Why is America so divided?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

At a root cause level, here's your answer Brian:

View embedded media

I hope some others will watch this and comment.

 

[Aardvark86]

That was very enjoyable. Thanks.

Naturally, I disagree with his conclusions. Also, it doesn't help that he seems to use the word "athwart" in both it's main meanings, and that's a bit confusing.

I was a little surprised - and this is where I would question him if I were in the audience and there was a Q&A session - that he points out that Marx and Foucault both aim toward violence against the system. I would have said that they agree on the existence of oppressors and the oppressed in society, and they want to end that.

That's a very important distinction, I think, because if you conclude that Marx and Foucault are advocates of violence, then it's easy to reject them as bad guys. Whereas if you see them as opposing oppression, then you are likely to come to the opposite conclusion, even if violence may be necessary to effect change.

Violence is perhaps a strong word. I’d say perhaps “confrontation”.

I do get that at least in the case of Marx there was at least some Hegelian element that it would all happen naturally (particularly as the technology of the industrial revolution took hold). Indeed it was the russkies who probably grafted on most of the violence.

 

[Aardvark86]

I hope some others will watch this and comment.

Right? Bring a little culture to this place.

But query: on a scale of 0-10 where are you on the unifying thesis that the root cause is modern atomistic selfishness having taken hold at an increasingly molecular level.

 

[herkyhawk00]

I heard famed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin say that America hasn't been this divided since the Civil War. That makes sense to me. Americans don't really agree on anything. It's almost like two different countries.

It's very pronounced.

What's the reason for this? Social media? Trump?

Look at the people we have in Congress. They don’t even respect one another,

 

[TheCainer]

From a different perspective.

 

[TheCainer]

At a root cause level, here's your answer Brian:

View embedded media

Thank you for posting this. There is a lot to ingest there, and in turn, even more to digest. Unfortunately I am not in the right frame of mind to attempt that tonight. I will be watching this again.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Right? Bring a little culture to this place.

But query: on a scale of 0-10 where are you on the unifying thesis that the root cause is modern atomistic selfishness having taken hold at an increasingly molecular level.

I don't think that was his point. And of the 4 philosophers he discusses, only Nietzche can be said to endorse that view, imo.

You know who else endorses that view? Ayn Rand. And her many followers. And capitalism, in general.

So, to the extent that you are correct in assigning blame to "modern atomistic selfishness" - and I would agree that that is part of the problem - part of the remedy may be found in the views of Marx and Foucault.

Oh, to answer your rating question, I'd give it a 4. Less than I'd give the abomination that passes for Evangelical Christianity. Less than I'd give the current Republican party or the right wing media. And those are just speaking about America. And, yeah, that adds up to more than 10, but I'm a relative value kind of guy.

 

[Aardvark86]

I don't think that was his point. And of the 4 philosophers he discusses, only Nietzche can be said to endorse that view, imo.

You know who else endorses that view? Ayn Rand. And her many followers. And capitalism, in general.

So, to the extent that you are correct in assigning blame to "modern atomistic selfishness" - and I would agree that that is part of the problem - part of the remedy may be found in the views of Marx and Foucault.

Oh, to answer your rating question, I'd give it a 4. Less than I'd give the abomination that passes for Evangelical Christianity. Less than I'd give the current Republican party or the right wing media. And those are just speaking about America. And, yeah, that adds up to more than 10, but I'm a relative value kind of guy.

rand is a clown show.

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

I heard famed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin say that America hasn't been this divided since the Civil War. That makes sense to me. Americans don't really agree on anything. It's almost like two different countries.

It's very pronounced.

What's the reason for this? Social media? Trump?

The president keeps canceling student loan debt yet hasn’t paid off my mortgage.

I took a loan out to better myself just like they did. Both are intended to be paid off by the borrower.

 

[Flie]

Media and social media.

Social media fans the flames for sure (big time) but this division has existed back to the 90s at least.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The president keeps canceling student loan debt yet hasn’t paid off my mortgage.

I took a loan out to better myself just like they did. Both are intended to be paid off by the borrower.

There are better ways to handle oppressive student loans. But Congress won't do them. Which leaves a President the choice between kicking the can down the road or using the tools he has in the presidential toolbox.

Biden gets points for trying.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Social media fans the flames for sure (big time) but this division has existed back to the 90s at least.

True. But now on steroids.

 

[alaskanseminole]

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

There are better ways to handle oppressive student loans. But Congress won't do them. Which leaves a President the choice between kicking the can down the road or using the tools he has in the presidential toolbox.

Biden gets points for trying.

Oh I get that he gets points for trying. I’d pretty much vote for anyone if they paid off my mortgage and I didn’t have to have any debt in my life.

Could you imagine how great life would be if you didn’t have to pay back loans.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Oh I get that he gets points for trying. I’d pretty much vote for anyone if they paid off my mortgage and I didn’t have to have any debt in my life.

Could you imagine how great life would be if you didn’t have to pay back loans.

