Post-election America Is a Deeply Divided Nation

President George Bush’s inauguration last week ushered in a second term that seems poised for deep divisions in both the domestic and foreign arena. The Pew Research Center has released the results of polling about US public opinion in the wake of 9/11 and a highly contentious election. The survey showed a remarkably partisan voting population. Despite the tight race, the report concludes that Bush’s victory came down to a matter of trust among the American people that he was the man better suited to handle the threat of terrorism. More generally, the study showed that Americans are aware of the political divisions in the US today, with the Iraq war as the most named reason for differing politics. In fact, the polling showed that, more than any other hot-button issue in politics, views on force versus diplomacy in national security is the most telling indicator of party affiliation today. Republicans value military strength while Democrats value multilateralism. Public priorities following 9/11 have shifted, with many traditional concerns falling by the wayside in favor of foreign affairs, but some “core issues” such as terrorism, the economy, and jobs, showed little variance from year to year. However, the sharp divisions between parties and individuals belie another reality: moderate policy views still dominate a country where vocal extremes can seem to be in the majority. On several issues, such as the importance of religious beliefs, immigration, the environment, self-determination and the role of government, Americans are widely in agreement. The Pew study indicates that although certain beliefs may be shared in theory, in America today, little consensus exists as to which policies are best in practice. –YaleGlobal