Published Sarasota Herald Tribune, September 29, 2024. Guest Column
We all need to get off the path of ‘us’ vs ‘them’
“How’s the new retirement community?” I asked an older colleague the other day.
“Great,” she said. “Jim and I were afraid everyone would be on the other side, but there are some of us!” Wow. I was stunned but not surprised. This, after all, is Politics 2024.
My friends on the left revel in their self-righteousness, talking to one another about the idiocy of the ‘other side.’ My friends on the right are energized by the ridiculousness of the left, feeding off the adrenaline of their superiority and a vague sense of revenge. The two sides face off, engaged in a form of 21st-century mutually assured destruction.
No established democracy in recent history has been as deeply polarized as the USA today[1]. We’re in a state of “pernicious polarization,” where pernicious equals “deadly.”
Historians have to go back to the 1850s, right before the Civil War, to find a comparable time in America. There is ample global historical evidence showing that countries this divided rarely avoid conflict and serious democratic decline. These are documented, sobering facts.[2]
Many external causes brought us to this era of polarization.
- The ability of large and powerful media reap immense profit from stoking conflicts.
- The modern-day realities of remote work and diminished community ties, which offer few opportunities to mingle with diverse colleagues.
- The use of social media algorithms, which create echo chambers of opinion and subtly convince us of the correctness of our biases.
- The decreasing status of authority figures, many of whom have become tarnished in our eyes.
- The growing tendency to question clear facts.
We are now at a point where we don’t merely disagree with our political opponents – we also consider them to be downright evil just for having differing opinions.
Moreover, social trust has deteriorated dramatically. Constant calls for safety and surveillance sow distrust in our fellow humans. For too many, refuge is sought in tribalism and the demonization of others.
It should be – must be – our civic duty to reverse this course. Yes, we need systemic changes in our electoral and economic systems, but we cannot wait. We must focus also on what we as individuals can do every day. And here are some steps we can take:
- Recognize what’s happening. Do not fall blindly into ‘us and them’ narratives. Start inside by calling out your own tribe and reminding others of the damage that can be caused by following the “us” vs “them” path.
- Acknowledge and seek out commonalities. Polls regularly show that a strong majority of Americans agree about how to approach guns, abortion, and a border wall.[3] Yes, that’s right: they agree!
- Empathize. Anger stems from fear, and our current hostile ‘us’ vs ‘them’ language makes people feel angry and fearful.
- Stop viewing politics as sport or entertainment. It only provides a steady diet of superior righteousness that is energizing and empowering but does not help.
- Keep in mind that neither the right nor the left is a monolith. Reminding people of that fact can help dial back polarization.
- Beware of dehumanizing humor and insults that masquerade as humor. For example, jokes like “My dog is smarter than your president” are not funny and have real-world consequences.
- Remember that social media tends to magnify and glorify instant reactions that are offered without any time for reflection or fact checking. Don’t overreact or repeat fringe positions. Don’t rush to repost what you see on social media.
- Support problem solvers.
- Become comfortable discussing differences with those who disagree. Seek to listen and understand.
- Consider your information sources. The internet flattens all information sources, so it is vital to find neutral and trusted sources (USAFacts.org, for example.)
- Seek out other resources. Groups such as Braver Angels, StartsWithUS, and FixUS can offer support.
Finally, consider your deep-down life goals. Do you want to be the generation who destroys the American experiment? I do not.
[1]https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/15/24002302/dangerously-divided-united-states/
[2] https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2022/05/reducing-pernicious-polarization-a-comparative-historical-analysis-of-depolarization?lang=en
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0002716218818782?journalCode=anna
[3] https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/07/american-voters-actually-largely-agree-on-many-issues-including-on-topics-like-abortion-immigration.html