The people at Gallup recently released some updated numbers on the political divide in America. Apparently, there are some substantive differences in beliefs and values. For some time, it has been clear that the MAGA crowd hate us ‘WOKE’ types with a vitriolic passion. Those on my side of the divide (at lleast the ones I know) much much less hate but a good dose of pity mixed with a form of paternal sadness for our less educated and enlightened bretheren. The fact that they support views clearly counterproductive to their self-interests and follow politicians who have never worked on their behalf (and I mean NEVER) leaves us scratching our collective heads. But there you have it.

Here are a few issues on which the ‘left’ and ‘right’ disagree (I’m not sure there is much of a center anymore):

DEMS REPUBS

General Issues:

Federal Govt. has too much power …………………. 31% 73%

Retain a strong trust in police ………………………… 31 60

Policy Questions:

In favor of a more universal health care system… 85 30

Protect environment over energy development.. 81 26

Favor stricter gun laws ……………………………………….. 84 20

Believe global warming is a serious issue …………. 87 35

Satisfied with state of race relations ………………….. 23 40

Values Issues:

Abortion should always be legal …………………………. 55 12

Divorce is morally okay ……………………………………….. 88 69

Sex between unmarried partners is okay …………… 82 63

Would accept a child-out-of-wedlock ………………… 82 61

Yes, there are real differences separating us. However, the visceral animus that separates us goes deeper than any divide on issues. It is rooted in basic world views, in essential personality attributes, and perhaps in our physical makeups. The gap will not be breached easily and now, with no external threat to bind us together, the center may not hold.

A word of caution, however. Some of these numbers have varied over time. Republicans had more faith in the federal government until Obama took charge. After several years of Trump propoganda, their faith in our central government has fallen into the crapper. One merely hopes they are not pining for a ‘strongman’ to bail us out. That’s what many Germans wanted in 1933.