There are growing signs that the U.S. is experiencing precursors to a moment where political and religious opponents officially split up and take sides in a serious battle.
Here are some specific details about what's going on:
1) The elimination of the military draft. It has been observed that the elimination of the draft in 1972 created a situation where the all-volunteer force has become politically and religiously unbalanced, now with a much higher percentage of those on the political and religious right. The elimination of the draft was initially applauded by those on the left, but it has resulted in the loss of a balancing component in everything from what the military does to its culture. The military is no longer a place where different people are forced to live with one another and learn how to get along.
2) In a similar example, the members of the U.S. Congress sit according to political party. This partisan split enforces the tendency for politicians unlike themselves to remain separated. A recent poll suggested the public thinks this practice is a bad idea, and there is a suggestion that each house of Congress be assigned seats alphabetically so that members would be forced to mingle with those they otherwise avoid. There is no evidence this is even being considered.
3) The growth of partisan media outlets has resulted in the public becoming more polarized in general. “Heavy use of partisan media doesn’t just affect your attitudes about the other party’s candidates,” said one of the authors of a recent study on the issue. “It also affects how you think about the other party’s supporters — you’ll be more likely to see them as less patriotic and more close-minded, for example.”
4) Racial divides are also a growing issue. A new report on segregation in schools shows that it's making a comeback, and affirmative action programs meant to help racial and other minorities have been declared unconstitutional.
If some major steps aren't taken to reverse the splitting of the country's people into groups who can't get along--and don't even want to--then the eventual split is inevitable. Unfortunately, it is often the case when a system (in the scientific use of the word "system") fails, it crashes hard. It's difficult to imagine the U.S. being an exception.
Here are some specific details about what's going on:
1) The elimination of the military draft. It has been observed that the elimination of the draft in 1972 created a situation where the all-volunteer force has become politically and religiously unbalanced, now with a much higher percentage of those on the political and religious right. The elimination of the draft was initially applauded by those on the left, but it has resulted in the loss of a balancing component in everything from what the military does to its culture. The military is no longer a place where different people are forced to live with one another and learn how to get along.
2) In a similar example, the members of the U.S. Congress sit according to political party. This partisan split enforces the tendency for politicians unlike themselves to remain separated. A recent poll suggested the public thinks this practice is a bad idea, and there is a suggestion that each house of Congress be assigned seats alphabetically so that members would be forced to mingle with those they otherwise avoid. There is no evidence this is even being considered.
3) The growth of partisan media outlets has resulted in the public becoming more polarized in general. “Heavy use of partisan media doesn’t just affect your attitudes about the other party’s candidates,” said one of the authors of a recent study on the issue. “It also affects how you think about the other party’s supporters — you’ll be more likely to see them as less patriotic and more close-minded, for example.”
4) Racial divides are also a growing issue. A new report on segregation in schools shows that it's making a comeback, and affirmative action programs meant to help racial and other minorities have been declared unconstitutional.
If some major steps aren't taken to reverse the splitting of the country's people into groups who can't get along--and don't even want to--then the eventual split is inevitable. Unfortunately, it is often the case when a system (in the scientific use of the word "system") fails, it crashes hard. It's difficult to imagine the U.S. being an exception.
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