Pew Reports on the Widening Political Divide

Pew Research is reporting the partisan divide is the widest it has been in 20 years. Driving the division is politics. From what I've seen in the research it seems the Republicans have become more rigid.

Partisan Polarization Surges in Bush, Obama YearsTrends in American Values: 1987-2012


NPR on All Things Considered  gave three examples from the Pew Research Center on how things have changed since 1987.

 "There needs to be stricter laws and regulations to protect the environment": In 2012, 93 percent of Democrats agreed with that. 47 percent of Republicans agreed. In 1992, those numbers were 93 percent and 86 percent.  Republicans had a 39 point shift.

"Labor unions are necessary to protect the working person": In 2012, 82 percent of Democrats agreed; 43 percent of Republicans agreed. In 1987, those numbers were 76 and 58.  Republicans had a 15 point shift.


"Government regulation of business usually does more harm than good": In 2012, 41 percent of Democrats agreed, while 76 percent of Republicans agreed. Those numbers were 50 and 61 in 1987.  Republicans had a 15 point shift.



Wisconsinites 'Reach Out' To Heal Partisan Divide

Political polarization is blamed for the gridlock in Washington.  The same issue has deeply divided Wisconsin as they head into their recall of Governor Scott Walker Tuesday.  Is there any hope of breaking this self-destructive trend? There is is when individuals leave their political parties behind. There was another report on All Things Considered about two Wisconsin couples who have gone out of their way to discuss issues rationally.  The group has grown into Reach Out Wisconsin with 30 to 40 people meeting. They hope the meetings will help Wisconsinites move on after the election.


There was a story a couple of weeks ago about partisan politics and the Negro River in Illinois. On one side a group that wanted to rename the river calling it demeaning and racist. On the other more conservative individuals calling the drive to change the name another example of political correctness run amok. The two sides even had dueling Facebook pages with all sorts of insults being hurled back and forth. That is, until the leaders of the two sides started talking with each other. The insults came down off the sites. The argument became more respectful. Here are links to the two Facebook pages.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/adamscreek/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/176640022437400/
The group opposed to the change still can't quite let go but, the worst postings have come down.
Compromise can be found. In your face attitudes have to be set aside. The people near Negro Creek and Wisconsin are proving it.