> they discussed the issues in dramatically different ways. http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2007/05/31/more-than-just-resistance-of-s/ http://scienceblogs.com/cl

> they discussed the issues in dramatically different ways. http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2007/05/31/more-than-just-resistance-of-s/ http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2007/05/31/more-than-just-resi... While this article is about creationism (it was written as part of the "intelligent design" drama), it is still the best discussion of the key difference between (USA-style) left/right politics. The key insight, summarized: while many people respond to logic and reasoning, others respond primarily to the phatic language of the speaker. This means that trying to convince someone who is strongly "conservative" of something, the usual approach of arguing facts and logic doesn't work. You have to break the language barrier first.