Alernate Parallel Americas

[saavedra77]

The Washington Post is running a series this week on how politically polarized the U.S. has become. As the series' author comments, this polarization has reached the point at which Americans living in so-called "Red" states (a.k.a. Bush country) and "Blue" states (a.k.a, "anyone but Bush" country) sometimes appear to live in parallel but vastly different universes.

Monday's story focuses on the views of people in "Red"-state America. For those of us who've spent our whole lives in "Blue" zones like the Northeast or West Coast, this article provides some pretty pithy insights about how the "other half" sees the world. Rather than just focusing on poll numbers, the story delves into the lives of a family living in a heavily conservative Texas community.

Tuesday’s story portrays the lives & views of a "Blue" family in San Francisco.

See also the helpful, graphic state-by-state breakdown of "Red," "Blue," & swing states.

Comments

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

I've been doing a lot of thinking on this, ever since I saw a shouting match over use of DoD funds at UMass and realizing that neither said was actually responding to the points either side was making.

I think the Internet, while it's doing a great job making information available, isn't doing as good of a job reaching non-choir audiences, reinforcing beliefs of those of us in our own separate universes. I almost miss the monopolistic hold of the media giants (back during that brief window when there was a generalized sense of journalistic integrity.)

I'd like to introduce the concept of a third color (if not mentioned in the article): the White of apathy and ignorance. I've met a surprising number of people lately who just make it a opint to not worry or care about politics. I can understand this as a short term health concern, but it'll only get worse if we continue to not care and stay uninformed.

[betwana.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pointing me to these articles. They were interesting, though nothing I didn't know before (about either the representative "Red" or "Blue" families). This stood out to me:

'Melitta plants four trees for every one used in the production of our filter paper,' " he says, reading the side of the box of filters. He puts the box back in the cabinet. "I could care less."

What about the responsibility of taking care of God's green earth?

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

My sense was that the worst thing Britton Stein can say about anybody is that they're a "whiner" or "weak': he doesn't want his country to be "weak"; can't believe people complaining about their chronic, work-related injuries. On the other hand, he feels absolutely entitled to cheap hedge clippers, low taxes, etc. In other words, "don't bother me with your problems."

"Don't bother me" also seems to translate into "I don't want to think about it"--& this applies to both of the Steins: Patrice's practically shudders at the thought of thought:

"Where do they get the information that leads to their morals?" Patrice wonders about people who don't go to church.

People thinking for themselves--my God, what could it lead to ...?