So, I've been thinking about this crap a lot, and browsing a ton of other political forums on TT. I can't help but feel like there probably isn't much hope of pulling this nation back together.
On one side you have conservatives. They want "small" government, stricter immigration laws(current laws enforced), the gov out of their business, and a fair amount of freedom so long as it fits their moral compass. They don't believe people have the ability to be good without the presence of religion and think god is necessary for society to advance in a positive manner. They believe the left has been brainwashed by big government, hand outs, and the MSM. (all generalities)
On the other side you have Liberals. Basically gunning for socialism, although I don't think all of them realize that their plans lead to that end, and eventually full blown communism. I also include in this group an fair number who have the goal of full blown communism. They don't believe they can protect themselves not do they trust their fellow man to not murder them given the tools for self defense. They truly believe that the right has been brainwashed by the gov, big business, and MSM (again, generalities)
Then their are the Libertarians. They are an extremely fractured group. Many claiming the title but only supporting certain ideals of libertarianism. Some have a decidedly leftist take, others very conservative morals. Just do a little googling on libertarianism and you will see why I'm not going to hammer out all the differing sects that have taken the title in the past 100 years or so. Libertarians tend to be stuck in the middle, but the number of modern libertarians seems to have grown at a fast pace in the US over the past decade, although with little agreement on the actual stance of any libertarian party.
Concentrating on the first two groups (the third tending to fall on one side or the other the majority of the time), the is NO agreement at this point. The Left is looking to take more and more from those who earn in order to fund social welfare programs. There are generations who know nothing other than social welfare and believe that they truly are entitled to it. The numbers have risen to the degree that they form a massive voting block. The right is attempting to combat this (the people, not the politicians) by looking for super conservative candidates. In some areas this is good, but it also makes it more difficult to appeal to large sects of the population. Many groups who don't support the socialist agenda will still vote for the path based on a single issue (conservative gays). It makes for a very tough fight on a national scale.
Add in the relative disdain that many on both sides of the isle have for the current state of our government in general and things really look bad. And while complaining that congress can get nothing done and agree on nothing we have a population that is in the same state. Any compromise from either side is generally met with utter disgust. The left is digging in their heels to "end their oppression" while the right is digging in their heels to end the constant chipping away at their rights and livelihood.
It has been mentioned that voting rights should be restricted. That could possibly give the right the upper hand, but I think it has about a snowballs chance in hell of passing. Then there would be the court battles over constitutionality, and finding a way to navigate that process would probably have about a snowflakes chance in hell. Say it all did pass, would the nation survive the fracture it would cause? Rioting on a scale never before seen, very likely erupting in to an even bigger "dispute".
At this point, I don't know that there really is an answer for this nation. A fundamental change in the way people think, but is that feasible? Not sure if there is really any way that this country can survive as one free nation.
Can't help but wonder what the USA will look like when my kids grow and and start trying to raise their own families.
/rambling
On one side you have conservatives. They want "small" government, stricter immigration laws(current laws enforced), the gov out of their business, and a fair amount of freedom so long as it fits their moral compass. They don't believe people have the ability to be good without the presence of religion and think god is necessary for society to advance in a positive manner. They believe the left has been brainwashed by big government, hand outs, and the MSM. (all generalities)
On the other side you have Liberals. Basically gunning for socialism, although I don't think all of them realize that their plans lead to that end, and eventually full blown communism. I also include in this group an fair number who have the goal of full blown communism. They don't believe they can protect themselves not do they trust their fellow man to not murder them given the tools for self defense. They truly believe that the right has been brainwashed by the gov, big business, and MSM (again, generalities)
Then their are the Libertarians. They are an extremely fractured group. Many claiming the title but only supporting certain ideals of libertarianism. Some have a decidedly leftist take, others very conservative morals. Just do a little googling on libertarianism and you will see why I'm not going to hammer out all the differing sects that have taken the title in the past 100 years or so. Libertarians tend to be stuck in the middle, but the number of modern libertarians seems to have grown at a fast pace in the US over the past decade, although with little agreement on the actual stance of any libertarian party.
Concentrating on the first two groups (the third tending to fall on one side or the other the majority of the time), the is NO agreement at this point. The Left is looking to take more and more from those who earn in order to fund social welfare programs. There are generations who know nothing other than social welfare and believe that they truly are entitled to it. The numbers have risen to the degree that they form a massive voting block. The right is attempting to combat this (the people, not the politicians) by looking for super conservative candidates. In some areas this is good, but it also makes it more difficult to appeal to large sects of the population. Many groups who don't support the socialist agenda will still vote for the path based on a single issue (conservative gays). It makes for a very tough fight on a national scale.
Add in the relative disdain that many on both sides of the isle have for the current state of our government in general and things really look bad. And while complaining that congress can get nothing done and agree on nothing we have a population that is in the same state. Any compromise from either side is generally met with utter disgust. The left is digging in their heels to "end their oppression" while the right is digging in their heels to end the constant chipping away at their rights and livelihood.
It has been mentioned that voting rights should be restricted. That could possibly give the right the upper hand, but I think it has about a snowballs chance in hell of passing. Then there would be the court battles over constitutionality, and finding a way to navigate that process would probably have about a snowflakes chance in hell. Say it all did pass, would the nation survive the fracture it would cause? Rioting on a scale never before seen, very likely erupting in to an even bigger "dispute".
At this point, I don't know that there really is an answer for this nation. A fundamental change in the way people think, but is that feasible? Not sure if there is really any way that this country can survive as one free nation.
Can't help but wonder what the USA will look like when my kids grow and and start trying to raise their own families.
/rambling
