“More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” Comedian Woody Allen.
Allen was, as usual, using sarcasm to make a joke, but at times it feels as though America is being pulled in divergent and destructive directions.
For the last 25 years the Pew Research Center has been tracking the values and basic beliefs of Americans. Its most recent poll shows that the country faces more partisan polarization than in any time in the last quarter century.
In fact, the partisanship gap, as measured by 48 political values, has nearly doubled over the period, with the greatest increases coming during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Notably, our differences in values along demographic lines (gender, race, religion and class) are about the same as they were 25 years ago. Rather it’s the partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats that has expanded dramatically.
For example, on the issue of the social safety net, there is a 41 point difference between Republicans and Democrats; in 1987 the difference was only 23 points. On the environment, there is a 39 point difference, while 25 years ago the spread was just five points. And a 20 point spread between the two parties in 1987 on labor unions has nearly doubled (to 37 percent).
As a result, we are deeply separated over the fundamental question of what kind of country America should be.
The debate is being played out in the 24/7 news cycle and in our elections, Wisconsin being the most recent example. The all-or-nothing mentality contributed to a particularly brutal recall election for Republican Gov. Scott Walker against Democrat Tom Barrett, which Walker won Tuesday.
Walker’s support of legislation raising the contributions by public employees to their health insurance and retirement funds, as well as the decision to end compulsory collective bargaining, prompted an emotional fight that’s been going on for months. The two campaigns, along with independent groups, have spent an estimated $65 million, making it by far the most expensive election in the state’s history.
The good people of Wisconsin, who enjoy a hardy public debate and do their part by turning out in high numbers on Election Day, are, by all reports, sick of the fighting and the political bile. Who can blame them?
West Virginia native and Fox News political analyst Chris Stirewalt, who has been reporting from Wisconsin this week, insists that all this is painful, but necessary, in Wisconsin and across the country.
“We are in a state of political upheaval,” Stirewalt said on Metronews Talkline Tuesday. “What’s really driving this uncertainty among the electorate is what path (the country) will take.”
According to Stirewalt, the tremendous prosperity over the last 40 years has allowed us to slide along, glazing over some of the more significant issues that we now confront, such as spending, debt and the role of government. But no longer, and now we must decide what course to take.
The frustration has been building and it feels as though we’re moving from simmer to boil. You can witness it on the political landscape and the Pew research has quantified it.
Where does it all end?
The Pew research does not gaze into the future; it only documents the very real trend line of polarization that so far shows no sign of abating. Stirewalt, however, sees a steam release coming when the American electorate finally says, “This is what we’re doing. This is the path we’re on.”
Wisconsin could be the start. The 2012 presidential election will follow. Perhaps relief is in sight. If Woody Allen was correct, nobody is going to be laughing.