Know the Opposition

The difference between one who is informed and one who is merely opinionated lies in the ability to understand the arguments of those that they oppose.

What I would like people to do is to choose any issue and do your best to explain the thinking of those you disagree with. And please do not post anything sarcastic or insulting. Do your best to explain the other guy's opinion as accurately as possible.

For instance, regarding income redistribution:

The Left feels that society is fundamentally unfair. They believe in the notion of a birth lottery in which one is either born into wealth or poverty and that the system is rigged to ensure only those born into wealth can succeed.

This unfairness, is in some ways the natural product of Capitalism and also due to a conscious and concerted effort of an "old boy's network" comprised of rich white men who conspire to keep others down.

They argue that this all amounts to economic injustice and that the only way to achieve true equality (a level playing field) is to tax the rich and give to the poor.

Now, I think I have done a fairly good job of explaining the Left's view of income redistribution. Now, does anybody who holds the views described above wish to try to explain why someone on the Right might disagree with the argument above?

Once again, make an honest effort to explain how someone on the Right might view income redistribution. Please don't vandalize the thread by posting insults or sarcasm.

wait, i thought i heard.......
no, that's just a cricket.

Wow, I can't really say I am surprised.

OK, since nobody responded perhaps someone would like to try it with another topic.

We have health care, national defense, gay marriage, school prayer - you name it. Just pick a topic and do the best you can to explain the other side's position. Surly anyone with strong political opinions can do this.

Strange that nobody even made an attempt.

Ok let me try one, OK.
I'm a social liberal so I will field a socially liberal topic of Gay Marrage.

The Right believe that two people
do not deserve the same privledges
as two other people due to what sex organs they posess. (and what they do with them in the dark)

Using as their only guild a few Versus from the bible.
They persecute a segment of our sociaty.

Due to these tactics one is incapable of using sick family time
to care for a loved one because that loved one is of the same sex.

There did I do it?

ilkhan said:

Ok let me try one, OK.
I'm a social liberal so I will field a socially liberal topic of Gay Marrage.

The Right believe that two people
do not deserve the same privledges
as two other people due to what sex organs they posess. (and what they do with them in the dark)

Using as their only guild a few Versus from the bible.
They persecute a segment of our sociaty.

Due to these tactics one is incapable of using sick family time
to care for a loved one because that loved one is of the same sex.

There did I do it?

Click to expand...

No, you failed miserably.

The point is to demonstrate that you understand the other side's point. The point is not to try to show the other side's arguments in the worst possible light.

Besides what you mentioned, can you think of any reasons at all one might be concerned with preserving the historic definition of marriage?

My turn.

Progressives believe this nation was fundamentally flawed from its very beginning.

That the U.S has a shameful history whose only remedy has been by means of government.

They believe that any true greatness, or source of pride, in the U.S. has been made possible through government. The only way the U.S. can be a source for good is by government.

The U.S. is only great because of government.

Johnnyorganic said:

My turn.

Progressives believe this nation was fundamentally flawed from its very beginning.

That the U.S has a shameful history whose only remedy has been by means of government.

They believe that any true greatness, or source of pride, in the U.S. has been made possible through government. The only way the U.S. can be a source for good is by government.

The U.S. is only great because of government.

Click to expand...

I know for a fact many do make that argument. in fact I've heard Howard Zin do so. However, some specifics might be helpful. And maybe someone who is a Progressive would like to comment on his accuracy.

Rick ...

You are asking progressives to come up with cogent arguments for their belief systems. In order for them to do that, they would first have to set aside all of their emotions and adopt a logical perspective. Isn't that like pissing in the wind?