Ideologies are no less meaningful and complex today then they ever were. The difference you perceive is due to the media being designed for mass consumption. In order to market to the masses the media has to play to the lowest common denomonator (unless it is a niche media outlet with a very specific target market). Unfortunately, the lowest common denomonator is not someone versed in politics, philosophy and ideology, subsequently, the neuances of ideologies are not communicated by media outlets. The average media consumer simply doesn't have the frame of reference necessary to understand complex ideologies so the media boils the ideology down into neat little 2 second sound bites that people can easily remember. The ideologies remain as philisophical as they ever were, if you read politcal writings outside of what the mass media offers you will quickly understand this.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

The problem is that people are somehow imprinted with the idea that they need to have an opinion about everything.

Example: Men thinking that they have a say in the abortion of a woman who is a complete stranger.

Yet they feel so passionately about their opinion on the matter, even though they can never have a child themselves, nor understand the circumstances or views of a stranger.

Interestingly fucked up psychology that people often demonstrate...

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard Ideologies are no less meaningful and complex today then they ever were. The difference you perceive is due to the media being designed for mass consumption. In order to market to the masses the media has to play to the lowest common denomonator (unless it is a niche media outlet with a very specific target market). Unfortunately, the lowest common denomonator is not someone versed in politics, philosophy and ideology, subsequently, the neuances of ideologies are not communicated by media outlets. The average media consumer simply doesn't have the frame of reference necessary to understand complex ideologies so the media boils the ideology down into neat little 2 second sound bites that people can easily remember. The ideologies remain as philisophical as they ever were, if you read politcal writings outside of what the mass media offers you will quickly understand this.

The problem is that so many people use the mass media political networks to come to some political realization, but like Jon Stewart said, it's all political theatre. Remember, mass media is a buisness and they make dicisions regarding how to maximize profits, so their interests don't concern foundational politics. But now the population is so dumbed down, that they only know things about politics from these mass media outlets, buisnesses, whose basis for reporting is ratings, not educating the public.

In fact, most people will go through their lives here never even knowing anything about political philosophy. It is not emphasized in schools anymore.

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Originally posted by Temperate I have recently discovered that political idealogy used to be alot more philisophical than it is today.

I have an even bigger surprise for you: US Politics is completely UNlike real, normal, politics around the world

How's that for a surprise shocking, I know.