IslanderAg04 said:

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When Obama began quoting "elections have consequences" is when the split happened.

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I am a Desantis/Abbott/Youngkin/Sununu Republican, but it was good to see Trump say "elections have consequences" during the debate right before he appointed ACB to the Supreme Court. He was the only one to give them a taste of their own medicine. McCain voted for Obamacare, and Mitt is a liberal Democrat now.

read your own mail for your answer!

Democrat activism is completely to blame, and they don't care. And they never stop.

Democrats

Social media and the microwave are responsible for most of the country's ills IMHO.

2012heisman said:

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Social media might be the biggest cancer of all. I want a study done by experts on the negative side effects of social media on people of all ages.

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So long as they don't classify texags as social media.

2012heisman said:

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Executive Memoranda are very similar to Executive Orders, except:

• they are not required by law to be printed in the Federal Register;
• they are not required to cite the President's legal authority (see 1 C.F.R. 19.1); and
• the Office of Management and Budget is not required to issue a "Budgetary Impact Statement" on Executive Memoranda.

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thanks. none of that changes that DACA is not an EO.

it was an EO, it could have been ended easily by Trump.

similar situtation with title 42 issue being litigated now. thats not an EO either.

both were agency actions. there is a difference that matters.


(this is not a defense of DACA, but explaining to you why its not an EO and why that matters)

GMaster0 said:

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Social media definitely is the "yellow journalism" of our time. It is really hard for folks to separate factual truth from objective sensationalism or exaggeration of facts.

I also think we have media personality shows that masquerade as venues for news; these are really horrible for getting actual facts that instead are an airing of grievances. This pertains to both sides of the political spectrum.

Lastly we consume sugar junkie type news; a headline or tweet that has no context or little explanation and is instead spewed to exacerbate those grievances.

For the vast majority of Americans there is little that separates us. We want to work in jobs that pay well, be healthy and safe, freedom to worship or not, think independently without government or corporate interference and raise kids in a good community with a great education to better themselves. I think this applies across the country .

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This post deserves way more stars.

You must have a common set of values to unite a group. The left redefines acceptable behavior daily and wants to force it on everyone through legislation.

stallion6 said:

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You must have a common set of values to unite a group. The left redefines acceptable behavior daily and wants to force it on everyone through legislation.

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You're not thinking big picture enough. That's a symptom, not a cause.

In 2008, the Democratic Party chose to 'fundamentally change" America. They almost did, but it takes more than two presidential cycles to do so. The Republicans didn't have the power to unseat Obama, but when he ran out of eligibility and they passed the torch to Clinton, Trump got in their way. Fortunately for the democrats, the media is on their side and when you combine that with the widespread election tampering, the democrats finagled the results and elected the worst president in my lifetime.

The good thing is that most Americans didn't really want 'fundamental change'. They just didn't want another dose of Trump. We get another chance in 2024. If the Republicans can't right the ship with DeSantis, we're headed for another societal train wreck.

The people that really control this country want us divided. Because if we are fighting ourselves, we wont be able to do much to them while they do as they please.

Houston Lee said:

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The people that really control this country want us divided. Because if we are fighting ourselves, we wont be able to do much to them while they do as they please.

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I think it's more than that, but that's at least partially true. I think multiple entities want us to be divided so that they can profit from the chaos. I don't think it's about control so much as it's about money.

I'm also not convinced of some grand scheme. More like a bunch of influential entities with similar goals.

There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

Read the book Cynical Theories. It will answer this question you have.

I think the slide began with the advent of CNN and the 24-hour news networks. It was great at first, but after a while, they figured out the audience does not want to watch the same news over and over, and there's not enough breaking news occurring to have fresh content every hour. So, to keep viewers watching, they came up with shows like Crossfire, which was basically a few people sitting across from each other arguing. (They weren't the first to do this. For example, 60 Minutes had Point/Counterpoint and PBS had shows like The McLaughlin Group, both of which predate Crossfire. It seemed like CNN took the concept further.) The format is set up so that whoever yells the loudest and talks over their opponent is considered the winner, instead of the participant who presents the most cogent argument.

Another thing that seemed to me to compound the situation was the TV writers strike in the early 1990s. Because there weren't any writers to write scripts, networks embraced reality TV shows, which a) don't really require writers, and b) thrive on conflict. The producers just create situations designed to ignite conflict and let the cameras roll.

The media serves controversy, and the public laps it up.

Those two events accelerated the slide. Social media amplified it.

The country is divided between people who only believe what they are told to believe, versus people who have real experiences and values and good sense.

The first group is pushing their useful idiot agendas, and they are totally, fundamentally at odds with reality, ethics, and whats best for the country. There can be no middle ground there.

Idealogical subversion and non linear 5th generational warfare via undermining/erosion of educational system and medias (mainstream & social).

Old Buffalo said:

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Social media.

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The Left's control of social media...... Until Elon Musk.....

I am standing in the same place for the last 40+ years - my political/social views and trust in God have not wavered

Reed McDonald 92 said:

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There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

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If the only thing you read was F16 you would be much better off.....

cbr said:

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The country is divided between people who only believe what they are told to believe, versus people who have real experiences and values and good sense.

