It's a "filter" problem at virtually everybody's end as far as I can see, Amos. They "hear" what they have already decided to hear and "see" what they have already decided to see.

And why? Well, that's a long story. I think that in most people's case it goes back to things that they have been exposed to and influenced by ever since they were children.

For instance...in the household I grew up in socialism was seen as a good thing, and was spoken of in those terms. It was seen as something which helps the ordinary public, provides work for people, takes care of those in need, provides health care and public services, assists the poor and disadvantaged, etc...it was seen as a VERY good thing in my family.

Therefore when I hear the word "socialism", I automatically get a positive signal in my brain.

I would assume that in DougR's family socialism was seen as a very bad thing. It was associated with communism, dictatorship, government oppression, a police state, government waste of money, inefficiency, etc...

Yet DougR and I BOTH want to see a society that helps the poor, provides work for people, takes care of those in need, provides good health care and public services, etc..... ;-)

But we react differently to the outward symbols and words, while actually holding the same hopes for humanity in general! Therein lies the problem.

Most people have hundreds of unconscious buttons in their minds that are pushed by different words, symbols, appearances, party labels, and other mental triggers that flip a person in an instant to a positive or negative reaction. Once the reaction is there, the mind busily starts filtering on the basis of the reaction...and away it goes.

People are highly subjective, but they don't usually realize it. They think they are being objective when all they are usually doing is rehashing their old emotional blocks and patterns, and reacting to superficial stimuli.

They are also astonishingly loyal to their established argument, once they have decided upon it...regardless of new evidence that might suggest altering their position. Why? Because their established argument has become a part of who they are. They defend it as they would defend their own identity, and they will continue defending it out of sheer pride and stubbornness to the bitter end...because to not do so is like letting part of oneself die or be destroyed.

That's why most of the political arguments between people here are endless, essentially futile, and have no likely resolution.

However, we all like to express ourselves, don't we? So expect more of the same...