Why do people over exaggerate politics?

[christos]

I keep seeing people with different view saying things that obviously aren't true. Like Democrats are communists, or Republicans are fascists. Obviously both parties hate each other but seriously, this is America. Neither party is fascist or communist. Gosh if I had to choose a party I'd choose Green. Now I'm not looking for a fight here I just want someone that can calmly explain to a confused teen what this is all about. Both parties seem to have such horrible things to say about the others. The republican candidates want to make America more christian if I'm correct. I thought we had religious freedom for all? Confused...Half my family is republican and half is democrat by the way. I am currently swaying democrat just because some of the laws they've given seem to have benefited my family over the past few years. And then there's immigration. I thought America was built with immigrants. Why should we stop letting them come? Mexico's not exactly a great country to live in right now. They take our jobs but why don't people bring jobs from china so everyone can be happy?Thanks for any mature answers.

[vaiveatoish]

Because there is alot at stake, and over time people invest emotionally in one side or the other. This is not new. Men used to fight duels over this stuff.

[chatima]

Oh come on, every politician's the same, they just want to appear to be radically different to get the votes, and then? You'll realise they hardly fulfil their grand promises during their promising campaigns.

Because people are stupid, they will refuse to believe the harsh reality of politics - that there are boundaries which means all parties in power must go down the same paths. So, parties try to create differing images, in the end? Doesn't matter which you choose, the result is the same.

Exaggeration is used by witty liars to fool the idiotic masses, which unfortunately, has proven to be quite effective... idiocracy.

[crosbey]

Part of the reason politicians highlight difference is that they're trying to distinguish themselves from their opponents, when in fact, most republicans and democrats represents the same pro-corporate lobby (but may differ on which bloc of corporations they represent, as corporation vie for legislation which empowers themselves over other corporations).

What differs most is the Republican and Democrat "Brands" e.g. which population segments they're "selling" to, come election time. That's why the rhetoric is always more extreme than what's implemented. e.g. GW Bush on abortion, he talked a lot about abortion, but did he overturn "Roe vs Wade"? Not on your life!

The centre of each party courts the more "fringe" people on each side, for votes, but when it comes to actual power? No chance! That's why you see the GOP mocking the more extreme "TEA Party" candidates, and the Obama Administration has little time for the OWS crowd. But each party uses language that appeases these fringe groups. It's the playing to these fringe elements on both sides that shapes the debate a lot.

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As for immigration, both PARTIES are pro-immigration. See McCain / Bush amnesty plan, and Obama's DREAM Act. That's because a stream of immigration keeps down labor costs, which helps corporations.

(Corporations are the "customers". It's the same as broadcast TV - the "customer" is the advertiser. The "viewer" is not the customer, but your viewing time is an "asset" to "sell" to the advertiser. Same thing in politics, the customer is whoever pays for the party - that's 90% corporations. But if you're silly enough to donate, they won't complain. Just don't think you're getting a say, that's being silly.)

But high immigration is unpopular with the "core' of both parties - "average" workers. who are smart enough to know that corporations and their political allies want to bring in large numbers of immigrants to keep wages low. It's the RATE of immigration which affects this.