Will our increasing political divisiveness be our downfall?

Question

I am becoming more and more concerned - especially judging from the vitriolic comments and questions that I often read here on Answers - that we Americans are letting our political differences polarize this country. I love a good political argument and can joke with the best of them - but people seem to be increasingly hateful toward the "other side" whether it be liberal or conservative. What can we Americans do to encourage meaningful discourse without the hatred? Do we really want to become like some other countries where the various religions and political factions literally battle each other in the streets? Does anyone else think the line we have drawn between "red and blue" is hurting this country? Any suggestions on what can be done to bring us together so that we can work to make America a better place for all?

Your largely thoughtful comments reassure me. To wqfahuar - I think both groups are equally at fault. It takes "two to Tango" as they say. Maybe both of us need to step back and realize we are on the same side. The last time I checked it was still called the UNITED States of America.

Answer 1

Good question... I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I think the only way to turn the tide is to not buy into that kind of uncivil behavior.

It's really hard to have a good political discussion these days that doesn't get heated. I have resolved recently to try to remain civil and respectful in my political discussions, avoid name calling, and try to see the other sides of each argument (most arguments have good points on either side).

I suspect that the current sorry state of talk shows on radio and television are partly to blame. Many major networks just get a couple of opposing pundits and let them yell at each other. Not a great way to get at the issues.

I think "Meet the Press" does a fairly good job of moderating calm, discussions between opposing viewpoints, and there are some others.

Internet boards have always been a hotbed for vitriolic, mean spirited name calling. It's probably because of the relatively anonymous nature of posting (although you can track posters through their ip addresses).

Don't despair, do your part to elevate the nature of discourse by being civil and respectful and letting nasty comments bounce off (turn the other cheek so to speak).

Peace!

Answer 2

There is an undeniable truth that you need to be aware of: There are American’s that hate America, all that it stands for and all that it has accomplished as a Nation.

Their view of what life should be like is diametrically opposed to the values and tenets that this country was founded upon. They believe in a Marxist utopia and refuse to see that a society structured on Marxism has completely and utterly fail every time it has been attempted.

The roots of socialism in America can be traced to the arrival of German immigrants in the 1850s when Marxian socialist unions began. The Socialist Party in America was born and grew dramatically between 1900 and 1912 under the charismatic leadership of Eugene V. Debs and gained further prominence with President Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive movement through the 20th century's first years. The movement took root in the Democrat Party under FDR and its decedents remain there today.

There is a hard core of elitist that believe that individuals are incapable of taking care of themselves and require the forced guidance of the intellectually superior to make life progress. They are educated and financially secure and what they really seek is power. These are the George Soros’, John Kerry’s, John Edwards’ and Ted Kennedy’s of the world.

Then there are the intellectual elite, the fellow travelers, which permeate our institutions of higher learning. They have become indoctrination centers for the Marxist Ideology. They are in turn producing secondary school teachers and by extension administrators who are carrying the indoctrination in to our High Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools.

And then you have the people who out of a wanting to do good have bought into this ideology who further exhibit the problem of unintended consequences of their actions. These are the malleable ones known to the above as useful idiots.

This unholy trinity makes up more than 35% of the population of America. That is up from a high of 7-10% during the 1940’s. And the bad news is that the numbers are still growing. Add to that another 10% of the population that does not have a vested interest in the ideology who have been made into a victim class and you are looking at a cultural divide the likes of which we have not seen in this Nation since 1861.

Add to this mix the volatile nature of Postmodernism, Multiculturalism and diversity and you have a prescription for disaster.

You should be concerned, we all should be.

Answer 3

Perhaps you should go back and read the fights of the founding fathers compared to which the current divisiveness would look like an ice cream social. We have had, in the past and probably will have in the future, street battles between political groups. The fact that we have survived them and always seem to stop short of the new revolution every 20 years that Thomas Jefferson recommended says much in our favor. I would argue that the diversity, even the vitriol of our debate is much safer than a monolithic sameness. The harder to compromises the more likely that everyone's interests will be addressed. Of course I would love it if everyone insisted on my position and hate it if no one did. Still it seems the safest compromise is when 45% believe one way and 45% believe another and the two fight to convince the 10% who don't care one way or the other.

Answer 4

Looking at other civil wars in an attempt to guess at how long Iraq might last, I've come to wonder how in the world democracy can possibly work in the US.

The only places besides the US where democracy seems to work is in countries that are culturally and ethnically homogenous.

Countries with cultural and ethnic diversity tend to have civil wars that last for decades (10 to 60 years) or to be ruled by dictators that oppress the other cultural and ethnic groups in their countries.

We didn't have much cultural or ethnic diversity when we started, so maybe it's possible once you've already established a democracy. We have a history of wave after wave of immigrants coming to the US and have somehow managed, but it obviously provides a steady supply of challenges to overcome.

Answer 5

Firstly, most of the commentary here is from those not truly qualified or educated on the topicality enough to fully grasp the full impact, history of, and environment surrounding some of the issues talked about, here. I'm not trying to deride anyone, here. I'm not fully educated about quite a few topics, and have been known to open mouth, insert foot; but, there are very few professional politicos who get involved here. This forum is, forgive my saying so, an amateur medium at best.

To your question: Did you know that in Benjamin Franklin's day that members of Congress cursed (not that I think that is a no-no all of the time), engaged in fisticuffs, and even physically humiliated (spanking) their opponents in the chambers? There were even derringer duels! What we see today is just words. Nobody has balls anymore.

Answer 6

Good grief. The more I read here, the more I'm convinced that we're going downhill. There doesn't seem to be a middle anymore. Somehow, we've got to develop a compromise, even if it means each side giving a little.

It hurts, but it'll be worth it in a long run.

Answer 7

More than that, I believe our downfall will be the apathy of the majority of the citizens of this nation. We are not voting in numbers such as we have had in generations past, and i
daresay most do not know what any particular candidate stands for, although that doesn't matter as much, as they all pretty much stand for their own personal gain, and that of their friends and families.

;-(

Answer 8

Take a politics class. Divisiveness is what keeps the ball rolling. It is the backbone of checks and balances.

Answer 9

I don't think it will. If anything as clumsy as our system seems to be it works. To me where the fault lies, is with the voters, us. We don't inform ourselves enough about serious issues such as the current illegal alien issue. If things don't affect us, we generally don't care, we are very apathetic and our voter turn-out shows that fact. I let my representatives know I will not support any candidate who supports amnesty for illegals. Vote the person who most closely supports issues that are important to you. It's up to us to change the people, the system isn't changing. Vote out the incumbents if you think they are not doing the job you voted them in to do.

Answer 10

You speak as if the downfall of the US were a danger in the near future, rather than already being under way.