Divisive Politics in US

In a perfect blog, there would be something for everybody-a community where everyone is welcome, from the sports freaks and NASCAR dads to the news junkies and soccer moms. But, we live in an increasingly sectarian society with political parties split down the middle, where one side cannot really even understand the other. Perhaps this is what our Founding Fathers feared when they warned that the most dangerous element in a 'free' society is the prevalence of factions. Now, politicians are using these factions to their own political advantage, and dividing the people along the way. Perhaps the notion of community itself is an illusion in a 'free society.'

I'd like to think that my blog is open to anyone out there with a web browser and a little time on his or her hands. But, I know that's not exactly realistic considering the tastes of people out there. Part of what's exciting about following the political race or being a part of one is seeing which candidate can attract the greatest cross section of society into his camp. The politician who uses this factor to unite people from different sections of society wins my vote, but mostly politicians use this to divide people and turn them against each other.

Our culture is geared towards hooking and maintaining an audience. Television, radio, and print media know how to create communities of viewers, listeners, and readers and market their product to gain customer loyalty. Our viewing, listening, and reading habits dictate who we are, and most of these habits are shaped by our age, education level, and geography. We are becoming so polarized as a nation that someone who grew up in one of George W. Bush's "Red" states probably cannot understsand or relate to someone who spent much time listening to NPR or does much reading on thenation.com website. For those people, the right has done a pretty good job portraying these "liberals" as absent any deep moral convictions and "traitors" to our country's values. By comparison, we are used to reading that all Republicans and "right-wingers" are religious nuts and extremists. I am almost certain that this is not true, but it helps the dominant voice in one particular market to brand its name apart from the other. Grouping one group against the other is good advertising.

Is it too much to expect that we can all meet on a blog and share different opinions and ideas without casting ourselves all in the same cloth? The media spin on politics ranging from the occupation of Iraq to the 2004 election campaign is so fixed and frozen in one place. Only through dialogue can we share ideas and create new and fresh perspectives on the world and perhaps create a new political party outside the mainstream Dems and Republicans. Just a thought, but we have to start getting smarter as a nation and stop letting the media define the issues for us. We need to come together as a people and demand that leaders represent us instead of divide us.

I would love to talk or share ideas with a "Republican" not to change his or her ideas but to understand where they are coming from. It's not the politicians that will improve our lives, they are used to using politics to divide us. It's we the people that have to overcome our differences and create a better society.

Please feel free to comment.