General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I can not have a friend who is a Republican.. [View all]Sanddog42
(117 posts)If nothing else it gives me the opportunity to open their eyes about issues important to me.
And it gives me an opportunity to open my eyes and overcome misconceptions about their viewpoint.
I fear that the more segregated we become the further we'll drift apart.
In fact, I recall in how people criticized pre-Gingrich Congress for fraternizing with the opposition outside of work. How could Democrats and Republicans really stand for their principles in the House during the day and have cocktails together at night, or take in a ballgame on the weekend, or taking family vacations together? The argument was that we needed to become more partisan. I think the unintended consequence is that one side, being more inclined to reasonable compromise, allowed the other side to drag the whole spectrum of political discourse to bizarre extremes.