The real political divide

Despite the constant attempts to divide people between “Republicans” and “Democrats”, between “blue” and “red”, between “liberal” and “conservative”, the real division isn’t there.

For most of us, we might have a team identification – the way that we might have identified with a local college team, or rooted for someone at the Superbowl. But really, we’re interested in the outcomes.

By that, I don’t mean who “wins” – though that’s nice, too. In football (or any sport) consecutive blowouts aren’t that exciting… even if your team is the one that’s winning. It’s the game that’s important there.

In politics, the outcomes are a little more abstract. The theater of the campaign cycle is entertaining, but the real outcomes that we mostly care about is the welfare of our city, state, and country. That is our real goal, not so much which team wins.

Again, for most of us. And that brings us to the real division in our country.

The division is not between red and blue, but between extremes. It is between the people who care about the outcomes – and those who care more that their team wins.

When we talk politics, when we talk about bailouts and stimuli and appointments, check yourself. Check others. Are they supporting (or against) something because of its merits?

Or are they simply concerned about what team wins?