Here is a pretty good commentary from Pat Buchanan regarding the current state of affairs in our country. Is America coming apart? Personally, I think he is spot on. Sure, I've yet to hit the age of 30, but I don't think I can remember a time where Americans have been so divided. There is no respect for the opinion of those with opposing views, but more importantly, there seems to be a refusal to compromise on anything. What happened to the middle ground? I know it's out there, but the right and the left are so radical in their views that there just seems to be no willingness to reach a middle ground, something that can benefit the whole. It almost seems like the foundation that this great country was built upon is beginning to crumble.
spot on 23. years ago one party started demonizing congress because the other party was in power. then when the balance shifted, it was a flip flop on who was demon who was the victim (for lack of a better word). it seems that it just spiraled out of control to the point that the first priority for both sides is to demonize the other. and in the process they have all brought down the institution of congress to the point no one trusts any of them to be doing anything put pointing fingers. basically congress brought this on themselves, and now the whole freakin train is being driven by pure partisanship instead of the willingness to compromise in an effort to find good government.
Are you ****ing kidding me? This country once had slaves, a civil war, women were once not allowed to vote, black people were once not allowed to vote, black people had seperate restrooms and water fountains, Native Americans were run off their land and crammed into the ****tiest pieces of property in this country, soldiers from Vietnam were shunned when they returned from a war they were drafted into, etc. and you think that now is the most divided out country has ever been? Did you ever take American History at any point in your life? The politicians in Washington are more together now than any one single point in American history. They play the part on TV and in the papers, but when the cameras are turned off and they leave the Capitol Building they all drink at the same watering holes, share the same neighborhoods, get paid from, the same lobbyists. On the other hand, I have friends who are Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Methodists, Catholics, Athiests, Agnostics, Baptists, Black, White, Latino, Asian, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Liberale, Conservative, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Pro-Rice, Pro-Potatoes, etc. We get along fine despite our differing beliefs. The clowns that get all the press and air-time however tell a different story. So yeah, I guess you could make an argument that we're divided: The Constituents vs. the Pols. Are we coming apart? Hell no.
When did I say now was the most divided our country has ever been? I said right now it's more divided than I can remember. Maybe I should have specified in my lifetime. But regardless, I think it's pretty significant that it seems both Republicans and Democrats spend more time talking about how the other side is evil, wrong, lying, etc. and less time trying to come up with a compromise that would benefit the country and not the party. Did you even bother to read the article?
Great post! America always has & always will have some division, but the current state of affairs is nothing compared to what our country has been through in the past.
The part where you spoke in the present tense and not the past tense. It's only significant if you fall into their line of thinking. Being independant is more than not being resgistered to a political party. It's refusing to fall in line with the extreme lines of thought that dominate the media and attempt to portray themselves as the true representatives of Citizen You. Absolutely. Pat attempts to paint the fringe as the majority voice when in reality, we're nothing more than the audience. A weak attempt to fan the flames, even for Pat...
Speaking of people being shunned after coming back from the Vietnam War, I just learned today that my late father who was in WWII was dropped off in Mobile Alabama after returning from the war and was given $26 and a bus ticket and basically told "see ya".
Bullchit. The most united governments we ever experienced happened a generation ago. It was common place to pass sweeping legislation by forming coalitions between conservative democrats and liberal republicans. Constitutional changes in cival rights and social programs where passed by these coalitions. Even the unpopular Vietnam war was supported across party lines. Today we have more ideological digging in between the party's and almost everyone is toting the company line. We have regressed after many generations of moving closer to the middle. Since then the party divide has become greater and today we are more partisan than we were 40 years ago.
