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I think the country is going to break up in the next 50 years. What Trump has exposed are huge fundamental differences between the left and the right that cannot be mended. They are polar opposite; everything from urban to rural, educated to uneducated, religious to non-religious. There is no middle ground and both sides genuinely do not like or want to be around each other. IMO this will lead to an amicable divorce. Perhaps Canada will see the benefits of adding the Pacific Northwest to their tax base. Perhaps Texas will decide to part ways and add a few Southern states while they're at it. Perhaps Southern Florida will join Puerto Rico and a few other Caribbean islands to create their own delicious, touristy oasis.
I just do not think the U.S. can or should remain together when the differences are so extreme. Nothing constructive gets done because both sides have dug in and we have people like McConnell who operate in a mafia-like manner, not unlike Trump. The GOP is now trying to undo many environmental laws, increasing pesticide use and allowing corporations to appeal environmental decisions but not allowing cities or municipalities to appeal. Got that? Only one side gets to appeal and that side is the corporation. The EPA is quickly becoming the enemy of the environment. This is what the GOP represents and there's no way a country can hold together like this, it's only a matter of time before geographies creatively part ways.
Don't know whether the divorce will be amicable or not, but things are clearly heading in that direction.
There is no point in fighting the Civil War ad infinitum.
I think its a myth that everything will be so different if only the young take over. The real issue is massive income and wealth inequality and the corresponding destruction of the labor union movement. In such an environment, mainstream media owned by the super rich will always push polarization and division through their outlets, and no age group is immune from being affected by what the media promotes, as history has shown.
That along with the rapid changes in the Information Age means that an increasing percentage of Americans will be unable to do more than eke out a marginal existence.
Information technology is replacing jobs at an ever increasing rate, and future jobs will require ever more sophisticated skills and education.
Automation means that American factories can be competitive, but only with a workforce that can use computers to operate/troubleshoot equipment. The worker putting the spare tire in each Ford that passes down the assembly line is long gone.
Retail is the clearest example. Who puts price stickers on cans of tomatoes any more? Online retail is replacing physical stores at a steady pace.
So we have an increasing percentage of the population that is unable to achieve the American Dream no matter how hard they work, with many living in areas that tend to vote Republican.
"Counties that Donald Trump won generated just 36 percent of the country’s output—just a little more than one-third of the nation’s economic activity."
In the mid-19th century, this kind of polarization resulted in the Civil War, but as there are now a great many extreme liberals and extreme conservatives in almost every area of the U.S. (with some notable exceptions, I think), how do you think this will eventually resolve?
1. That the liberals or extreme liberals will prevail
2. That the conservatives or extreme conservatives will prevail
3. That people will eventually learn to live mostly in harmony with each other after some kind of "give" on both sides
4. That things will continue as they are indefinitely, with extremists on both sides continuing to strongly dislike (or even hate) those who disagree with them on some issues
5. Other?
Also, do you think that there will be an increase in both the frequency and intensity of violent confrontations between extremists (of either or both parties), or not?
(Just looking for immediate "off the cuff" opinions here, which is why I did not post this in Great Debates.)
Not a clue. Socialism seems to be on the march and it's a dangerous one. If Trump wins again in 2020 that will put a 4 year halt on it, but the Socialists will be back again 4 years later to sell their BS to everyone. Country could decide to break apart at some point because people in the left wing states don't want to live like flyover country -- and vice-versa.
That along with the rapid changes in the Information Age means that an increasing percentage of Americans will be unable to do more than eke out a marginal existence.
Information technology is replacing jobs at an ever increasing rate, and future jobs will require ever more sophisticated skills and education.
Automation means that American factories can be competitive, but only with a workforce that can use computers to operate/troubleshoot equipment. The worker putting the spare tire in each Ford that passes down the assembly line is long gone.
Retail is the clearest example. Who puts price stickers on cans of tomatoes any more? Online retail is replacing physical stores at a steady pace.
So we have an increasing percentage of the population that is unable to achieve the American Dream no matter how hard they work, with many living in areas that tend to vote Republican.
"Counties that Donald Trump won generated just 36 percent of the country’s output—just a little more than one-third of the nation’s economic activity."
On the other hand, other developed countries also have the same technology and alot of those countries have not seen anywhere near the skyrocketing inequality that America has. So its pretty clear that we have this growing inequality by design.
Not a clue. Socialism seems to be on the march and it's a dangerous one. If Trump wins again in 2020 that will put a 4 year halt on it, but the Socialists will be back again 4 years later to sell their BS to everyone. Country could decide to break apart at some point because people in the left wing states don't want to live like flyover country -- and vice-versa.
trumps accomplished a whole lot of nothing with the GOP in charge of Congress (for a bit).
Dems are unlikely to get the Senate. Whatcha think they’re going to get accomplished with McConnell around?
It's hard to predict how this will evolve. Could anyone ever have predicted that we would have a dictator wanna be as president? Could anyone have predicted that we would have an even bigger crook in the white house than Nixon? Well okay, that was easy enough.
I do predict that our constitution will prevail and that lawless people get their come uppens in the end. We are a nation that follows the rule of law.
As far as the division and fear mongering? Even the lunatic fringe has their 15 minutes of fame. The political pendulum swings in both directions, sometimes more slowly than other times.
What's disturbing is the number of people that are too gullible and buy into lies and conspiracy theories. Stupid is as stupid does. Run Forest run.
"It's hard to predict how this will evolve. Could anyone ever have predicted that we would have a dictator wanna be as president? Could anyone have predicted that we would have an even bigger crook in the white house than Nixon? Well okay, that was easy enough. "
Millennials and Gen Z are less dogmatic about social issues than the baby boomers. They don't see abortion and gay marriage as hills to die on. They don't have any issues with legalizing marijuana. They aren't interested in living in a "Christian nation." They grew up in families more like the Simpsons and less like the Waltons. Even those who do lean conservative on social issues are less dogmatic about it than baby boomers. Many right-leaning young people are libertarian on social issues and could care less about religion. I think if we can make it another 15-20 years to see the generational shift from baby boomers to Millennials/Gen X, we might be able to see some progress towards finding some real solutions to our problems. However, that's a big if.
That's not to say there aren't young people with a more boomer-like attitude on those issues, it's just they are a minority.
You call that progress?
That's what the brainwashing by the public schools system and the MSM has done to the population.
Be ye hot or cold. Being passive about the killing of the unborn is not something to brag about or be proud of. Shunning Biblical Godly values because one might be seen as a "religious zealot" is the coward's way.
God hasn't changed His mind about His Word. He still means what He said.
The problem with this nation is that those in control tried to bury any knowledge of God and create a system in which they are the power in control of our destiny and many bought into it.
Hopefully those with a pure heart will realize the Truth. THAT is the solution to our problem.
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