THE TWO AMERICAS: "America is now two countries, not on speaking terms. The culturally cohesive America of the 1950s that some of us remember, is no longer with us. . .
"One America listens to Rush Limbaugh; the other to NPR. Each America has its favorite cable news channel. . . There are plenty of smart, creative and successful people in both Americas. But they don't like to mix with each other
"One America listens to Rush Limbaugh; the other to NPR. Each America has its favorite cable news channel. . . There are plenty of smart, creative and successful people in both Americas. But they don't like to mix with each other
these days.
"One America tends to be traditionally religious, personally charitable, appreciative of entrepreneurs and suspicious of government.
"The other tends to be secular or only mildly religious, less charitable on average, skeptical of business and supportive of government as an instrument to advance liberal causes. This was an election that pitted these two cultures against one another. . .
"Now the Two Americas disagree, sharply. Government decisions enthuse one and enrage the other. The election is over, but the Two Americas are still not on speaking terms." ~ Michael Barone, of the American Enterprise Institute and co-author of "The Almanac of American Politics."
"One America tends to be traditionally religious, personally charitable, appreciative of entrepreneurs and suspicious of government.
"The other tends to be secular or only mildly religious, less charitable on average, skeptical of business and supportive of government as an instrument to advance liberal causes. This was an election that pitted these two cultures against one another. . .
"Now the Two Americas disagree, sharply. Government decisions enthuse one and enrage the other. The election is over, but the Two Americas are still not on speaking terms." ~ Michael Barone, of the American Enterprise Institute and co-author of "The Almanac of American Politics."
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I would hasten to add that The Two Americas also have a generational gap. Voter demographics show that a majority of Americans over 40 voted for Romney, while a majority of those under 40 voted for Obama. It's probably no surprise that the majority of voters for Obama lived in cities with large minority populations, while the majority of Romney voters lived in suburban and rural areas.
The challenge for centrists is to define social programs important for urban Americans and economic policy important for suburban and rural Americans. We need to focus on the issues and find win-win scenarios. That's what the politicians in DC seem unable to do. If Centrists can accomplish this task they will have the key to victory in 2016.
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