yes. False bravado of previous admin-- it's so much more comforting to believe the emperor HAS clothes, but eventually even that denial becomes too difficult to sustain. Odd how in need of validation my fellow citizens seem to be.

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My enemy is not my fellow citizens. My enemy is lies.
Every time I find a conservative who is an enemy of lies, I find my America.
Every time I find a liberal who is an enemy of lies, I find my America.
I do not care what their religion is, what generation, what color state or skin. This for me is the only 'for me or against me' affinity argument worthy of enlistment.
Let my America stand on truth. ~Harborlady