Is the political schism in America the exception or the rule?

Question

I really try hard to remember what Molly Ivins says about President Bush. "I know him. He's a great neighbor, but a lousy President."

That may sound like an insult to some of you, but I disagree. I think Ivins is demanding that we retain the President's decency and humanity even if we think he's a "lousy President."

You may scoff, but if you read the opinions on this site, you see that people aren't nearly as humane as Ivins. People are called idiots, nazis, libtards, and generally spit on because they stand on the other side of an ideological divide.
The fact that that "other person" might be a great father, a devoted volunteer, a selfless coach or foster parent never occurs to most of us. But it should.
And strangely, that's the biggest reason I get angry at this President. Five years ago on 9/11, this entire country united. You may not even remember it now, but you will if you stop and think about it. Do you want an example of how non-partisan things were after 9/11 (cont)

Need an example? The headlines in Paris read "We're all Americans now." Think about that for a second. PARIS. WE'RE ALL AMERICANS.
That will never happen again.
Those of us who tend to criticize flag-waving suddenly felt, more than anything else, like Americans. We all came together, and then....

And then we started bombing the damn world.

This President could have used that unity to forge a response that was worthy of the ideal that is the United States. Instead, he attacked Afghanistan, called for a crusade, and then launched an invasion of Iraq, while starting secret prisons, spying on Americans, defying the Geneva Conventions, ignoring our allies, and NOT CATCHING Bin Laden.

In the meanwhile, we tear ourselves apart. We blame one another, insult each other's love for America, and ignore atrocities, lies, and stupidity so long as there is agreement.

I feel like my country is falling apart. Is this poisonous atmosphere the exception or the rule in our national experience?

Answer 1

Interesting.

Answer 2

The political schism in America is the rule. You see, America is a continent with 36 nations in it, by force every nation will have it's own politics and they almost certainly are not the same as that of all other nations in America.

It is likely that you mean "in the United States" but you must remember that the US IS NOT America.

That said, politics is by nature partisan it has always been and it will always be. Although I completely disagree with Mr. Bush's policies that does not mean I think he is anything less than very intelligent, he has some trouble with the language but an idiot he surely is not.

Answer 3

The schism is the rule for the simple fact that neither partisan wants the other to be in power, or to be right, for that matter. Politics is a bunch of old men waving their privates at each other and trying to measure each others' without putting their own on the table. Just what you needed, right? A mental image of a bunch of wrinkly old guys with their pants at their knees?

Answer 4

If there's no debate, ideas are not properly vetted. It was in this spirit of unity and lack of introspection that the idea was hatched to attack and occupy Iraq.

Answer 5

I'm told that my schism rules.