Why is the country soooo divided?

Question

I know there are the third parties, but for the most part it is split, in what seems like half and half for Republicans and Democrats. Why is this, and how is this, considering that they have such different views and both think they are right? (right... hmmm) But really, why is the country so divided like this?

Answer 1

Part of your answer is found in your question: "both think they are right." If they didn't think they were right, they would follow the other party.
I think that the reason there are only two parties comes down to two things: laziness and ignorance.
Laziness (mental laziness) - it's just easier to pick one of the two established dominant parties that most closely fits with your ideologies than it is to find (or worse - found) a new party that better meets your needs as a citizen and follows your beliefs and ethics.
Ignorance (electoral ignorance) - most people don't know how to make minority parties work or how to get them into the system. Because of the Electoral College, and the sheer numbers involved in a national election, you can't expect a "third party" candidate to have any chance at winning the Presidency in the current political landscape.
It has to start at the very smallest local levels where regional opinions can and do vary widely enough that a "Republican" voter in one town and state, doesn't believe what a "Republican" voter in another locale does. This is where new parties would make sense, and really work. Because at that level, they would be more nimble and able to repsond to what the local citizens want, need, feel, believe, etc.
And let's face it, both the Republican and Democratic parties have done a very good job of convincing people that any vote for a "third party" is a wasted vote, or the same as a vote for "the wrong" candidate. And both have been able to capitalize on the increasing number of non-voters, and just responding to and appealing to the actual voters.
And unfortunately, since the answer to most problems lies in the middle anyway, the fact that we just have two big parties slugging it out from different extremes doesn't really end up causing enough problems to get people to bother with the effort of changing anything.

Answer 2

I believe it has to do with a few main things:
A) the war
B) abortion, death penalty, other medical issues, etc.
C) rights of minorities

The 'War on Terrorism' has been an extremely hot issue among the parties. After 9/11, the war seemed to be a thing that everyone agreed upon. The problems started to arise in how Bush carried out the war. Not to mention the various theories about the government's involvement in 9/11 and the widely popular thought that Bush is simply finishing what Daddy started. There is evidence both in support of and against it.

Abortion is a deeply spiritual/personal issue. Some believe it is wrong due to their religious beliefs or other personal reasons while some maintain that is the woman's choice. Some call it murder while others say it is a right as a human. A very complex issue that I doubt will ever truly be resolved, no matter what someone will always disagree.
The death penalty also causes concern among the masses. States with it actually have a higher murder rate plus many say that it is purely hypocrytical to kill people for killing. Others believe in an "eye for an eye" and that some crimes require mortal punishment.
Other medical issues like stem cell research is splitting the country. In some cases it also seeps into the abortion issue, which is obviously tearing everyone apart.

Human rights for gay/lesbian groups, illegal immigrants, and other minorities is also causing a fuss. Our country is partially founded on the idea of equality for all but there is a disagreement as to how far that equality goes, and it is a big rift.

These issues along with many others such as the lack of balance with the presidency, house, and senate all having a republican majority is tilting the country in it's side. I believe that everyone is basically the same at heart, human nature, you know? Regardless, there will always be disagreements due to individual beliefs.

Answer 3

Because neither the republican or democratic parties are putting the well-being of middle-class on the list much less first or second! We are tired of being over-taken by the illegal immigrants that are draining our social services to the extent that benefits are being reduced for American citizens that have worked 30 or 40 years, gone to war, been loyal, law-abiding citizens to what avail? And you want to make new laws? Why not just ENFORCE the laws on the books.

The "elected class" keeps saying "Wait, let us do our jobs". How many more years should we wait? Exactly which job are you going to try to finish?
Enforce laws on the books against illegal immigration?
Do for the Hurricane Katrina/Rita victims what you would do for any foreign country - these people are American citizens!
Do something to ensure a positive end to the war for oil in Iraq?
But most importantly - uphold your oath and do SOMETHING/ANYTHING that is in the best interest of middle-class Americans. Our government is dividing us by their individual quest for power, corruption and sadly, their lack of interest!

Answer 4

The division you see is part of the Liberals plan to take over control of America by weakening her and dividing her.

