What we are seeing is the factionalization of the electorate by ‘segment’, and then working hard to marginalize those within those segment-factions to not gain an interest in elections so that only the ideologically pure will see any reason to get up and do anything. That factionalization and marginalization is not recent and has a history going back at least 30 years. By shifting from broad-based issues that affect all Americans to a concept of ‘crafting a majority’ out of disparate pieces, the entire National political culture no longer embraces the common culture of the US. That is true on both ‘sides’ as this is a bi-partisan phenomena.
We have had sub-majority turn outs for Congressional elections for a long time, and now we are heading into a Presidential election in which we may just cross that line and have a sub-majority turnout, making any elected official a plurality President and unable to craft a common vision for the Nation. By going in the opposite direction of integration across the board, the dis-integration down to race, ethnicity, culture, geography, wealth status, and a number of other factional designators now means that the political parties no longer support a common culture. In dis-integrating the electorate, no larger societal integration can happen as ‘identity politics’ trumps National concerns.
Both parties have been at this for some time, and was previously limited to roughly geographic separations and interests. By creating niche and boutique concerns that are then hyped as needing National attention,the common culture is no longer served and even the old regionalism disintegrates. Somehow in being ‘fair’ to all the parts, the whole is suffering, but you dare not say that as a politician less those factions turn on you rabidly in personal, partisan and ideological attacks. Apparently color of your skin or ethnic background now trumps character and societal well-being for all Americans.
Divided this house will fall… and that is exactly the direction this is headed. If you could just get those who feel disenfranchised to see any reason to support the Nation and practice the franchise that their forebearers spent much blood on, things might change. But that would require acknowledging that there is value to having a common culture beyond the factions. And setting aside personal politics to support the Nation, which currently is not the case.
