This is an open question to the board and the forum:
How do we deal with the leftists’ tactics for “arguing”? (I’ve put the word “arguing” in quotes for a reason).
We’ve all been there. You’re in a discussion with some democrat or some liberal (there’s really no difference these days) and you’re trying to actually debate them on some point or other. The exchange could go something like this:
You: “I think Obama’s spending too much. Macroeconomic theory tells us that the government is notoriously bad at picking winners and losers; I believe an incentive program that allows people and companies to choose where to spend their money themselves is a more effective means to stimulate economic growth. As a matter of fact, citizens around the country are organizing ‘Tea Parties’ to protest the spending and the coming tax increases.”
The lib you’re talking to: “You’re crazy and so are all those whackos and their ‘Teabagging’. You know, the GOP used to stand for something. Now you’re all a bunch of crazy, gay-hating fundamentalists who argue about nothing. I miss the old GOP that use to want to discuss REAL issues. If you all don’t figure out a way to bring them back, you’re going the way of the Whigs!”
So to recap: You cited 2 opinions (“I think Obama’s spending too much”, and “I believe an incentive program that allows people and companies to choose where to spend their money themselves is a more effective means to stimulate economic growth”) and two facts (“Macroeconomic theory tells us that the government is notoriously bad at picking winners and losers” and “As a matter of fact, citizens around the country are organizing ‘Tea Parties’ to protest the spending and the coming tax increases”).
In short, a reasonably well-balanced argument. But the liberal – and no, lurkers, this is no strawman. This is how your side is behaving these days – ignored what you had to say, called you names, then claimed you never said anything.
Want examples? Sure. The GOP budget – not a single peep about a wonderful plan to simplify the tax code for all. The tea parties themselves. On and on.
How do we counterargue this tactic? I realize that the other side is seriously outgunned when it comes to any real issue and has to resort to this kind of thing (after all, you can’t spell liberal without an ‘L’ an ‘I’ and an ‘E’), but what we’re seeing on daily basis has risen to the level of the ridiculous.
Make a criticism of Barack Obama? You’re the featured whipping boy on Jon Stewart the very next day. And that’s the BEST you can hope for. At worst, you’ll find yourself labeled a racist Nazi hater or some other kind of vile slander.
So again, how the hell do we fight this without becoming like them?