The first group is pushing their useful idiot agendas, and they are totally, fundamentally at odds with reality, ethics, and whats best for the country. There can be no middle ground there.

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That this post has more stars than most in this thread is discouraging.

WolfCall said:

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Reed McDonald 92 said:

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There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

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If the only thing you read was F16 you would be much better off.....

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Probably not. But ignorance is bliss.

Reed McDonald 92 said:

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There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

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The left can't present any workable solutions to our problems. They know they can't win policy debates so they've resorted to identity politics. Make the opposition too contaminated to join..I.e racist, bigot, homophobe etc..It's childish behavior.

Jeeper79 said:

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WolfCall said:

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Reed McDonald 92 said:

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There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

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If the only thing you read was F16 you would be much better off.....

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Probably not. But ignorance is bliss.

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Case in point.

The media is the number1 reason, followed by polarizing leadership.
Obama, Trump and Biden

According to the media:
Obama was allowed to have no faults. He was also the most disappointing of our Presidents in recent times. So much potential, and he turned out to be just another partisan hack.

Trump only had faults.

Biden is a ****** but the media pretends like he is competent.

All have been portrayed a certain way by the media, and people trust no one at this point

Funky Winkerbean said:

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Jeeper79 said:

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WolfCall said:

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Reed McDonald 92 said:

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There are some good answers in this thread.

Ironically, OP, the reason we are so divided is because we seek confirmation of our beliefs by hanging around sites that agree with our worldview, and we reject or ignore differing opinions. In this thread alone you have made comments about libs that you could only have learned on right-leaning sites. Are your very own comments not harmful?

If the only thing I read was forum 16, and similar sites, I would believe that democrats are 100% wrong and responsible for all things bad, and republicans are all Godly and never sin. The reality is that most politicians are personally ambitious, and they seek the power of their positions.

Can someone tell me why Tucker and Sean are so believable? Are they the only brave members of the "media" who speak truth? Is it just a happy coincidence that they are paid tens of millions of dollars to be so brave?

I have no faith in either side.

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If the only thing you read was F16 you would be much better off.....

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Probably not. But ignorance is bliss.

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Case in point.

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You miss the point. Nobody should get their information from one place. That's exactly how feedback loops occur and exactly how the problem gets worse instead of better.

Ellis Wyatt said:

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It's far and away the democrat party that does it. Republicans/conservatives have almost none of the media to push a narrative.

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And yet nearly 100% of the people reading this thread have found the supposed honest media members.

I've always been fascinated by the subject of media bias. Do you have statistics that prove your claim? If so, how do you know the sites where you get your facts are accurate and honest?

Lack of a galvanizing external force to unite us as a country. Sept 11, 2001 was the last such example that American's felt vulnerable to foreign forces.

Social media prominence in American lives......echo chambers of information feed each of us more of the bias we crave, and it's done pretty anonymously, dividing until Civil war is the ultimate end.

Keller6Ag91 said:

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Lack of a galvanizing external force to unite us as a country. Sept 11, 2001 was the last such example that American's felt vulnerable to foreign forces.

Social media prominence in American lives......echo chambers of information feed each of us more of the bias we crave, and it's done pretty anonymously, dividing until Civil war is the ultimate end.

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If 9/11 occurred today, the party out of power would just blame the party in power for it happening on their watch.

Case in point - Covid. Both sides have used it as a wedge against the other.

They want us divided .. if we were all strong together they couldn't control us .. geeez people it's so simple and right in front of you …. Trump was right all along ..

fullback44 said:

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They want us divided .. if we were all strong together they couldn't control us .. geeez people it's so simple and right in front of you …. Trump was right all along ..

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You're right on the first sentence, but…

I'm pretty sure trump never said that. Also, Trump sucks. That shouldn't even be a democrat vs Republican debate.

Bocephus said:

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Obama divided us. It really is that simple.

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This, and social media.

Liberals are all either evil or completely brainwashed now. The modern liberal is a far cry from the relatively moderate liberals of back then. And our "unity" didn't last...do you really not remember how "evil" and "stupid" they painted Bush nonstop in his second term? Seething, irrational hatred, not much different than what Trump faced. But journalists were still more seasoned and professional back then...wasn't the absolute carney show that we have nowadays.

Nowadays though, the left has been completely convinced that good is evil and evil is good. They are fueled by seething hatred and waging an outright war, and very few on the right realize it. Our differences are irreconcilable. We do not even acknowledge the same reality, they have gone so far off the deep end.

Back in the early 2000's, you could still have a pretty amicable political conversation or healthy debate with your democrat friends (many of which are probably solidly on the right by now as they have grown up). Trying to have those types of discussions with just about any liberal of today is a fruitless endeavor and is virtually guaranteed to turn nasty and irrational.

Reed McDonald 92 said:

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Ellis Wyatt said:

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It's far and away the democrat party that does it. Republicans/conservatives have almost none of the media to push a narrative.

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And yet nearly 100% of the people reading this thread have found the supposed honest media members.

I've always been fascinated by the subject of media bias. Do you have statistics that prove your claim? If so, how do you know the sites where you get your facts are accurate and honest?

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The problem is "alternative facts". Who's the arbiter of truth?