The default assumption of our American Liberal covert enemies is that in any conflict between America and anyone else, America is wrong.

That assumption can be rebutted by overwhelming fact: Few argued for the Taliban after Sept. 11. But in our continuing struggles, our covert enemies portray our work in Iraq through the lens of Abu Ghraib (which is really a minor incident of some harmless "torture") and consider Israel’s self-defense against Hezbollah as the oppression of virtuous victims by evil men.

In World War II, our leaders understood that we were the forces of good and that victory was essential. Today, many of our leaders subject our military and intelligence actions to fine-tooth-comb analysis and find that they are morally repugnant.

The truth is people like John Kerry and Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean are traitors in every sense of the word. Bush is no great president and the Republicans have their faults, but at least the party is not outright Anti-American.

We have always had our covert Liberal enemies, but their numbers were few until the 1960s. But then the elite young men who declined to serve in the military during the Vietnam War set out to write a narrative in which they, rather than those who obeyed the call to duty, were the heroes.

They have propagated their ideas through the universities, the schools and mainstream media to the point that they are the default assumptions of millions. Our Liberal enemies don’t want the Islamo-fascists to win. But in some corner of their hearts, they would like us to lose.

Answer 5

I think that the country is soooo divided for 2 reasons:

1.) People are afraid of the future. It looks very threatening. When people feel threatened, it is harder to listen and hear the "other side," and we are less capable of compromise because the stakes are so high.

2.) There are people in the media who get attention and make money by stirring up the pot. Frankly, I think that people like Rush, Bill, and Ann are hate mongers, and profiting very nicely from it. Look at the book titles - Godless: the Church of Liberalism, Treason: Liberal Treachery, How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must).

Those titles are just plain nasty, in addition to being untrue. What purpose is served by writing books like that? (Besides generating $$$ for the author?)

Frankly, speaking as a Christian, I don't see much true "Christianity" as I hear in Church and was taught in Sunday School appearing anywhere from the mouths of the "Christians" I hear ranting about those blankety-blank liberals.

If we got rid of Rush, Ann, et al, we'd get along a lot better. They remind us how we disagree, emphasize the disagreement rather than the agreement - and I bet we agree on more things than we disagree on, if we sat down and talked about it rationally.

* Do liberals and conservatives BOTH love this country? Of course!

* Do either liberals or conservatives want to see the country destroyed? Of course not!

* Do BOTH liberals and conservatives think we should defend ourselves? Of course.

We are all Americans, and we all love our country. To think otherwise, frankly, is to be pretty stupid.

The hate mongers (Rush, Bill, Ann, etc.) are in the business of encouraging disagreement because it sells their books and keeps us listening to their programs. They are profiting from the hate they help create and keep visible.

Are Rush, Ann, Bill, et al really examples of true Christians and true "Christian" values and behavior? No, they are NOT, not if what every minister since Pastor Pete taught me is right (and I believe it is)!

So, let's start ignoring them, and see what happens. I guarantee the country will be better off! And, they've made enough money off hate to last them a long time, so don't worry about them.

Answer 6

This is actually very common, the country gets extremely divisive just before the presidential elections and then something happens to quell that divisiveness or solidify the entire country. Usually this just happens through time.

Answer 7

because we are presented with only two choices... clearly if a third party were to emerge with enough money to take the main two parties head on... they would win. The reality of Media cash is that it is messing with our democratic process... and the fact that the richest candidate has won the last 6 or 7 elections is not a coincidence.. America is the house that Cash built..
Capitalism.. is the enemy!

Answer 8

Because as Human beings we have the unalienable right to choose which party we what to belong to and which party supports our way of thinking. All people have the God given gift of free choice.

Answer 9

Because many people are locked into their beliefs, and unwilling to explore other perspectives.

And because too many people have formed their beliefs based on what they have been told, without putting any rational thought or research into the process.

This means that large numbers of people are blindly following those who shout loudest, which are usually those on the far ends of the spectrum.

Answer 10

Because people want to be associated with one group or the other. Nobody likes to be the odd one out. Some people get caught up in titles and they feel like they have to belong to one of the two majorities to fit in!!