How The Nation Became So Divided
Why can’t we all just get along?
I know this is such a hot button issue these days, but I thought I would try to figure some of it out. Hopefully this post won’t offend anyone as that is not my intention. I am staying neutral on the subject and just presenting some points.
I hope everyone takes it in the manner presented, as just a discussion. Let’s get started!
It seems that the nation can’t agree on anything anymore, from immigration to foreign policy and everything in between. We have become so divided that it has become impossible to have a productive discussion about issues because of people shouting over each other.
It’s hard to believe that we were founded on the principle of freedom of speech and press, yet today we don’t seem to be able to peacefully disagree with one another on anything without someone taking it as an attack on their person or way of life.
Why is America so politically divided? Why does it seem like we can’t come together and agree on anything, from taxes to education to gun control?
The answer is a little more complicated than one might think. So here’s why this nation seems so divided as well as how to bridge the gap between opposing viewpoints on hot-button issues in America today.
Here are some of the reasons we are divided.
The Political Parties
To understand why there’s so much division in our nation, you have to first understand how we got here. While modern political parties evolved in England and then came to America through its founding fathers, it was during Andrew Jackson’s campaign that today’s two-party system began to take shape.
Many historians point to Jackson as a catalyst for modernizing American politics; he embraced populist ideals and encouraged democratic participation, making it more important than ever for political candidates to effectively connect with voters across their states.
Since his candidacy, it has been common practice for major political candidates (including both presidential nominees) to secure a nomination by going through state primaries and caucuses.
Globalization
Internationally, globalization is changing how we are connected and disconnected at a speed never before seen in human history. This rapid change can be difficult to understand and make sense of, but it’s important to realize that some of these events are good and some aren’t.
Some argue that much of what’s happening is inevitable and cannot be stopped, while others argue it should be slowed down or halted entirely.
At some point, our nation will have to have a deeper discussion about what we want out of our country because deciding whether or not you’re going to buy your next TV from a Chinese factory isn’t just about your purchasing decisions — it’s about deciding what kind of nation we want America to be.
Bad Economics
If you ask any young American today, it seems they all have different opinions on what’s wrong with our nation. Many blame politics and politicians; some point to racism and bigotry, while others might even say that there are just too many immigrants in our country.
When looking at why we’re so divided, however, most experts will tell you it comes down to economics. America has a history of appealing to working-class Americans by stoking their fears about how immigrants are taking away their jobs and driving down wages.
But if you dig a little deeper into why working-class Americans feel left behind (oftentimes regardless of where they live), you’ll usually find bad economics at play.
The Media
Over and over, we hear about how extreme media has affected our nation and our ability to communicate effectively with one another.
However, there are so many other factors that have caused our nation to be so divided:
Where we live (urban or rural)
How long we’ve lived in a particular area
How long we’ve lived with parents or family members (all their opinions mixed into ours)
Education, race, gender identity/expression and religious beliefs among other things.
For example: If you were raised in a family that was very politically active on social media platforms, it is likely your opinions closely align with theirs. This is why one of these platforms can seem like an echo chamber of people sharing similar opinions whether it’s true or not.
A Decade of Forgetting
For some, it’s like America is a lover you once shared a special bond with and then one day, for no apparent reason, your partner turns on you. Feelings of shock and betrayal flood over you; at times, you start to lose faith in your country.
During what President Barack Obama has referred to as the decade of forgetting, many Americans became obsessed with labels.
In order to belong to a certain group, you needed to believe that your values were synonymous with that label: Republican or Democrat; Red State or Blue State; Christian or Muslim; Straight or Gay; Black or White…it went on and on.
Misguided Nostalgia
Many Americans long for a bygone era of economic prosperity, confident they could have made better choices than those in charge at that time. To an extent, they’re right.
Things would have been better if American leadership had taken different choices after World War II, but not because of what they did, but rather because there was a lot of change that happened anyway.
And, many of those trends were all but inevitable due to new technologies and innovations that emerged in ways few leaders could have anticipated. This nostalgia is misguided because it ignores some very basic realities about how economies grow and work.
Demagogues and Voter Suppression
Voting rights have become a heavily politicized topic. Largely, that’s because politicians and special interest groups will go to any length to ensure voters will support their candidates.
Strict voter ID laws, for example, eliminate millions of votes from lower-income individuals who do not drive. Of course, these same individuals are less likely to vote Republican so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Disenfranchise voters who tend to support your opponent and make it harder for them to vote. To keep voting fair we need to make sure democracy is secure from tactics like these at every level — local, state, and federal.
Remember that many politicians do not have our best interests in mind if they seek higher office by attacking voting rights.
How Social Media Amplifies Everything
Social media is largely to blame for why we’re so divided, too. Our confirmation bias causes us to seek out information that confirms our own beliefs, and thanks to our usage of social media like Facebook, we tend to hang out with people who share similar political leanings.
These networks are rarely diverse in opinion. And according to a 2016 Pew Research Center study, 42% of social media users have lost friends over their political views. That means it’s likely that you know someone whose relationships have suffered from social media induced polarization.
How We Bring the Country Together
For decades, politicians have been unable to reach any kind of a compromise. In fact, they’ve been very bad at listening to each other, much less respecting each other’s opinions.
This has led us to a situation where nearly half of Americans disagree with their President and his policies. And as a result of that, over 40% of registered voters don’t even know who they want in office next year.
They are too busy arguing with people who agree with them on social media sites and during water cooler conversations to talk about things that matter.
We need someone who can come in and bring us together by focusing on commonalities rather than differences.
Final Thoughts
I once had a conversation with someone that claimed if we can’t find out why things are so divided, we will never stop them from being divided.
We must start asking these questions and fighting for answers.
Do you agree or disagree? What do you think caused our nation to become so divided? When is it ever OK to divide a country, if ever?
P.S: Are you ready to get my posts in your inbox: Do That Here!
