Broadly speaking, we have two Americas with different realities. There are of course many subsets, but the divide between opposing societal belief systems has become a gaping chasm -- with no bridge in sight.
Concerning how we have arrived at this impasse, I believe we need to ask and explore answers to an existentially important question:
Are the deep and bitter divisions between Americans inherent in the people themselves along with irreconcilable conflicts of interest -- or have our differences been exploited and deliberately exacerbated by other forces pursuant to their own narrow interests?
It seems to me the vast majority of Americans (left and right) have many interests in common, whether we realize it or not. Good paying jobs. Affordable education and healthcare. Security against crime, foreign adversaries, environmental toxins. Constitutional rights and freedoms.
Our great experiment in democracy has never come to full fruition for many reasons, perhaps primarily because of the "other forces" -- those whom FDR referred to as the malefactors of great wealth.
The American economy has always generated great wealth, but never equitably. The chasm most in need of bridging is between the filthy rich and everyone else.
The malefactors understand this all too well, and have always acted to protect their vested interests. A truly functional democracy Of By and For The People is their greatest Fear.
So they employ the tried and true strategy of divide and conquer. They find wedges to divide the common folk and use the power that money buys to drive those wedges deeper.
As long as we are at each others throats we will not be marching united with pitchforks and torches to the gates of their castles.
Until that reality is more fully exposed and widely acknowledged, the societal disintegration of separate realities will persist.
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