Why are American politics excessively polarized?

Answer 1

Pundits and other figures who frequently exaggerate and distort the truth.

Answer 2

It's the two party system at its worst. President Bush has managed to take his "if you're not with us you're against us" stance and place it squarely on the shoulders of the American people. It's the basic rule of plumbing, crap flows downhill. We're supposedly fighting a war on terror, while this administration pushed for amnesty for at least twelve million illegals in our country and to make matters worse still has done nothing to secure our borders six years after nine-eleven. They deceived Americans about the threat Saddam was to get us involved in Iraq. They have become so secretive they have lost all trust of many Americans. Their use of executive privilege has crossed the line into executive abuse of power and they have spent America into a black hole of debt. When we have this kind of administration it's hard for people not to become polarized, however the polarization is quickly becoming lopsided. Most Americans don't approve of the job our President is doing, the rest don't care, they will always be hard core party followers no matter how much their party is going against the will of the majority of the people.

Answer 3

I think the majority of Americans are right in the middle leaning slightly to one side or the other. I think big business tries to push the perception that there are more hardcore right wingers than there actually are and the media's obsession with "political correctness" creates a false impression that there are more die hard liberals on the far left than there really are as well.

Answer 4

It's a symptom of the decaying balance in our country.

As more and more people try to force others to conform to one particular belief system, more and more people refuse vehemently. That leads to a lot of effort expended pushing back and forth at each other.

With so much effort expended in that fashion, people have less energy to expend actually debating issues or resolving questions. Which means they need to find more efficient ways to fight back -- and the most efficient is to attack the other side directly.

Which leads to more pushing back and forth. A vicious circle.

And it's not going to change until we start to embrace the concepts of diversity and tolerance and non-prejudice. Which cannot happen as long as one group is trying to force their beliefs on everyone else.

Answer 5

Because there are two differing versions of America. One you can see by reading the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the other you can see by reading the NY Times and listening to other Liberals.

It just depends on which one a person thinks is correct, and in the meantime, the controversy sells newspapers.

Answer 6

1st our politicians have set it up so that they are unaccountable. Every good idea needs to stand on it's own merits. 2 good examples of badly written bills the comprehensive immigration & the troop funding. They both had in the good & garbage in them. They attempted to force the othersides hand.

2nd both sides need to explain the consequenses of their of proposed actions. How many of you like to do something just because you are told to? For me even if I think the other is correct I like to know it is thought out.

Answer 7

Because Americans are excessively stupid and easy to manipulate.

I know, because I live here and I'm surrounded by it. Maybe they should lock the kids inside a library and keep the stupid adults away from them. Maybe then we might have intelligent people in charge in about 20 years.

Answer 8

People should sometimes remember that politics is a substitute for civil war - at the end of the day.

It's actually war by "a show of hands"..

Answer 9

Everybody thinks there wright about everything.There so sure.