Perhaps Academics have helped educate the small business owners and workers that create and maintain small businesses. I am new to American politics and am trying to understand Republicans and Democrats to see where I fit in. My experience so far is that each side has admirable qualities but that they are afraid that the other will become too powerful and ruin life for everyone so there is a lot of mistrust. You are right about the attitude of the writer but how is common ground to be found? Clearly when we don't talk politics we all get along great. It seems that labels are divisive.