American political rhetoric

[Astaroth]

Having been to the US a couple of times and occasionally checking out FOX News (for the laugh), MSNBC, CNN and the likes, I've noticed that the political rhetoric in the US is quite extreme compared to anything here in my country.

Everything the politicians say is so completely over the top -- and I don't just mean their extreme positions but rather the way they say it.

It seems like everything gets exaggerated way beyond what politicians in other countries usually do.

E.g. things that are referred to everywhere as health insurance and the likes immediately become "entitlement programs" (notice the negative tone); federal health care creates "death panels"; everyone left of the middle of the political spectrum is a "communist" or at least a "socialist"; Obama will "destroy" the country; the government is compared to Nazi Germany etc etc.

Of course hyperboles are common in politicis, but in America it is all just so ridiculously over the top.

Now my questions are:

Do these politicians actually believe what they say?
Do people fall for that nonsense?
And why is the political rhetoric in the US so much more extreme than in most other Western countries?

[Town Watch]

Voting system is a little bit archaic isn't it? Both in the general election and presidential election. Voting system is basically the primary cause for the two party system, and when the parties start trading favors between each other the differences between the parties sort of stagnate into nothingness.

[Kanaric]

Having been to the US a couple of times and occasionally checking out FOX News (for the laugh), MSNBC, CNN and the likes, I've noticed that the political rhetoric in the US is quite extreme compared to anything here in my country.

Everything the politicians say is so completely over the top -- and I don't just mean their extreme positions but rather the way they say it.

It seems like everything gets exaggerated way beyond what politicians in other countries usually do.

E.g. things that are referred to everywhere as health insurance and the likes immediately become "entitlement programs" (notice the negative tone); federal health care creates "death panels"; everyone left of the middle of the political spectrum is a "communist" or at least a "socialist"; Obama will "destroy" the country; the government is compared to Nazi Germany etc etc.

Of course hyperboles are common in politicis, but in America it is all just so ridiculously over the top.

Now my questions are:

Do these politicians actually believe what they say?
Do people fall for that nonsense?
And why is the political rhetoric in the US so much more extreme than in most other Western countries?

Yes

Yes

From who I've talked to its not different at all. Especially in the 80s in the UK or in asian parliaments.

It is a polarizing era that will eventually pass.

[AUSSIE11]

it's interesting, over here it is much the same to the extent that the leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, is nicknamed Dr No because it doesn't matter what the government proposes Abbott will go off his nut about how it will destroy working families lives. also it's descended into sloganeering here.

From what i'v seen of the American election and the political system its not too different, main thing is that with 10 times the population comes 10 times the political extremists therefore making it viable for them to possess a mainstream media presence which advertises their views and makes them more vocal. though that happens here too with "journalists" such as Andrew Bolt.

[saglam2000]

They try to stir up senseless emotion to win, it works sadly. I hate this political system i have to live with.

[Winston Churchill]

I've lived in the USA just over a year and do find the political conversation and general atmosphere to be much more hostile then my native Britain. Around where I live (Missouri) I believe one of the reasons is that political parties have been successful in politicizing religion which gets people extremely worked up one way or the other. There is in many (by no means all) people a complete refusal to consider points made by anyone in the 'other' party, with extremely generalized and hard to back up claims flung around.

Both sides are guilty of this, though because it is a Democrat in the presidential office, the most extreme rhetoric seems to me at least to be coming from Republicans. I am sure that when there is a republican in office again, democrats will be hurling the quite frankly outrageous claims.

It is not a situation I pretend to understand since I did not grow up in it, just as my bemusement with it is met with a lack of understanding by those who did grow up in it. To outside eyes it doesn't make sense, but to many (again not all) involved, there is no other way. I sincerely doubt that every politician believes his own words, but people are definitely swayed by words of both politicians and media involved on both sides. It is quite amazing to see actually.

[xcorps]

What do you think gets more press:

Senator A: We must establish better oversight of entitlement spending to reduce waste.
Senator B: "Senator A hates the poor! He says entitlement spending is wasteful!"

Soundbites get politicians on TV. Outrageous statements get politicians soundbites.

[Exarch]

instead of a power duopoly by 2 major political parties, insert at least 5 major political parties

[Sir Winston Churchill]

Do these politicians actually believe what they say?

Oh of course not.

Do people fall for that nonsense?

Oh of course.

And why is the political rhetoric in the US so much more extreme than in most other Western countries?

Because it's where they originally sent all their wackos and extremists. It's in our pilgrim blood.

[Condottiere 40K]

At least with the Westminster system, the executive has the support of the legislature, in most cases.