A country divided is bad for the whole population

Linda Turner, Henderson

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.

Compromise doesn’t always yield the best solution. The debt-ceiling deal supposedly was a compromise where each side got something and lost something. The vast majority of the American people hate the result.

One thing I hear is, “The American people are tired of folks blaming each other; they want action.” I don’t think people will let go of their finger-pointing that easily. And trying to put the July fiasco behind us, as any psychologist will tell you, won’t work until there’s some resolution.

For the sake of argument, let’s say that Republicans and Democrats were fighting for the interests of their bases, the ones who benefit from their policies and direction. Clearly the policies of the Republican Party support and protect the richest of the population. Democratic policies support and protect most of the rest.

Oh, you’ll find some rich folks who are liberal Democrats, but you’ll find a whole lot more middle or working-class folks who are Republicans, especially Tea Party activists.

Why? Because (1) they believe someday they, too, can strike it rich, and want the best conditions for that to happen; and (2) they’re afraid of change. Some of them see a nation that is becoming majority-minority, where women, gays and foreign-born people all claim equal citizenship with them. Those fears are easily whipped up and harnessed and turned against them.

This polarization doesn’t match the polls that say high percentages from both parties believe sacrifice should be shared, that the wealthiest should be asked to do their fair share and perhaps a little more and that government spending has a role in economic recovery, since tax cuts are increasing our debt and aren’t creating jobs.

Maybe those who agree on so much need to be talking directly to each other more.