Political Polarization Perfected - Dailykos

Dailykos dot com, with this extensive description on Wikipedia, was established in the George W. Bush administration to be a liberal voice of those out of power.  In many ways for those those who participate in it, by writing essays (diaries) and comments that become conversations, it provides a participants view into the descending spiral of animosity between the two sides of the U.S. political spectrum.  To its champions, those who enjoy the full throated expression of today's left wing incarnation it provides community and purpose, to the opponents and targets, using the words of Bill OReilly,  "Daily Kos is a hate site."  

Its original version developed an elaborate set of rules to attempt to ensure a high level of discourse, setting the bar for posting essays, that they termed, "diaries" only after a week of membership, and attempting to make commentary more than civil but substantive discussions.  I have contributed to the site under the user name, ARODB, and felt I had found a home among the thousands of anonymous contributors.

There is an un-discussed irony of this website, that it's core belief is that the "people" rather than those with wealth and power should be the dominant force in society, specifically this country.  Yet the minions of founder-owner Markos Moulitas, are quick to point out whenever there is a discussion on policy, that it is the personal private property of the owner, and the hundreds of thousands of writers are subject to his rules.  This is in start contrast to Wikipedia, where it had been founded and owned by a single individual, who could have ignored that the popularity was derived by the users, the contributors, and sought fame and vast wealth.  He chose not to, and without any desire for personal adulation turned Wikipedia into an actual living example of how communitarianism can transform the world.  

My essay linked here illustrates the need for an accepted definition, as this was about one of the favored groups of this site, an atheist, who committed a gruesome murder.  What got to me is that this essay was selected to be featured, to remain on the front page for further discussion, but then was retracted.  The only reason is my position on Capital Punishment was not acceptable-- even for, most especially for, discussion of diverse views on this difficult issue.

This action, following another essay that also took a contrary position from the majority, shows that this kind of discussion is not the function of this web site. As an aside, the current rules explicitly prohibits "right wing talking points," which I now realize includes any position that is generally supported by conservatives. It does not matter how it is derived, what the argument is for it, or how sincerely it is held- if they are tainted by promoting the goals of the right wing, they are branded as  "talking points," as such not to be engaged, but squelched.

What is approved is left wing talking points, although never described as such, or at least arguments that result in reinforcing the set of positions of the left. This leaves this country with two major parties, or political ideologies, that have both eschewed the endeavor of attempting to understand what underlies the others positions.  This animosity displaces the development of complex understanding of causation of such diversity, and displaces productive engagement.

What is left is calumny, a growing narrow simplistic vilification of the other. If there is a way to get out of this vortex, this race to the bottom, I know not what it may be.

Addendum:

Following are some a few of my articles from Dailykos,  the entire list of several hundred being available at this link.

  An Opposing View of Memories Pizza and the RFRA was so against their consensus, that I feared I would be banned from the site.   This earlier one was also contentious, but with more support, that may not have been from those who never understood my central point, Warsaw Ghetto to Gaza Strip- The Cycle Continues

There is still some meaningful articles on Dailykos under my user name ARODB,  such as these: *Commentary on the Supreme Ct Oral arguments of  "King v. Burwell, with links to my contention that Justice Alito's discussion on "legal standing" echoed his distortion of Supreme Court principles.  *And this tongue in cheek one, "When technology collapses" -meaning no Dish TV a personal story. And this, *Presidential Proclamation of Freedom FROM Religion Two United States Presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Barack Obama.