I don't distinguish lunacies based on Political Orientation

[cthulu2016]

A chief virtue of the center-left (defined here as mixed economy socialism and inalienable individual rights) is that it is the spectrum band that requires the least acceptance of bullshit, and is a clustering point for the rational minded.

The center-right is hopelessly deluded on economics—as deluded on economics as the far-right is on evolution and paleontology.

The relative rationality of the center left does not, however, mean that left-lunacy is less lunatic than right-lunacy. The left-lunacy mindset is arguably more deviant, since unlike right-lunacy it lacks the support of a national party. (Deviant here meaning willfully out-of-step for the sake of being out-of-step... as an expression of personality and perceived place in the world.)

"We" can be just as crazy as "them."

Kurt Vonnegut once said that human groups are defined by the lies they believe in common. There is much to that.

The question arises, for each of us personally, how much lunacy do we accept for the sake of solidarity?

And is lunacy in a "good cause" actually helpful? Is it helpful to claim that the entire Greenland ice pack melted in the space of a few weeks last summer? It is helpful to claim that our elections are actually cyber-contests between competing criminal organizations?

What good follows from such delusions? They serve to support global warming deniers and to make Democrats concerned about voter suppression (a very real thing) look ridiculous by association.

The price of joining and belonging to anything is a selective softening of critical function. Our family, our nation... our high school football team.

And properly so... up to a point. Not everyone's spouse is beautiful. Not everyone's kids are smart. But we think poorly of someone who talks about his ugly wife and dumb children. I suggests a lack of the expected, wholesome family bond.

We cut in-group persons some slack, and that's the price of belonging.

And soldiers who drink some of the the kool-aid are the best soldiers. Better than purely rational actors or total zealots.

There are limits, though. And I suppose it is up to each individual to find them.

[YoungDemCA]

1. I don't distinguish right-wingers based on political orientation

Regardless if they call themselves Republicans, Democrats, or "Independents."

[bluestate10]

2. I consider my self a tad Left of Center, ever so slight. I believe in individual responsibility,

but I also believe in helping those in need of help. I am a fiscal Moderate, I watch my business and personal expanses closely and want the country to do the same. But I won't tolerate not living up to the promise this country has made to the elderly, seeing them suffer in any way diminishes me. I believe in a strong defense, but don't see how throwing endless money at defense brings about a strong defense, I would rather see every dollar spent well spent and accounted for.

I see a difference between the extreme Left and the extreme right, the extreme Left has a pure, true heart - that causes me to tolerate and struggle with the extreme Left, even as I look upon them as wrong headed at critical times. Both have a tendency to yell fire in a crowded theater when doing that suits their purpose, without regard to consequences. Both have damaged the causes they claim to love, the extreme Left by giving us Bush in Florida 2000 and the wars and excessive spending that followed, the right by constantly blowing up less crazy right wing voices among them during primaries.