Divisiveness

I am glad to see more and more writers being puzzled by the divisiveness that is dominating our country (eg Distorted Messages Abound in Election Campaign). Quite frankly, it seems to me that the Republican and Democratic Party are more similar to each other than every before. Both parties stand squarely for big instrusive government that favors large corporations. Neither party is willing to exercise fiscal restraint.

Difference are minor...the Republicans favor using targetted tax breaks for social control, the Democratics favor more overt and direct forms of social control. Elections seem more about the way candidates smell and friends they keep.

It is the media that is divisive. Perhaps that's what's worrisome. Will the divisive media create more entrenched and polarized politicians. Through the Clinton Administration and even the first year of Bush Adminstration, I had a feeling that the US was getting back on track intellectually. Todays media seems to be devided by far left and far right pundits who are using international events to divide people and spread hate and fear.

I think the worst legacy of George Bush the first and George Bush the second is that they have driven the classical liberals out of the Republican party. Unfortunately, the kooky side of the Democratic party seems to be flocking back in droves. With clowns on the left and jokers on the right taking control, it is likely that the only predictible result of this election is that the people who are skilled at creating division will come out ahead.