The Atlantic: Education Divides the US

Political divisions that linger over decades are difficult to resolve quickly. Adam Harris, writing for the Atlantic, points to an emerging divide among US white voters: 61 percent of those without college educations select Republicans and 53 percent with college educations select Democrats. About 50 years ago, college degrees were less common, more often held by Republicans. The civil rights movement and the election of Barack Obama contributed to a shift. “Party realignment doesn't happen overnight,” Harris wrote. “Just because some voters swing across the aisle in one election doesn't mean they’ll quit the party they've identified with their entire lives.” Citizens with more education or better read are less likely to fall for gimmicks and outright fraud; they generally expect debates to focus on critical analysis and evidence rather than emotional taunts. The yearning for an economy that offers secure jobs with no degree requirement will likely go unfulfilled with increasing reliance on complex processes and technologies and competition due to globalization. Voters who lack degrees encounter a wage divide, and their resentment could be a threat for US higher education and the innovation and economic benefits that brings. – YaleGlobal