Posted on 01/04/2020 6:19:35 AM PST by Kaslin
Last year, rhetoric about “uniting the nation” was virtually absent from the presidential campaign trail — an observation applied equally to President Trump and all the Democrats vying to unseat him. Henceforth, will the concept of “uniting” make a 2020 comeback? No, and here’s why: The plague of polarization has so thoroughly infiltrated the American psyche that even asking the question, “Who can unite the nation?” sounds like a quaint 20th-century flashback.
That’s because it is from back in May 1999 when then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush famously stated, “I'm a uniter, not a divider," describing his governing style. He campaigned on bringing that philosophy to the White House after the divisive impeachment and unsavory behavior of President Clinton. (Some would argue that the polarization we are experiencing today is rooted in the Clinton years.)
“Unity” — a foundational concept so fundamental to our country that upon birthing the nation our founders included “united” in the name. Even then, we know Americans were not totally united, especially over the issue of slavery. However, today, those male, white-privileged, slave-owning founders would be aghast how the nation has morphed from the USA to the DPA (Divided People of America).
Worse, the DPA is fractured into subsets: rich vs. poor; white vs. non-white; skilled vs. non-skilled; health insurance holders vs. those with none; urban vs. rural; climate change believers vs. deniers; Trump lovers vs. Trump haters; Christians vs. everyone else; pro-life vs. pro-choice; vegan vs. meat-eaters; fake media vs. real media (whatever is “real” to you); millennials vs. boomers; working people vs. special interests; social justice vs. criminal justice; of course, Republicans vs. Democrats — and the list goes on and on.
About the only issue on which DPA citizens agree is that 2020 will host the most contentious presidential election in modern history. A key reason for the ever-increasing raucousness of our quadrennial exercise in democracy is an overarching problem permeating American culture — the lost art of compromise.
The road to unity begins with compromise, but the word and the action itself, have become politically incorrect and associated with weakness. Long ignored is the wisdom of President Ronald Reagan: “I have always figured that a half a loaf is better than none, and I know that in the democratic process, you’re not going to always get everything you want.”
Now the prevailing attitude within the DPA is “let the bread go stale and fight until you win a whole loaf.” No citizen or elected leader wants to give an inch on any issue or belief we hold dear. Truthfully, we don’t want to be united.
Furthermore, generally speaking, we, the DPA are happily divided because we have constructed and live inside a “moat” of our own making. We gather news from sources compatible with our beliefs. Our friends/spouses think as we do (and if not, those relationships either end or become strained.) The problem arises when the holidays “force” families together. (And next Thanksgiving just after the 2020 election I recommend bringing protective gear to the table.)
The word that best describes the 2020 political year is “fight.” So buckle up if you plan to engage and arm yourself with talking points. For the “red” half of the DPA, the Trump campaign posted talking points at snowflakevictory.com, “How to win an argument with your liberal relatives.” The points — initially conceived to help proud MAGA hat wearers through the holidays — are still applicable for now.
Meanwhile, the “blue” side of the DPA is still fighting over their specific fighting points. But here is the 2020 trench warfare rah-rah message from the official campaign site of the leading Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden displayed under “Joe’s Vision for America:”
“We’re in a battle for the soul of America. It’s time to remember who we are. We’re Americans: tough, resilient, but always full of hope. It’s time to treat each other with dignity. Build a middle class that works for everybody. Fight back against the incredible abuses of power we’re seeing. It’s time to dig deep and remember that our best days still lie ahead.”
Now, contrast that with Team Trump’s official campaign site in the “Promises Kept” section “About President Donald J. Trump’s accomplishments”:
"While serving in office, President Trump has continuously delivered for the American people to put America First both at home and abroad.
"The president has appointed conservative justices to our federal courts, provided the largest tax cuts for working-class families in American history, has ISIS on the run, and is committed to a safe and secure nation.
