Any ideas on how to improve the political discourse?

Question

In this political climate, it is so much easier just to throw insults around than to have a thoughtful discussion. How can regular people make a difference in changing this?

Answer 1

Start the trend, and use labels as seldom as possible. Stop the discussion if insults are thrown and walk away. Don't use words like "always" or "all" or "never" or "none".

People will eventually realize how much better debates are that way; and if they don't, then they weren't interested in having a debate in the first place.

Answer 2

Stop affiliating by a "party" and realize that this government has its own agenda to benefit itself at the expense of the people. Too many people have been fooled and are like lambs being led to the slaughter. We need to have discussions regarding the bills that are being passed regularly that rob us of our liberties and rape our freedoms. We need to stand together as Americans and not apart as Democrats and Republicans.

Answer 3

Yes, political parties are killing us.  I can take a Democrat and a Republican off of the street, don't tell them of each other's political affiliation, and you will see that mostly they will agree on the important issues.  

The Republicans are against this because the Dems are for it.  The Dems are against that because the Reps are for it.  Instead of being for the good of the country, they always keep bickering like a bunch of school aged children.  You ever see those senate debates?  All they do is throw barbs around at everyone.  If you don't have something constructive to say, shut up.  Then those sessions wouldn't last all night.

Regular people need to get out there and vote and raise awareness of what actually is going on.  Many people don't realize that this huge split of the political right and left is going to tear this country in half.  Soon, we'll be fighting like the Sunnis and Shias are in Iraq.

I think that reasonable people can agree on most of the important issues.

Answer 4

Stop treating politics like a sport, where your "team" has to "win".

Answer 5

I think your absolutely right, people bash each other way to much!! I think a person should evaluate all the information objectively and make a decision based on facts not what party they are in. But the media is bias and does alot of bashing on both sides, I think people need to start listening. That to me is the biggest problem people want to rebuttal what you say before you can even say what you are saying(if that makes sense). Patients is a virtue and people just don't have it anymore!!

Answer 6

If you are smart & articulate run for Congress or the White House, if you know someone that you think would do what needs to be done in D.C. have them run. It won't get better unless we have a real choice to pick from. Right now we don't, & I personally would vote for someone that did not have any experience in government, over the so called choices we have now. Until & unless working people get into office we will get the same thieves, liars, & crooks we have now.

Answer 7

Best way would be to start supporting candidates for what they stand for and not what party they belong to. I registered as an independent because I no longer feel either party will do what is best for our country.

Answer 8

Replace all  sitting politicians up for relection in the next 6 years and start with a clean slate.

Answer 9

By using myverdict.net.

It's free, anonymous, carries no ads and doesn't sell anything.

Answer 10

RESPECT one another. I agree; there are way too many silly insults tossed about.

THINK about why you support the politicians, issues, etc. that you support. If you're voting for Candidate X because s/he's Republican, why does that label make you want to vote for that person? If you're pro-choice, why do you think women should have that choice? Before you take on somebody else's opinions, understand your own.

READ the newspaper as much as possible. It's just helpful.

BE AWARE OF SEMANTICS. What are the differences between public healthcare, universal healthcare, and socialized healthcare?

Answer 11

Make everyone read the Bible, (Not as pro-Christian as it sounds, of lot of us lost the Faith that way,) and Webster's New World English Dictionary.

And drop a 16 ton weight on the next guy who says, "Bring it on!" Which wouldn't be a bad thing for the troops either. Bush said, "Bring it on," and the insurgents did.

One lash for each time a politician changes his story and thinks we won't notice.