The Necessity of Labels

[romalove]

 There appears to have been an increase in animosity between those on opposity sides of the political aisle.  Everyone is labeled as "Conservative" or "Liberal" etc.  I am finding that the need to label and then use that label against opponents, as if it is an epithet, disturbing.

So my question is....do you think we must be labeled as Conservative or Liberal?  Is it possible to be both or in the middle?

[Kate_Momof3]

In the spirit of not being redundant, I'm just going with, "what she said."

Quoting timeforprogress:

I find the labels rather annoying myself. 

I am sort of a conservative if its working and liberal if it isn't.

You know if it aint broke don't fix it, but if it is then obviously something should be done before that crack becomes a canyon.

ETA:

I hate being called a Democrat the most.  That party does not represent my best interest anymore than the Republicans.

[Clairwil]

Quoting romalove:

Everyone is labeled as "Conservative" or "Liberal" etc. 

I am finding that the need to label and then use that label against opponents, as if it is an epithet, disturbing.

To clarify:

It isn't that sides have been labeled that's the problem.

It is that the labels have become associated with strong highly negative stereotypes, to the point where people now see only the stereotype rather than the (far more moderate and diverse) actuality.

It is the same mentality that made it easier for soldiers during the Vietnam war to commit atrocities because they saw their enemies as "Gooks" first, rather than humans first.