Political conventions show how deeply divided the country is

[Draggingtree]

The Dallas Morning News:

Political conventions show how deeply divided the country is

 

By WAYNE SLATER and ROBERT T. GARRETT

 

Published: 08 September 2012 10:12 PM

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The political conventions painted a vivid picture of a nation divided, a country in which it seems the only thing we agree on is how deeply we disagree.

The story lines from Tampa, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C., were worlds apart.

And polls back up the idea that it’s not just the partisans who attend conventions: A recent Pew Research Center poll finds Americans are more polarized now than at any point in the past 25 years. With that has come more gridlock than compromise and a politics less about finding solutions than casting blame.

As voters go to the polls in November to pick a president, the choice will be between two nominees whose different visions reflect — or have helped shape — how divided we are.

Not only can’t we reconcile our opinions, we can’t even agree on the facts: There’s a war on women or there isn’t. Global warming is real or it’s not. Each side would protect Medicare, but the other wouldn’t. Tax cuts boost jobs or benefit plutocrats.

Bill Bishop, an Austin-based author whose book The Big Sort explores how Americans increasingly live in communities with like-minded voters, says our divisions are deep and growing.