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What people crave is civil discourse that presents the "clash of ideas" in an informative, reasoned, and civil manner, rather than by demonizing those on the other side. Many Americans think -- and I am one of the them -- that however great our challenges are, and however much we may disagree as to both the nature of the problem and the solutions, there is often common ground to be found and that common ground should be occupied and extended whenever possible. -- wbgonne
Pedinska has already highlighted the unsupported nature of this sweet assertion, but it's always worth another good shot here in Partisanland.
If you must speak broadly about Teh People, at least make some effort to ground your assertions in their observable behaviors. What do they enjoy watching at the movies? What sports do they favor? What activities do they prefer to engage in in their spare time? But, doing that would leave you in a bit of a pickle wouldn't it?
There is nothing in the mass behavior of the American people that suggests we are averse to conflict at the highest levels of government. We love "conflict" in almost every other arena; why then would this most important one be so different?
It is unlikely that the sight & sound of politicians truly fighting for different agendas disgusts most Americans. Rather, it is all the fake, "partisan" Kabuki "reported" in the newsmedia that disgusts them. Real politics is and should be a contact sport played on a public field, but at present it's nothing of the sort.
As pow-wow mentioned (yesterday?), almost nothing of substance is decided in open debate anymore; it's all back room, all the time. The American public has been subjected to media-massaged political sound-and-fury for years now, but all that breathlessly "reported" partisan infighting never results in substantial changes in governance. Because it's fake. It's fake and it stinks of bad acting (our elected officials are not exactly Leonardo DiCaprio).
Do you think that Americans would sleep through a "Prime Ministers 15 Minutes" type of weekly debate if we were only allowed the pleasure of watching one? I don't. I think we generally love a good fight. We are never given one, however.
