America Divided

The left-right schism that seems to have ballooned to monstrous proportions has me wondering if we have ever been so divided since the Civil War. It now seems to infuse almost every facet of daily life. I often read an article online that catches my interest and find when reading comments posted by other readers that seemingly no subject exists that can not be twisted to support a political view. Recently I read of the Alaskan town that got 18 feet of snow. One of the first comments on the article stated that Sarah Palin was a Jesus-loving anal whore of Satan (It was quickly, and rightfully, deleted by the commenting community). I'm certainly no fan of Palin, but wtf does she have to do with a story about a town buried under 18 feet of snow?

Having some moderate-to-left-leaning tendencies, I'm going to blame the right wing for much of the venom in the discourse these days. To some degree they seem to be winning the argument. They tell bigger and scarier lies. They seem to have sold the idea that "liberalism" is a dirty word, but "conservatism" is noble and desirable. Now it seems that "moderate" has become a dirty word. Recently, Newt Gingrich contrasted himself as a "strong conservative" with "Massachusetts moderate" Mitt Romney. Isn't moderate a very reasonable thing to be? 

A recent column by NYT columnist David Brooks, my favorite moderate conservative (A highly endangered species these days), wonders where all the liberals have gone. He says this should be a "golden age" for liberalism but notes, "there are two conservatives for every liberal". Since conservatives see enemies wherever they look, perhaps that explains some of the belligerence in daily discourse in America. A Tea Partyish bunker mentality and distrust of government and intellectuals seems to be typical right wing fare.

Have to take a moment to note my disappointment in another Brooks recent column expressing some positive sentiments about Rick Santorum, who, in my opinion, would like to see American Taliban and ayatollahs restoring American piety. Very, very frightening concept.