You criticize others for being brainwashed by the 2 party system, but your own understanding of left and right seems to be based on that very 2 party system
Nope. I don’t use terms like brainwash unless I’m speaking about the literal act, not just media consumption (or making fun of those who do use those terms like I did in another response).
I do think that labels and identity politics are one of the worst things to be socially pushed, however. Group membership, gatekeeping those groups, and surrounding yourself with an echo chamber are the results. And with that, welcome to current politics.
If you’re a “Liberal” and identify as such, then that generally means certain things a large majority of the time. If you call yourself a “Conservative,” then that also has connotations. When was the last time you heard a self-identified Liberal / Conservative want something considered a wedge-issue that was opposite to their standard issue position? It’s increasingly rare.
If you call yourself an independent or centrist, both sides will call you stupid and assume you’re the opposite of what they are by default because they’ve been trained to immediately think the worst about anyone that’s not 100% on-board with what they feel.
I’m in Canada - we have more viable parties than the US (notably the NDP), but it still happens here.
If asked, I don’t tell people I’m anything. I argue individual points because then I can’t be dismissed by people who see only the label and then plug their ears and run away.
You criticize others for being brainwashed by the 2 party system, but your own understanding of left and right seems to be based on that very 2 party system
Nope. I don’t use terms like brainwash unless I’m speaking about the literal act, not just media consumption (or making fun of those who do use those terms like I did in another response).
I do think that labels and identity politics are one of the worst things to be socially pushed, however. Group membership, gatekeeping those groups, and surrounding yourself with an echo chamber are the results. And with that, welcome to current politics. If you’re a “Liberal” and identify as such, then that generally means certain things a large majority of the time. If you call yourself a “Conservative,” then that also has connotations. When was the last time you heard a self-identified Liberal / Conservative want something considered a wedge-issue that was opposite to their standard issue position? It’s increasingly rare.
If you call yourself an independent or centrist, both sides will call you stupid and assume you’re the opposite of what they are by default because they’ve been trained to immediately think the worst about anyone that’s not 100% on-board with what they feel. I’m in Canada - we have more viable parties than the US (notably the NDP), but it still happens here.
If asked, I don’t tell people I’m anything. I argue individual points because then I can’t be dismissed by people who see only the label and then plug their ears and run away.