Country Not So Divided?
James Joyner has some interesting commentary on how little-divided the country actually is as compared to how divided we often think it is. It seems that it's the political people who are the most divided, not the average American.
And yet, the biggest arguments are often fought over the smallest things, aren't they?
I would argue that politically-oriented people are the *least* divided of Americans, because:
1) They run in the same circles
2) They study a broad range of ideas
3) They constantly argue, which actually brings people closer together
I've spent a considerable amount of time in the lobbying world (as a witness, not a participant), and there is very, very little difference between a Democrat and a Republican when you get to the level of government. Regular citizens are far more different from one another than are the politicians they elect.
America has always been divided: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, Abolitionists vs. Slavers, Wets vs. Drys, Pro-New Deal vs. Anti-New Deal, Hawks vs. Doves, Hippies vs. Squares, Pro-Abortion (Pro-Choice) vs. Anti-Abortion (Pro-Life), Pro-Homosexual vs. Anti-Homosexual, Religious vs. Secular, etc., etc....
It led to Civil War once. It may do so again.