Political discussions, can anybody share experience

[raccoon]

Has anybody here ever had any experience discussing politics with someone who was a real Bush supporter/conservative, where the other person as a result of the discussion actually changed their opinion, or at least started thinking about it?

The majority of the time, they aren’t going to change their opinions (true whether you’re conservative or progressive). Usually, it seems to me, the end result is that both people get ticked off and nobody’s thinking has changed at all.

Any suggestions as to how one COULD approach political discussions with those whose views are at the other end of the political spectrum would be appreciated. Also, if someone could point me to threads dealing with this, that would also be appreciated.

[kentuck]

1. Check out this site:

www.freerepublic.com and see if you agree with them more than us...

[bryant69]

2. Yes on small points. I haven't turned anybody completely around

If you want to discuss with someone, you need to consider what your goals are up front, and how realistic those goals are. First of all consider how possible is it that your opponent could change his or her mind? Is he or she just full of himself and unwilling to listen? More to the point, does he or she really give a damn about America?

If you look at your opponent and determine that he or she has somewhat of an open mind and genuinely cares about the future of this country, well, build on that. Start from where you agree and work from there. Show him how Bush Policies do not align with his other principles. But, in my opinion, it's best to do it in a building sort of way.

I guess there are two ways to argue--one is to focus on tearing down his or her beliefs, and the other is to focus on building on the beliefs he or she has that are positive. In building up from a solid foundation, the BS Conservative beliefs can eventually be tumbled from inside, so to speak.

That's my take on it, anyway.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Warpy]

3. All the time

but not with ranters and screamers. Right now, they're unreachable, although they're defensive enough that you know they're in some serious pain from all that cognitive dissonance.

Ordinary folks who watch the mainstream broadcast news every night and think they're informed are the ones who are reachable. Genereally, asking questions is the best way to do it. Pointing out contradictions is also helpful, although not as much. When all else fails, and if they're churchgoers, pointing out how these policies are not only unchristian, they're anti Christian, is also good, but it has to be done fairly gently. It packs a real wallop.

[Just Me]

4. I've had many fruitful discussions.

Fortunately, the extremists are few and far between the rest of reasonable Americans.