The big difference today is that there doesn't exist clear geographic delineation between people who want progress (free the slaves) and the assholes who are evil (slavery is good).

Otherwise, the Trump election might well have triggered a national split.

30 years of rw nutjob hate radio.

When we begin cheaping out, influenced by the billionaires' whispers that some people aren't worth helping, that creates losers. Enough losers will band together and, rightly or wrongly, they will take down the system that oppresses them. Or that they imagibe oppresses them.

We have let too many Americans live on the edge of ruin, and have let the plutocrats divide us by blaming "undesirables" among us. We need policy that allays fears and prevents the billionaires from turning us against each other.