A good Caesar knows how to control appeal to the mob.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Social media fans the flames for sure (big time) but this division has existed back to the 90s at least.

Yep, Murdoch and Limbaugh. We can thank Ronald Reagan for those two and the destruction they heaped upon this country

 

[THE_DEVIL]

 

[franklinman]

Conservatives, its my way or the highway, the best example of this, is the SCOTUS, NO GIVE JUST TAKE

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

Always been divided. Washington used miltary against civilians. We went thru 80s till 2008 where white middle class thought they were ok. Now not so much with wealth shift.

 

[ihhawk]

Conservatives, its my way or the highway, the best example of this, is the SCOTUS, NO GIVE JUST TAKE

it isn’t the job of the SCOTUS to be liked. They have a purpose. If the SCOTUS started deciding cases based on wanting to be liked we would have a huge problem

 

[ft254]

Whomever blamed it on the politicians, …
Bullshit. They are who we are.

The answer begins and ends with social media.;
We are what we eat. And social media is trained to give us more and more or whatever we like to consume. Before long, our stated preferences will construct/ curate a “reality” that is 180 degrees from the reality that others have coonstructed.

It began long before social media was a ghost of an idea. The hatred and viscousness Limbaugh launched with his daily diatribes is the main reason we have the divisiveness we experience.

A huge section of our culture is susceptible to this cynical combative narrative.

 

[franklinman]

it isn’t the job of the SCOTUS to be liked. They have a purpose. If the SCOTUS started deciding cases based on wanting to be liked we would have a huge problem

Great, Tell them to keep their mouths shut and quit crying, complaining with the SCOTUS approval ratings. The low ratings are on them and nobody else as they have earned them.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

it isn’t the job of the SCOTUS to be liked. They have a purpose. If the SCOTUS started deciding cases based on wanting to be liked we would have a huge problem

If they were making the right unpopular decisions I would agree with you. But when this Red Court's decisions seem rooted in the times of the Spanish Inquisition, they don't get to use that defense.

 

[joelbc1]

Always been divided. Washington used miltary against civilians. We went thru 80s till 2008 where white middle class thought they were ok. Now not so much with wealth shift.

Washington’s use of troops vs.. Civilians saved the nation and set precedent that national needs were more important than state’s needs. The Whiskey Rebellion is the most overlooked event in American history and without a doubt its most important. with no Whiskey Rebellion, there would gave never been a War between the States.
George Washington was not only “the Father of the Nation”…he was its original savior with his leading the troops vs. the citizens here.,

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

The Whiskey Rebellion is the most overlooked event in American history and without a doubt its most important. with no Whiskey Rebellion, there would gave never been a War between the States.

So if those western whiskey farmers had paid the unfair tax, ( it was 50% more for the small farmers than the big eastern producers ), we would still have slavery in the USA? HAHA...

We still have slavery in fact. My wife has ordered me to go water the flowers in the 95 degree heat...

 

[hawkirugged17]

It was happening 80 years ago!

 

[ihhawk]

If they were making the right unpopular decisions I would agree with you. But when this Red Court's decisions seem rooted in the times of the Spanish Inquisition, they don't get to use that defense.

Depends on who thinks it’s right or wrong.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

Washington’s use of troops vs.. Civilians saved the nation and set precedent that national needs were more important than state’s needs. The Whiskey Rebellion is the most overlooked event in American history and without a doubt its most important. with no Whiskey Rebellion, there would gave never been a War between the States.
George Washington was not only “the Father of the Nation”…he was its original savior with his leading the troops vs. the citizens here.,

I agree

 

[SL Hawk Fan]

It was happening 80 years ago!

View embedded media

While that is kind of funny, it’s not an example of something that is causing us to be divided. Rather, it’s more an example of profiting off our existing tribalism. If anything, the proprietor was bringing them together by agreeing to serve everyone, even republicans.

 

[hawkirugged17]

While that is kind of funny, it’s not an example of something that is causing us to be divided. Rather, it’s more an example of profiting off our existing tribalism. If anything, the proprietor was bringing them together by agreeing to serve everyone, even republicans.

Actually, just going for the laugh. And, you are correct.

 

[BigAssTurkeyLeg]

What the left did to the right after 6 January, is really no different than what hamas did to Israel on 7 October. The tab is coming due over there >

View embedded media

Umm dude. The ****? People like you are what’s wrong with this country and world.

 

[southlakehawk]

those that think our republic has a zero sum component within it is one problem I believe. If some group I don't llke gets any assistance from DC then that must mean I am losing something.

That's one i think.

 

[joelbc1]

So if those western whiskey farmers had paid the unfair tax, ( it was 50% more for the small farmers than the big eastern producers ), we would still have slavery in the USA? HAHA...

We still have slavery in fact. My wife has ordered me to go water the flowers in the 95 degree heat...

It established the superiority of the Federal government…and GWashington himself, led tge troops! Game, Set and Match, Federal government.