Can't We All Just Get Along?

One thing is for sure if you post on blogs etc; you will find that not everyone agrees with you. In fact, it appears we must be on different planets the way we differ on issues, facts, and assumptions. Two people can read the exact same thing and come to opposite conclusions. Global warming is a big issue this way, but so too is healthcare, spending policies, the handling of terrorists, etc.

I found an very interesting article today that explains why we seem to be so far apart. It also may explain why bipartisanship is so difficult to achieve.

Here is an excerpt from it:

"Hierarchicalists prefer a social order where people have clearly defined roles based on stable characteristics such as class, race, or gender. Egalitarians want to reduce racial, gender, and income inequalities. Individualists expect people to succeed or fail on their own, while Communitarians believe that society is obligated to take care of everyone. Generally speaking, Individualists tend to dismiss claims of environmental risks because they fear such claims will be used to fetter markets and other arenas of individual achievement. Hierarchicalists tend to see claims of environmental risk as a subversive tactic aiming to undermine a stable social order. In contrast, Egalitarians and Communitarians dislike markets and industry for creating disparities in wealth and power. In fact, they readily believe that such disparities generate environmental risks that must be regulated."

You can read the rest of it here: http://reason.com/archives/2010/02/23/everyone-who-knows-what-they-a