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BigmanPigman

(51,629 posts)
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 07:07 PM Jul 2017

Us and Them...are we getting more polarized as a country?

I keep reading in various articles in liberal media outlets that civil unrest will continue to increase and turn violent due to the current admin and congress. Some are even floating the idea that it will become reminiscent of the 60's which dragged on for years and years.

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billh58

(6,635 posts)
5. When you consider the
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 08:09 PM
Jul 2017

reality that there are mostly racists and bigots making up the "them" who voted the current Grand Dragon of the Republican Party into office -- then those of "us" who oppose these genetic and cultural throwbacks will keep the opposition alive and well.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/09/kkk-racist-rants-religious-vandalism-us-vs-them-mentality-escalates-leaving-dark-corners-interne/418100001/

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
6. Politically speaking, yes
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 08:13 PM
Jul 2017
https://news.usc.edu/110124/political-polarization-at-its-worst-since-the-civil-war-2/

I don't believe it will end up resulting in violence as the Republican coalition, specifically around Trump is more fragile than I think is evident. I think some of it is a push back from how successful we've been on social issues. LGBT rights, women's rights, minority rights, these are all things we've made significant and measurable progress on. Obviously not as far as we need to, but less than 15 years ago Republicans were putting anti-same sex marriage bans on the ballot to drum up support. And today 64% of Americans support it. But this progress does create a backlash, particularly because of how we view politics as sort of a war.

I think another reason the Republican coalition is weaker than it appears is that they can't fool people forever on their claims of bringing back jobs, as the jobs they are talking about largely went away due to automation not outsourcing to other countries. American manufacturing is higher than ever. But there are fewer jobs because more is done by machines. Republicans don't have a solution for that, no matter what Trump says. I believe Democrats do because we value education, we talk about retraining and supporting that. Yes Republicans can win in the short term, but long term when they can't produce, they will get voted out.

And finally I think the courts will continue to rule against gerrymandering. Republicans do much better in the House than they should because of gerrymandering. But with courts ruling against it, I don't see that edge lasting in the long term.

I also don't think it will result in violence because we've evolved. Violence isn't an effective political action when we have elections. There is some risk as some people on both sides continue to talk about unsubstantiated claims of either in person voter fraud or actual vote hacking, but I don't see how those claims can continue to be unsupported by evidence and maintain strength over the long term.

BigmanPigman

(51,629 posts)
7. That is very rational, but the Repub base doesn't seem to have that ability to reason thoughtfully.
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 08:19 PM
Jul 2017

They seem to act first as opposed to think first. I hope your perspective proves to be true.

Takket

(21,629 posts)
8. "reminiscent of the 60's which dragged on for years and years"
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 08:25 PM
Jul 2017

10 years, if i remember correctly...... lol

it is definitely going to get worse........... but the resistance IS WORKING. we must keep it up

Nwgirl503

(406 posts)
11. Yes, and I don't know how it can get better
Sun Jul 9, 2017, 10:30 PM
Jul 2017

Every single level of this just proves there are people on the other side who are legitimately irredeemable. From justifying, accepting AND furthering all of his campaign shit, being fine with "others" getting the shaft with proposed policies and bills, to now those same people doing exactly the same with the Russia thing, there's no coming back from this IMO. Even if every one of them admitted they were wrong in their support of him, the best I'd ever feel towards them is distrust.

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