If most Americans are overall similar in values, then how do you explain the partisanship?

[Ardent15]

I've heard from a lot of people that most Americans have similar values and want the same things. If this is true, then how do you explain the partisanship of the parties in Washington?

Maybe it's in Washington's nature to amplify our DIFFERENCES, rather than our common ground.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. I reject your premise

There is in fact a huge split in values and perceptions. We are at least two distinct nations.

[Fumesucker]

4. +1

[Zoeisright]

18. Yep. Bigoted 'Jesusland' and then the smart people.

Somebody had a map of electoral votes in 2004. Most northern states along with California were clue, and there was a big red cancer in the south.

[zbdent]

2. the need to WIN at all costs ...

some just can't get over that need ...

find the very worst thing you can about whatever your "party" opposite proposes, and make that into the next WORST THING IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND ...

[Billy Burnett]

3. Sometimes they think they're a nut ...

... sometimes they don't.

[leftstreet]

5. Because the Ruling Elite don't want us to have anything

They want every last lint-covered penny they can steal out of our pockets.

And they use their purchased politicians to keep us from talking about it.

[Oregone]

6. America is a nation of extremes

(with a sweet gushy middle that flows to whoever has the best narrative)

The only thing anyone agrees on completely is that they don't trust whoever is running the show

[proudohioan]

10. Absolutely!!!

[damntexdem]

7. We are not, and that explains part of it.

Beyond that, big money is spent to create crises and support a shock doctrine, basically to divide us even where we generally agree.

[tech9413]

8. It's not in Washingtons nature, It's the media

Every source of information that most people are exposed to thrive on sensationalism. Sensational reporting preys on peoples fears and fosters a fear of the "other". Add to that the isolation and homogenization of electronic media, we don't know our neighbors and tend to feel disconnected.

Most people don't have or take the time to search out real news about what's going on in the world. When you actually sit down and have a serious conversation with someone from "the other side of the aisle", it's amazing how much we have in common. It's just we see different causes for the problems that afflict us. It can take a lot of time and effort to argue with someone used to the sound clip mentality, but they still have a brain. If you give it a kick in the ass, it's surprising how smart they are.

[PhD]

9. I actually do agree with your premise

I've lived all over the country in very liberal and conservative areas. Based on my experiences, people of all political stripes do share the same basic values--wanting to raise good families, having freedom and opportunity to follow their dreams. The conflict and friction arise from the means by which different groups want to attain or enforce these values and their inability to compromise.

Regardless, we should still be glad we live in a country where people from wildly different political persuasions can live next door to each other. I've also lived in places overseas where neighbors kill each other generation after generation because of petty squabbles that started a thousand years ago.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. i would agree. It serves some of those in power to accentuate and manipulate the

differences...no matter how insignificant...for their own benefit.

Politicians, and those that feed them, and feed off of them..are superb at doing that.

[Juche]

12. Because the media and politics are generally to the right of the public

Polls show over 50% of the public and doctors want a national health insurance plan. However the democratic party (the left wing party) didn't even invite that idea to the table.

As an example. The coverage of the tea party vs the Iraq war protests is another.

There are radical, Glenn Beck style conservatives, but IMO they are only 10-15% of the public. The vast majority of people support the welfare state, universal health care, humanitarian aid, help for the poor and issues like that despite politicians and the media portraying them as extreme ideas.

Basically, wealthy individuals and organizations have co-opted politics and the media to push them to the right. The Overton window is a few degrees to the right in politics & the media than it is with the electorate.

[Odin2005]

13. it's because of the MSM corporate media manufacturing reality

Turning politics into a sport, Red vs. Blue. According to some poster when Bush pulled crap it was an impeachable offense, when Obama does it they make up excuses.

[stray cat]

14. The extreme 20% on the far right versus the far left is a huge gulf

not so much probably for the 60% in between

[UTUSN]

15. K&R to undo FOR NOW the usual, inscrutable UnReKKK. Hades!1 I can't even explain the Nut-UnReKKKers

[PhD]

16. What in the world are you talking about?

[lonestarnot]

17. What he said.