"Learn of the many accomplishments of President Trump that often go unreported by the Fake News Media as he continues to Make America Great Again.”
In the cavernous divide between Trump’s promise to “Make America Great Again” and Biden’s “We’re in the battle for the soul of America,” stands “a house divided against itself.” In 1858, Abraham Lincoln said such a house “cannot stand,” prophetically and famously quoting Jesus.
At the start of 2020, our “divided house” is still standing, but the problem is that we just can’t stand the other side. And no leader is going to change that.
The left are not Americans.
No, it’s because postmodernism is a death cult.
The leftard worldview is based on collectivism, and collectivism consists of dividing the masses into groups and using the oppression card and the victim card as the way of starting group warfare as the means of gaining power for leftards
This didn't happen by accident, of course. It was an intentional Democrat strategy to win races. They HAD to balkanize the electorate to sweep up women, feminists, homos, blue collar workers, lawyers, students, senior citizens, trannies, minorities, woke progs, Antifa, BLM, and everybody else under the sun. They constantly pander to every tiny segment and promise them everything. The natural, logical, and entirely predictable result was a deep division in America.
Until Democrats stop focusing on these sub-subgroups and pitch to all Americans AS Americans for the greater good, this division simply will not stop.
I think that is one of the key reasons so many people adore President Trump. He speaks to the better nature of ALL Americans and preaches love of country to ALL Americans regardless of who they are, their color, their station in life, or their sexual proclivities.
I think each generation likes to think THEY are special, how they're seeing something that has NEVER been seen. Most of the writers of this drivel are Gen Xers - maybe they think it's their time.
Again, I don't doubt that we have new radical elements like Antifa, but their predecessors wore white sheets vs black masks. Further, in meetings and business I don't see people fighting about Trump or Bernie.
Prepare for the worst, but somehow I think talk of CWII etc is overblown.
Is America So Divided Because The Media Like It That Way?
It’s what they are in business of for them good news never sells (see Trump win).
” A key reason for the ever-increasing raucousness of our quadrennial exercise in democracy is an overarching problem permeating American culture — the lost art of compromise.”
Ok Dumb A$$, how exactly does one ‘compromise’ with someone that wishes you dead?
Liberals hate conservatives like Hitler hated Jews, they would have no problem herding us all into the cattle cars and into the ovens.
Anybody that doesn’t believe that has never watched the Demonrat party’s fascist wing, Antifa, in action.
It’s gone way past anything that could be comprised on and will never end with anything less than a shooting war.
No its divided because the media and social media has made the nutty 33%ish of the population seem like 75% of the country. Its like those cars with all the bumper stickers on them - The media makes it seem like almost every car is like that
There can be no compromise between food and poison. When one side rejects everything that made America possible, their ideas must be wholly rejected, not indulged and integrated into society.
Disunity is a sign of a healthy society. “Unity” only happens in times of national emergency and in dictatorships. I remember being told even by folks on this site about a new era of unity after 9/11. I thought that we should just wait five minutes and it will change.
It’s funny you say that. One of the “Harper’s Weekly” newspaper posts from late 1859 had a piece relaying that same sentiment that secession and war talk was overblown. I hope you’re right, and will also prepare for the worst!
I believe the real split & end of any unity in recent times started with the Robert Bork confirmation hearings.
I believe that the end of civility/unity in recent times began with the Robert Bork confirmation hearings.
I have watched politics for many years. (I am 70) While there has always been division, there has not been so much hate and inflexibility as shown by the left.
Great point.
bttt
“The road to unity begins with compromise”
Horseshiite.
Thats as bad as “Diversity is strength”.
The left needs to be defeated on every front.
Unity is overrated.
You want a “United” Country, try Nazi Germany.
people love to hate. it makes them feel powerful. If you can feed people’s hate...stir it up, you can control them easier.
the only solution is a spiritual one - and the dems have clearly shown that for them, there is no god but the state.
we live in dangerous times.
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