The passage of time and the dying out of current generations. I have hope that the younger generation, which is already more tolerant than past generations, will create a less divided America.

Honestly I don't think anything can bring the country together. I just don't. I think we are too deep into our camps, and there's no coming out of them.

I would guess what can bring the country together is time.

Probably more people leaving rural areas for cities will do that, too. And folks leaving California to go to places like Texas - that'll contribute. As PPs have said, getting to know people who hold what you consider odious beliefs helps you stop finding those beliefs so odious - for example, once a gay couple moves next door, hateful people tend not to find gay marriage intolerable anymore.

But also, this is just who we are as a country, I think. FFS half the country wanted to keep black people as property, and went to war to keep the right to do it - and a good chunk of the country is still fighting this war. How in the world are we ever expected to merge?

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to stop electing extremists. We need a president who reaches out to people on both sides of the aisle.

So....

LITERALLY ANY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

There are no left analogues to the extremists on the right, none whatsoever. If the vitriol in the country bothers you, spend the next nine months doing every bit you can to crush the GOP. I’m the Midwesterner with the lost Fox father; I’m going to be having uncomfortable conversations with him. The GOP is ruining democracy and the country and most of the rubes, like my dad, don’t really get that. My father is of the “Christian theocracy is a-ok!” flavor of right winger.”, for example, because he believes the GOP propaganda that continually bleats that we were founded as a Judeo-Christian nation. That’s a lie, but because it dovetails with the authoritarian, religious upbringing he had, he likes the lie. It comforts him.

It’s time to stop electing extremists. We need a president who reaches out to people on both sides of the aisle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

I live in the Midwest and have lost my father to Fox.

It’s not a both sides issue, not a bit. OP doesn’t say “both sides” but she implies it.

How do we get past this? Naming the real problem, for one thing: Republican extremism and all that feeds into it. Sadly, it is a multi-factorial problem, but the big one is right wing propaganda. But we have to see the problem for what it is because you can’t solve a problem when you won’t identify what the problem is.

+2

The right-wing conservatives have been cultivating and spreading the idea that liberals are evil for a long time.

https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/july-august-2018/how-the-right-wing-convinces-itself-that-liberals-are-evil/

I think what we are all seeing, and why so many of us look at the 90s as some kind of turning point with Newt and Co., is that the internet and social media made it so much more easy for them to spread the hate and bring it right into people's homes 24/7.

Now anyone can spread their BS as "news".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

We should link arms and fight against the 1% elites. People on both sides distrust the elites in power and want their democracy back. That would make too much sense, which is why the rich and powerful and the corporate media on both sides is trying to divide us by identity politics wedge issues. College students who can’t find work and are heavily in debt should link arms with union members, teachers, etc., and get beyond their gender, race or ethnicity.

But the people in power don’t want that and will use all the tricks in the book to keep us divided.

And now - if the mainstream media has their way - the angry, divided masses will hopefully pick from two billionaires in November, Trump and Bloomberg. A choice between a far-right nationalist and a corporate Republican. Hooray!!!

The elites are laughing their asses off at us. Don't hide and conquer.

Please expound on this linking of the arms with union members. What does having democracy back look like to you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

Free Xanax for all Dems after Trump wins again.

Nope, he’s going to try to destroy free medical anything. The only one getting free drugs will be Trump.

Anonymous wrote:Meant divide and conquer.

But perhaps we could hide and conquer.... hmm...

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

Free Xanax for all Dems after Trump wins again.

Meant divide and conquer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

We should link arms and fight against the 1% elites. People on both sides distrust the elites in power and want their democracy back. That would make too much sense, which is why the rich and powerful and the corporate media on both sides is trying to divide us by identity politics wedge issues. College students who can’t find work and are heavily in debt should link arms with union members, teachers, etc., and get beyond their gender, race or ethnicity.

But the people in power don’t want that and will use all the tricks in the book to keep us divided.

And now - if the mainstream media has their way - the angry, divided masses will hopefully pick from two billionaires in November, Trump and Bloomberg. A choice between a far-right nationalist and a corporate Republican. Hooray!!!

The elites are laughing their asses off at us. Don't hide and conquer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

I live in the Midwest and have lost my father to Fox.

It’s not a both sides issue, not a bit. OP doesn’t say “both sides” but she implies it.

How do we get past this? Naming the real problem, for one thing: Republican extremism and all that feeds into it. Sadly, it is a multi-factorial problem, but the big one is right wing propaganda. But we have to see the problem for what it is because you can’t solve a problem when you won’t identify what the problem is.

+2

I agree. This is part of why I was appalled and expressed at Rush Limbaugh receiving a formerly high honor during the SOTU.

Basically Trump and all of the supporting Republicans who clapped were like, “thank you for your birther movement, fear mongering, and hatred that allowed us to bring our corruption this far into not only the White House, but the world.”

Distressed not expressed ^^!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

I live in the Midwest and have lost my father to Fox.

It’s not a both sides issue, not a bit. OP doesn’t say “both sides” but she implies it.

How do we get past this? Naming the real problem, for one thing: Republican extremism and all that feeds into it. Sadly, it is a multi-factorial problem, but the big one is right wing propaganda. But we have to see the problem for what it is because you can’t solve a problem when you won’t identify what the problem is.

+2

I agree. This is part of why I was appalled and expressed at Rush Limbaugh receiving a formerly high honor during the SOTU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

I live in the Midwest and have lost my father to Fox.

It’s not a both sides issue, not a bit. OP doesn’t say “both sides” but she implies it.

How do we get past this? Naming the real problem, for one thing: Republican extremism and all that feeds into it. Sadly, it is a multi-factorial problem, but the big one is right wing propaganda. But we have to see the problem for what it is because you can’t solve a problem when you won’t identify what the problem is.

My dad too. He was always a conservative guy but never talked about Politics or seemed angry. My parents always told me it was rude to talk politics- when I was growing up. He retired early (blue collar union job). and has basically spent the last 20yrs sitting on the couch watching Fox and getting angrier by the day. Spread it to my mom too. There are millions of men like this. Why??? I really do not know.

I have an AA girlfriend who married a white conservative. She had a strong circle of HBCU friends, but after a few years of marriage began an angry path of spouting conservative talking points about hate. It was unbelievable. It was scary to watch. So it’s not just men that can fall victim. Maybe it’s people feeling like they need a sense of belonging, and that is the easiest place to fit? I don’t know. It’s a great question.