Why do some people say "it's just an ideology" when referring to a policy, proposal, rule etc., they don't like?

I imagine that is one of innumerable ways to be dismissive.

I thought I must be missing something because they sound like very bright people other than that.

You need more context to your question. Some things ARE just ideology

Context, either it’s a way to downplay something or it really is an ideological driven rule. A.K.A it’s politically motivated or there is an alternative agenda behind it.

@ARE_you_kidding_me Is there a good example when it’s used as a way to downplay and one when it’s not?

@ARE_you_kidding_me Is it reduce reuse, recycle and compost the ideology, or the side that undermines or opposes it that that’s the ideology? And why? Or are they both ideologies?

@flo here is an example: A minority gets a job because they are the most qualified, someone says “this is political correctness gone too far” —This is downplaying. Downplaying ignores the objectivity of a given situation. That’s the litmus test. On the flip side the most qualified person does not get the job and it is given to a minority because there is an agenda to increase numbers of such and such… that’s political ideology. Agendas and ideology are not always a bad thing either, it depends on what purpose they serve. 40 years ago allowing minorities this sort of access was necessary to “break the stereotype” by demonstrating that they are fully capable of doing the job, thus opening the door for minorities who are qualified in the future. In 2019 I’d say this practice is archaic yet often it persists for compliance and political reasons. It’s also quite condescending.

@ARE_you_kidding_me I’ve been thinking about it. So don’t both sides think that the opposite side is an ideology, except that it’s the wrong one?

Ideology clouds rational thinking. It gets in the way of objectivity. Using ideology as the basis of decision making is wrong regardless of which “side” and even if the decision itself happens to be correct.

@ARE_you_kidding_me If it’s not an ideology what is it?