Should the USA be split along Liberal and Conservative lines?

Question

It's sad but true; the country is totally polarized, and the rifts between left and right are only getting wider. Classical liberalism is no longer the beacon of the Democratic party, and many Democratic politicians are actively embracing Socialism (while still incorrectly referring to themselves as "liberals.")

Socialism is completely incompatible with the American Constitution, and all tenets of American Democracy. If this course is maintained violence is inevitable. Would it be easier to just admit it and divide the country now? Maybe East and West? (North and South has already been done.)

Thank you all for the well thought-out (and spirited) responses.

For the record, I do not believe the country should be divided; I do not believe the rifts are unbridgeable. I do believe that the rancor in politics, and lack of civility these days is disturbing, and I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were. Neither side has the moral highground in this regard, and I don't see anything changing soon.

I will maintian, however, that the Democratic party has made a sprint to the far-left over the last few decades. The Scoop Jackson days are long gone. This is why Ronald Reagan left the Democratic party, why Zell Miller is a pariah, why my parents quit the party in the mid-90's, and why the South is no longer a Democratic stronghold.

I am in the American middle-class, and proud of it. I don't need the government telling me how to run my life, I don't want my hard-earned paychecks "redistributed" and I am sick of political correctness. I just want to be left alone.

Answer 1

I don't know what you think socialism is, but i don't see what about it is incompatibile with the constitution.

In addition, tho the country appears polarized when shown through Fox New's lens, research shows that Amerians are pretty close together on fundamental ideas. In fact, Americans often say they believe and support ideas held by the party they say they oppose. Now, that's just sad. But true.

Political demagogues seek to divide us for their own gain, and we do well to remember Lincoln's admonition.

The fact is, the interplay of conservative and liberal ideas is valuable. One example - liberals are right that families need social support, as they are the foundation of society. Conservatives are right that funding day care is a big mistake and bad for society. The red-baiting has hindered the debate moving where it needs to, then, with maternity leaves and kinder geld and universal health care and social security credits for 'at-home' moms.

It is interesting that it has been Europe, with its wonderful socialist welfare states, that has maintained a much stronger committment to liberty and free thought than has America, with its more free market. (Surely you noticed the sheep getting led into a morally wrong and intellectually bankrupt war, endorsing torture, annihiliation of civil rights, the end of habeus corpus.)

Thanks for the warning that violence is inevitable, tho. It shows a real committment to democracy.

Answer 2

No, no, no!!! In fact, there is a map of political positions that much more accurately gauges a person's position than the old left/right scale, which does not recognize real change, but only small shifts in balance between two dominant parties. See the link below for the World's Smallest Political Quiz. Even if you do not take the quiz yourself, observe the map, and the way the various factions line up.

Needless to say, I am a Libertarian.

Answer 3

forgive my uneducated thoughts, but I thought a democracy was a method of Govt that allowed the people to decide on core issues such as (how to deal with poverty) half of American believe in a socialistic type of structure to aid the poor. To take from the upper class and give to the lower. The polarization that you speak of is caused by an exageratted rightist view having a large control of the media. People are so confused, Every discussion i get into with people I find that for the most part no one has the facts straight.... Often people believing themselves to be republicans have socialistic beliefs... and are often actually Dems, but are so confused by the media do not know who they are and too apathetic to research the issues..... Yes there is a severe divide but i see this as the media and the ignorant vs. what is best for the people..... the media being controlled by corporations and the super wealthy.....

Answer 4

For starters, modern liberalism IS socialism. And if we had a Lib as President right now, more Americans would be dead on our own soil from terrorist attacks than the number of soldiers who have died thus far in Iraq. The bedwetters out there can wail and cry about places like Guantanamo Bay and their so-called "inhuman" treatment of prisoners all they want...well, Gitmo is a tropical paradise compared with how al-Qaeda and their sympathizers treat prisoners. If you don't believe me go to ogrish.com and watch the uncensored videos of American innocents being beheaded. That's a far cry from our soldiers parading some camel jockey around in his undies.

It's unfortunate that the liberal/socialist core "values" of the modern Democratic party have infected so many of the young people today via the NEA and the education system in general. If only they would think for themselves rather than listening to what's spoon-fed to them via the liberal media, so called educators, and people like Al Gore, Michael Moore, and Barbra Streisand, et. al., perhaps they'd realize the true nature of what we are actually fighting for in Iraq. It's not about oil, and it's not about money; it's about freeing people from oppression, giving them the right to govern themselves the way they wish, and also helping to eliminate the scurge of global terrorism.

Aside, to "casssandra"..If you admire those free-thinking socialist European countries so much, I'll gladly buy you the airplane ticket if you'll promise to stay there. Then you'll get the true picture of how their governments really work. And pray that you don't get sick or injured...with socialized medicine you'll be lucky if you don't die before actually seeing a doctor, or when their sub-par physicians botch a procedure or misdiagnose the problem. Hope you get one that was educated in the US.

Answer 5

You sir are talking about the destruction of my country.

There is NO LEGAL RESTICTION in the US Constitution that addresses socialism. Economies and society changes like the tides. Read your history.

As for your veiled threat to initiate violence is things don't go the way you want them too. I would remind you that the US has dealt with this before from the left and right. Neither the status quo conservatives of the confederacy, the klan,white aryan nation, militants of operation rescue, nor the radical left of the weathermen, the earth liberation force has moved this country from maintaining itself.

Answer 6

It's not true that America is split along these lines. In fact, upwards of 70 % of americans know want socialized medicine.

Since the European democracies which provide health insurance for all are in fact democracies, they can get rid of the health care system if it was truly as bad as some silly or duplicitious Americans like to pretend it is. We are the ones getting gipped out of the best health care. The Europeans are very happy wtih their systems, and work to strengthen, not dismantle them.

Answer 7

My recommendations are that that's a poor determination. And the outcomes would be disastrous to the suggestions of democracy. If firms have loose reign on how plenty they are in a position to spend on elections than you could purely think of how congress already inspired with tips from lobbyists will unexpectedly exchange into brokers of firms. in case you think of approximately it, senators and individuals of the abode already serve their pastimes tremendously heavily. yet now if firms can fund an entire marketing campaign for republicans or democrats than that company will ask for rules which will help that company hurting the known public. Democracy replaced into already in concern till now this, now that's relatively occurring the hills. i ask your self what McCain has to assert approximately this. it seems like the vote replaced into on social gathering traces with conservative majority triumphing outright.

Answer 8

At some point America will get tired of the liberal fodder and stand up against them. And since the liberals are cowards, that will be quick and easy.

Answer 9

Conservative should just be educated. The main problem of America is their ignorance!

Answer 10

I suppose conservatives could have Deleware. There's more than enough room there for all of them.