Why do people pick one political side and rail against others for a mere difference in ideals?

Simply put, it's far easier to simply paint a whole side a certain color than to realize that they come in different shades. When you can unify your opponents behind one ideology and one intellect, it gives you a lot of ammo to use, and you don't really have to think about their positions. Calling them stupid is a great way to prevent any real conversation. I've found that the few conservatives I end up really talking to tend to think similarly to me in a lot of ways, and that we find a lot more in common than we expect. The problem is that most people can't get to that stage, and it comes from both sides. I know very well that a lot of the liberals who I associate with can be very vindictive when it comes to insulting the other side. These people just don't want to argue, they don't want to have to defend their viewpoints. It's sad that this is where political discourse has gone.

hahaha good question. It is because we are human and we think we are right all the time no matter what. Not every conservative and every liberal acts like that, but as a whole the political teams are usually represented by a few people. And, since we have a two party system(which is good, not bad) people automatically you assume you agree with every principle associated with that party...plus politicians think that yelling louder makes them win.

Its competition or people think they know more than others so they ridicule others that don't agree with them Rather than see other side they argue their point only by ridicule Usually ones that resort to ridicule really don't know what they are talking about. Not sure if this is the answer your looking for but these are thoughts that come to mind when I answered this question

I'm not sure why but it does seem to be the case doesn't it? If our country were invaded and we stood shoulder to shoulder to defend it, would anyone actually care if the person standing next to them was a liberal or a conservative? I doubt it.

Cons and libs don't just think each other idiots.

They also think that anyone who disagrees with them is the other political wing.

I could say "Hey, we should give that homeless guy a quarter" and a slew of cons will declare me a socialist liberal and attempt to burn me at the stake for heresy.

Or I could say "Man, I wish I had my FICA money back" and a gaggle of libs (yes, they travel in gaggles) would drag me behind their Prius.

I'm a Conservative (UK citizen) and I find a lot (not all) of left wing ideology to be completely stupid, because of my views and what I think we should do to achieve them. Like I think we should cut spending while Labour wants to spend, spend, spend...to me this is completely wrong.

I'm a Student (most of my friends support Lib Dems) and I'm also Scottish (most Scots support Labour) so I'm constantly getting me point of view ridiculed by others around me.

Some people have never learned that a different opinion is not a personal attack on them. Listening to other people's opinions with respect is a learned behaviour.

:)