"If it divides it richly provides"

....................................................
Can the United States Ever Be United Again?
By Joe Gandelman | May 10th, 2011

So much for our new era of national unity.

When Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in Arizona, the pundits and political class predicted that it might be a turning point in political dialogue, ushering in a new era of civility. That lasted almost a week.

But that was comparatively impressive: the killing of mass murderer Osama bin Laden on Sunday May 1 sparked pronouncements from talking heads about Americans being united again in a cathartic event.

That lasted about a day. Or less.

[snipped]

In Conservative Talkland, hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage initially acknowledged and praised Obama’s role. But by Tuesday most conservative talk show hosts and callers were insinuating that the non-release of the bin Laden photos and changing White House accounts of the killing meant the government was lying, Obama staged it to boost his poll numbers and that congratulations really belonged to George Bush. Bin Laden’s timely exit became a mere side issue.

[snipped]

Sociologist Philip Slater argues that polarization is an international phenomenon involving a clash between “the control culture” and “the connecting culture.” In the U.S. profit spurs it on. Our 24/7 news cycle reaps millions for those generating and packaging partisan hate and controversy. Many cable networks only set up left and right debates and totally ignore the center. A Pew Research poll now finds independent voters free of party but not of ideology and less moderate.

Today, in news, talk shows and politics, if it bleeds it leads, if it’s rage it gets minutes or the front page. And if it divides it richly provides.

The lingering unity after World War II’s end or 911 would be elusive today. Weeks are down to days. Can the United States be unified again?

Yes. Despite arguments by some Republicans that Obama blew it by killing bin Laden an NBC poll found 80 percent agreeing with Obama’s decision and only 11 percent disagreeing. Two thirds agreed with Obama’s decision on the photos. The Daily Beast’s John Avlon notes demonizing conservative radio talk shows’ ratings are declining. Meanwhile, both political parties’ establishments seem more anxious to compromise than their zero-sum-take-all ideologue bases.

And that is hope you can believe in.
....................................................