Are we? It seems that every time I hear someone say that we're a "divided" country "thanks to Obama", that they really can't provide any decent proof that supports that. And I've noticed that the overwhelming majority of those who say it are conservatives who watch Fox News, or listen to Right Wing talk shows (tho they don't all admit it) and are the first ones to post things on facebook that are easily debunked. To me it's not that we're a divided country, but one that is being told we're divided by those who were used to being in power or having their way. Also, it's done by those who want us to fight among ourselves, so they come up with talking points to distract us. Even during Bush's lows, you didn't see people saying that we were divided like you saw the Republicans and Fox News (etc) say almost from day one. The rich, white upper class is basically telling us that "he" is dividing us, and people fall for it. When in reality, they're just profiting from it AND doing nothing to change or help matters. If anything, they're making it worse. Crime rates are down (but it's still the #1 lead on the news), Terrorists aren't a huge threat (and a country/leader that IS a threat, we'd don't even bother to go after. North Korea...can't imagine why. Maybe if the Korean peninsula had oil), Abortion #'s are down, Guns AREN'T being taken away, the economy IS actually improving, rights are improving and we're actually not unsafe. But if you listen to Right Wing radio and TV shows, Obama is causing crime to increase, he disrespects cops, he's muslim, he bows down to terrorists, Abortions happen ( even sometimes after the babies are born!), Guns are being taken away, Christianity/Christmas/Morals are under attack, the gays are taking over, we're losing our freedoms, he's causing us to close down the Government!! All because of Obama!! Yet, none of that is actually happening (or at best, solely at the feet of Obamas doing). You could make the argument that Terrorism is our biggest threat, but I'm not sure it's nearly as big of one as the RW makes it out to be, but that didn't start with Obama and it won't magically end with a Republican President in office dropping bombs. Bottom line, think about who is saying we're a "divided" country. Both from those who are in power spreading the message and those who are your friends/co-workers/family who send you emails/memes or post in message boards. From those in power (media, republicans in congress/house/etc), think about why they would say it and what they've done to change things? Have they just spread the word and made many people a pawn in doing their bidding? And then think about those who constantly say it and then remember how many times they've said other stupid shit that was untrue. I'm not sure we're any more divided than we've ever been, and even if we are "divided", it's just a division between a small group who are losing power/control, and the rest of us.
We've become a nation of victims. White people are victims. Christians are victims. The USA is bullied by everyone. We innovate, invent, and work harder than any country on earth. Yet the returns and rewards for this are diminishing for the middle class. We measure things that would truly improve the lives of the average citizen by how other countries do it wrong instead of how we can do it better. We seek blame instead of seek solutions. We label instead of listen.
What I know is when a republican is president, fox news is all happy and sunshine and msnbc is a bunch of crybabies. When a democrat is president, fox news and msnbc are a bunch of crybabies.
well, msnbc is a bunch of unknown cry babies all the time. btw, as many conservatives will point out (when it suits them), msnbc is not on par with fox in regards to audience size and ability to get an agenda out.
Are we divided? That's a pretty stupid question. It's pretty obvious this country is divided from all fronts. You have two major parties that don't agree on anything. If we have a united nation, then government would look past parties and be united on policies that are good for America. There is no mistake that outsiders are the ones leading the polls on both parties. It's because America is fed up with the division.
What you don't understand is "we the people" elect those officials to speak for us. So when they are divided, we are divided. Do you even understand politics?!
The country is obviously divided. The track record for many countries staying intact isn't great..USSR splintered, Yugoslavia splintered, Ireland splintered(, Korea splintered. Sometimes smaller may be better (insert mags joke here)
you aren't this naive. So they're divided because we're divided, but we want them to work together (which will magically happen with Trump in office), so that means we don't want them to be divided. Which is it?
I think our political parties are much more divided than the nation. And much of the media is just pushing the agenda of one of the two parties. The media also intentionally drums up divisive stories, controversy sells.
I think the majority of Americans all want the same things, i.e.; financial security, a home to call our own, enough food to eat, education, a fair wage job, etc. Unfortunately, a small percentage (1%??) wants everything they can grab, as if life is some kind of competitive game and whoever dies with the most, wins. The best way to keep what they have (and acquire even more) is to deflect as much attention from themselves as they can. So they use class divisions, race and gender to pit the rest of America against each other so we can fight over the meager leftovers. They keep the unwashed masses un (or under) educated so they can feed them whatever lies work. All the various classifications of "have nots" blame each other for what they don't have or can't get, while the real thieves skate free! Laughing all the way. So yes, I believe strongly that America is divided. I believe it is intended and implemented by (to a degree) artificial means. And I don't see it changing soon, if at all.
Naive??? This is what is supposed to be. What's naive are people like you that believe this is status quo. We should be outraged as a nation that the people we vote for cannot united this country when most of us truly want the same thing. As for your dig on Trump... That has absolutely zero relevance to your OP statement since you asked if we are divided. According to our constitution, our legislation is our voice. And the moment they aren't, then we the people have the right to revolt and take out the government that does not represent the people. This isn't a dig on Democrats or Republicans. This is a dig on politicians that put interest of other things that aren't the interest of the people. And some of the most recognized presidents are ones that help influence parties to agree on policies and issues that normally go against their party's normal ideology.
The difference of opinions and ideology is welcomed. Division is measured on politics. When the majority of the people want something, yet the politicians they vote for don't agree on the very issue the people agree on, then our country is divided. The people's voice are divided from the politicians that are supposed to protect them
This entire dig about presidents not having power to make these changes is entirely false. It starts the movement and it should be the "people's vote" to want to elect the president that will best represent the voice of the people. Congress has many representatives that give multiple voices from all the people of this country, while the president is the one that is supposed to be an unbiased mediator, representative to other countries and uniter of the people and the world. The people should look past political parties and find the one that will be our voice. That's the president I want and I believe Trump is the closest thing I feel comfortable with that will be our voice. His first detailed policy released was how he intends to protect our civil liberty. His second detailed policy he will release is his tax plan. One of the major issues he sells is illegal immigration, which has 92% poll of American people being concerned with. Illegal immigration is one of the most united fronts from the American people yet no one really acts on that. That's true division of the people's voice and the legislation's action.
We are, and I think that's exactly how they want it. Corporations want us talking about stupid shit so we just ignore them passing legislation that fucks us over.
