Hillary Clinton and Polarization
Time magazine say those who "love" Senator Hillary Clinton have "an edge" over those who "hate" her. This is based upon a survey taken; the question was asked of Time readers. Look at the results. It isn't much of an edge. For whatever it's worth, this survey clearly shows that Senator Clinton is an incredibly polarizing political leader. In today's American political atmosphere, it isn't surprising. It isn't "good" and it isn't "bad." It's a reflection of the atmosphere in D.C., led by a GOP who have made a consistent effort to put anyone who opposes them in a mythic class of "Bush-haters" and "terrorist-huggers." This type of venom is repulsive to those elected Democratic leaders who simply wish for reasoned debate on war, human rights, and domestic issues. It's no wonder there's a clear ideological division straight down the middle.
The question is: Do we want to move ahead with a mind to end polarization? Who will lead the D.C. crowd toward good old fashioned bipartisanship? Is it even possible, with the Rush Limbaughs on the right and the new talk radio voices of the left? America is deciding where they want to be - in a political sense - with a wider variety of media choices today than ever before in history. The "second superpower" known as the internet is revealing the grassroots' true opinion - on the left and on the right.
The "center" is more of a myth than an actual solidified ideological position. "The center" represents those who have no strong opinion one way or the other - no radical leanings - some because even though they are well informed, they resent partisanship and radicalism - and too many because they are not well-read or well informed. How much free time does the average working adult have (or wish to devote) to concentrating on the issues? At election time, citizens go out to vote because it represents a patriotic duty to them, and often that duty runs far short of being properly informed. Talking points are all some citizens hear - and those talking points have been venemous and bitterly partisan.
Thanks to our leaders in Washington DC - our president, our Congress - and the wide choices in the media who report on those leaders' positions and public statements - polarization may simply be a fact of American political life for quite some time.