Agree more than disagree?

**BENESSE** · 05-11-2013, 12:30 PM

Excellent article, hope you read the whole thing; it makes you put things in perspective when it comes to thinking about "us" vs. "them", and perhaps realize that it we are not as divided as the media likes to portray it.
http://news.yahoo.com/maybe-american...125247609.html

Highlights quoted:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Can we agree on this? Americans still think alike much of the time even if our politicians don't.

To get heads nodding, just say something worrisome about the economy or dismissive of Washington. Almost all Americans consider themselves very patriotic, believe in God, value higher education and admire those who get rich through hard work.
Not much argument there.

The nation is enduringly optimistic about Americans' ability to solve problems, but it's pessimistic about the people who make the rules in government and politics. Majorities believe elected officials are out of touch and harming the nation, and most say they prefer leaders who are willing to compromise, a rarity in Washington now.

There's bipartisan disdain for lawmakers. The divided Congress gets 15 percent approval from Republicans and 13 percent among Democrats, according to Gallup.

Despite the party shifts, stricter environmental rules and old-fashioned values are still endorsed by 7 out of 10 people.

Times of crisis create a rallying effect, epitomized by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Bush's presidential approval rating jumped to 90 percent, the highest in Gallup's history. Approval of Congress reached 84 percent.

In ordinary times, unity of opinion might be the wrong goal.
"If everybody agreed, there would be no debate," said Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport. "There's an argument to be made that from debate and disagreement come truth."

**greatgoogamooga** · 05-11-2013, 09:25 PM

I have some very good friends who are of an opposing political viewpoint. We agree to disagree and, essentially, dont' bring up certain subjects. We can get into debates on small details and never resolve the point. It's not the big picture that's the problem, it's the details, sometimes. We just seem to have a different logic.

Goog

**BENESSE** · 05-12-2013, 12:07 AM

Same here, Goog, with some of my friends.
There is some comfort though in feeling that at least, we share the same values...the very reason we are friends in the first place.

**Ken** · 05-12-2013, 08:16 AM

Agree more than disagree? It certainly hasn't stopped centuries of violent conflict. Consider the Conflict in Northern Ireland, the Shia-Sunni Conflict, the weekly "Do we order Greek Pizza or Italian Pizza" conflict...

So far as I'm concerned, you should have the right to live your life as you choose, so long as you don't interfere with the rights of anyone else to enjoy their own life, liberty, or property, and you don't cause anyone else to face a significant risk of harm without their consent.

I will never understand how comparatively insignificant differences result in wars. Except for the pizza issue.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Shia_vs_Sunni

**natertot** · 05-12-2013, 09:23 PM

I believe the country as a whole believes in the same fundamental ideas. Ei, innocent people should not be killed, drugs are bad, the economy sucks and so on. What divides us is the solution to the problems or their prevention.