Segregation by politicalization

As a society we are plagued by political polarization - Us vs. Them and very little in between - day in and day out the "experts" analyze and rationalize the goings on, yet almost no two are the same. How does one become an "expert?" What exactly qualifies them as such? Why is it that 3 "experts" in the same exact thing have differing results, opinions, foresights, etc. ?

Everyone has their own agenda, their own bias and ultimately nothing is completely valid, yet we are still fed these lies under the deceptive veil of expertise. So many fall victim to this practice and it shapes the opinion, knowledge and vision of them. They carry these perceptions and partial or complete misinformation to their cell phones, dinner tables, lunches and water coolers. They spread them like a virus through the ears and subsequent minds of the curious. Slowly the country is skewed to one side or the other - a see-saw bent in the middle with both sides grounded.

Some ferociously defend their stance, their ideology, while attacking the other though more often than not both sides are ignorant and they spew misinterpretations to on another as the polarization grows more and more evident and vast.

I cannot stress the incredible amount of exaggeration that goes into the ideological classifications of Liberal (Left) and Conservative (Right). Almost no one is completely one or the other and yet so many seem to ascribe to the misconception about the other. It's as if we need the opposite extreme to somehow justify what we do believe. Nothing in politics is more frustrating to me than this ideological polarization based on generalizations and flat-out embellishments. To me, our country simply cannot sustain itself and progress in the shape it is in. Yes, everyone should have their own opinions, thoughts and beliefs, but the fact we all share a common goal should not be lost in the balance.

We all generally want the same things from government: We want it to serve us and not visa-versa, to provide and insure quality of life and education, to never encroach upon our natural rights or constitutional freedoms, to protect us from harm and always me just to all.

However instead of civilians acknowledging this we have been overcome with selfishness and a complete loss of appreciation, respect and compassion for our fellow countrymen. Think of the overall American sentiments in the aftermath of 9/11. Think of the way it brough us almost all together, think of the Northeastern blackout where instead of chaos, people helped each other and got through it.

What happened to that? Call it what you will but the government ruined it and frankly they did it on purpose. In particular the Republican rely on this exact polarization in order to maintain power and in this administrations case, abuse it or at least attempt to. They use divisive issues like abortion and gay marriage to define ideologies and divide our nation's politically and socially cognizant citizens. But it's all tactical and nothing more. Efforts to abolish and/or criminalize these things are intentionally fruitless because it draws out voters for their cause(s).

One must look at the reality beneath this all: The executive and legislative branches are constantly in an ideological struggle for power; The more representation each has the greater the possibility they can enact their ideology in lawmaking, policies and government as a whole. Despite claims otherwise, each respective party does NOT want an equal representation in government because it impedes their ability to employ their ideals upon the populace at large.

Are their stances on these issues genuine? Maybe. But, in the case of abortion challenging a decision of the Supreme Court is a massive uphill battle and attempting to undermine it by amending the constitution by which it is bound is not only unlikely but a reckless abuse of government. But it is not as though they don't understand that either...

The constitution is not to give us rights, but to protect them from the government and to regulate them in many ways to prevent abuse and tyranny. Why would a ban against something belong in such a doctrine? It doesn't. Any amendment passed by the legislature pertaining to these issues would almost inevitably be overturned by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional in that they do not belong, let alone other aspects. They do this to light the fire and to get proponents of these measures out to vote because they want "their team" to win. But in these regards they likely never will or never intend to.

It is an implicit procedural statement - a call to arms, if you will - which uses the pre and post headlines to create their agenda to the people. They start the discussion with the proposal and motivate those not otherwise motivated by their inevitable failure(s). If you look at the timing of these measures they're often during critical campaigns just prior to elections and for obvious reasons.

The same can be said about the "terrorist" threat level fluctuations post-9/11 in the 2004 elections. It's all a struggle for power and the real victims are the American people, even if many don't realize it. We don't live in a country where one ideology reigns supreme or is even intended to. Yet that's what all of this is about - supremacy - and the same people who wish their ideology is "the one" probably, if not definitely, condemn totalitarian countries like North Korea, Iran, Iraq, China and arguably Russia and Venezuela. They don't like or support these countries and yet their overall ideological desires parallel those of the aforementioned: One dimensional or disproportionate representation. Odds are they don't realize their hypocrisy or don't even are and that is one of the greatest tragedies existing within society today.

If you think it's bad now...wait until these hard fiscal times really start to have an impact.