Michael Adkins
We are the United States yet we are extremely polarized. I emphasize united because, in fact, we Americans agree on far more than on which we disagree. A Brown University study revealed that America is more polarized than any other democracy in the world.
I believe our polarization comes, in large part, from the forces that benefit from division and the great anger of the minority. I also believe that the degree of polarization we now face, and the bile it creates, endangers our democratic republic. Political polarization is what Madison referred to as the “violence of faction.” It has already manifested itself in the January 6 attack on the capitol and our struggles to respond to the pandemic and climate change.
The brain has, throughout history, developed the idea of “us” versus “them” as a defense mechanism. The most extreme results were slavery and the Holocaust. But we are a more developed civilization now and it is time to eliminate that form of “protection,” for extreme polarization leads to violence and the potential destruction of democratic values.
Within the past four decades, Americans have become increasingly divided. More than any other factor, political polarization divides us. This is a relatively modern construct and research reveals it has overtaken other causes of the divide amongst the American people. If I could name one event that led to this trend, it would be installing Newt Gingerich in a Congressional leadership position. He turned traditional congressional relations on its head and developed a legislative “us” versus “them” modus operandi.
A second factor is that we are more geographically divided than at any point in our history — certainly more so than any time since 1860. It was pointed out that in 1992 you could toss a dart at a map of the United States and the odds were strong that it would land on a politically heterogenous county. In 2022, the odds of that happening are miniscule to say the least. Much of this has to do with density of population. Urban areas differ politically than rural areas. As a view of Muncie reveals, it is even the density within a community that separates us. The denser the neighborhood, the more democratic the voters and vice versa. Homogenous communities tend to breed groupthink or tribalism.
Ideologies divide us. Most Americans hold fairly moderate views, yet the two major parties are moving toward the extremes. As stated by Lawrence Goldstone, “the problem is not in the belief systems that elected representatives or ordinary people favor, but rather when their ideology becomes ossified and an excuse to abandon critical thought, when, instead of evaluating a problem on its merits, zealots merely shove the particulars into whatever little box their ideology dictates.”
Race remains a very dividing factor in spite of the fact that pure racists make up a tiny portion of our population. A larger segment, one that is not as racist, but denies or even supports systemic racism, when combined with the pure racists, creates the atmosphere for racial division. Roughly 40 years ago, when I read, that Caucasians were predicted to become an American minority, I wondered what effect the transition would have on American society. We are witnessing it now. Millions of white, generally older males, are angry; very angry about the perceived loss of “white privilege.” In truth, whites will remain a plurality of Americans.
Our ever-increasing polarization leads millions of Americans to believe a civil war is brewing. Personally, I think it more likely will lead to a Northern Ireland style conflict that could last decades if we don’t tackle the problem now.
Michael Adkins formerly was chair of the Hancock County Democratic Party. Send comments to [email protected].
