How politically divided as a nation are we?
I keep asking myself this question, and try as I might, I don’t get a satisfactory answer.
The mainstream media tells us that this nation is split right down the middle, and the national elections could go either way. “Trump will win in November! ” “No, Bernie Sanders will defeat him. Young people want college debt forgiveness!”
“Trump tweets too much.” “Trump has an abrasive personality.” “Bernie and Elizabeth are socialists who would both ruin this country economically.” “Trump deserves to be impeached.” “Name the crime that Trump committed.”
It goes on and on in a never ending cacophony of words, words intended to diminish the opposing side and win an argument. The conventional wisdom shouts from the roof tops that we are a divided nation, that the country is too big, and America’s political wants cannot be satisfied.
But is that true? Are we so divided that we think we have a victory when only 51 percent of the population supports a government policy?
There is no doubt that the political landscape has changed in the last five years due to some extent by the election of Donald Trump.
When I was in grade school, I discovered that I could take a teaspoon of baking soda, dump it into a glass, pour some vinegar on it, and I would get an explosion of bubbles. Somehow this fascinated me, and it was all brought about by a catalyst, the vinegar.
Most people who voted for Trump wanted change, and they saw him as a catalyst, someone who was going to react to the status quo, stir things up, and in the long run, make things better.
Americans have discovered how corrupt our Washington politicians are. We have discovered how corrupt some of our government agencies are along with the leaders of these agencies.
Without Trump, we would know none of this. Other countries would be ripping us off left and right, and those in power would continue to get “sweetheart deals” for themselves and their family members.
But the question remains, “Are we a divided nation?”
The answer to that question probably depends on whether or not you are better off today than you were three years ago. If you think that the U. S economy is headed in the right direction, you like what is happening.
If you like to see the United States as a world leader, you are probably pretty happy.
If you like the fact that African-American and Hispanic unemployment is the lowest it has been since the statistics were kept, you are in tune with millions of other Americans.
If you, on the other hand, believe that “climate change” is the number one issue facing America, you are probably unhappy.
If you think that a woman’s right to choose extends to after the baby is delivered, then you don’t like what you see.
If you believe that the Second Amendment to the Constitution is obsolete, and guns should be forcibly taken away from law abiding citizens, then you are part of the great divide.
If you feel that illegal aliens have a right to taxpayer-funded health care, you are no doubt very supportive of “Pocohontas” and “Crazy Bernie.”
Only 27 percent of Americans label themselves as liberal or progressive. Thirty-seven percent identify as conservatives. Of the remainder, 32 percent claim to be independents.
But are we as a nation really that divided?
I don’t think so. All of us like a winner, and our country is turning in a stellar performance. In fact we are the envy of the world. Once the catalyst (Trump) was dumped into the mixture, things began to improve. Americans recognize that.
I noticed that some pundits are saying that landslide elections are a thing of the past. I wouldn’t bet a lot of money on that theory. Remember, Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser, and that is just a fact.
