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From an outsider's perspective, it's even odder; to us, the principal two (two!) political parties are almost identical. Their ideologies are so similar that so
by EliRivers 12y ago
From an outsider's perspective, it's even odder; to us, the principal two (two!) political parties are almost identical. Their ideologies are so similar that sometimes I mix up which side is in favour/against which particular hot-topic.
So the politics of the US seems, from this outsider's perspective, to be extraordinarily similar until you get to the real fringes, and yet despite (because of?) this similarity is so full of fury.
- mmcconnell1618 12y agoA polite, rational conversation does not get high viewership in the media. Television, radio, print all focus on the fringes because that's what generates viewers/listeners/readers which in turn creates revenue. People in the US can agree on a great many things but media allows them to self reinforce extreme views. There are no requirements for balanced journalism reflecting reality. When 95% of experts agree on something and get the same 1 minute of air time that a representative of the 5% get it creates the appearance that both arguments have equal value. I can't fault media companies for catering to extremes because they are businesses and the model has proven to drive more revenue. I don't think this will change until the public starts rejecting fringe reporting (not likely to happen anytime soon).
- throwaway344 12y agoAnd from my perspective Labour and Conservatives seem really similar! That seems particularly strong post-Blair. I mean the parties in the UK agree on pretty much all the major issues (particularly social trigger points like abortion, LGBT stuff), save perhaps for how to deal with inequality. Most of the big issues in the UK seem to be much less major by comparison.