Has our country ever been as divided as it is today?
156048
The Civil War years were worse.  Lincoln was absolutely hated because of the draft, the fact that the war wasn't going well.  There were quite a few courtmartials because of what Union troops said after he was killed
118070
I believe we are seeing this today.  Some of the results are: a divided citizenry; widening gap between rich & poor, poor access to health care, poor/uncoordinated response to disaster (natural & man-made); a burdensome national debt etc. etc.
185412
Our Country is more divided that I have ever seen it. With the illegal immigration problem now, that divides us even more. The Republicans have instilled all the fear with their politics and methods. The people are growing farther apart everyday because of their party preferences. I am getting real sick of Republicans bashing and being cruel to Americans. It's way out of control, and they are teaching their children to hate people. I think it's really sick and dysfunctional behavior. It's pretty bad when you have a 12 year old saying your trash because you might have voted for President Clinton. It's happening on these pages, right here, everyday now.
43165
I think Americans get along with each other rather well compared to some developing countries.  This country needs both liberals and conservatives to keep both extremes honest and moderated.  Neither extreme is right all the time.
810359
I agree but I doubt that many of out countries leaders would today. Indeed, there seems to be many who actively seek to disenfranchise those who disagree by stating that people who disagree with a politician aid the enemy by their dissent. It seems abhorrent to believe I have to follow the illogical statements of such leaders today or be considered anti-American and serves to drive a wedge in society if you are not the right religion, the right color, have the right beliefs, or have to support a cause you disagree with. I think Thomas Jefferson was right, and is perhaps still right, but you will be disenfranchised and risk being accused of being anti-American today if you do not choose blindly to follow.
524986
The right/left political divide has become so exaggerated these days that it is downright silly.  At the extreme ends of both sides you will find bigoted fools.\n\nWe are all humans, not conservatives nor liberals.  Our humanity is what is important not our political agenda.\n\nEven though they are all too often portrayed as such in the cutthroat business of getting elected, conservatives and liberals are not enemies.  We need to open our minds to the fact that the other side might have a good idea and thank them for it instead of characterising politics as an endless war of rhetoric.  \n\nIts foolish to break the world down into simple dichotomies.  It prevents seeing the real complexity of the world.  But then again thats what the people who have aspirations of power want.  On both sides.\n\nPersonally I think that its important to remember that there are more than two ways to solve any problem and that we can all learn from our percieved enemies.
138810
I think America thinks that Cincinnati is pretty conservative and racially divided.  I live in Cincinnati, so I agree with that somewhat, although the media tends to make things seem worse than they really are.  It seems like we are only in the media when something bad happens.
186416
Much like G.W. Bush, Lincoln's election was a bit of a controversy. The South had in the past benefited from political division in the North but in this election the Democratic party (not the exact same as today's, but relatively similar) was split and thus Southern votes were split. Lincoln, a Republican (again, not the same as modern Republicans, but relatively similar), won because his opposition was not unified.
296778
Probably.  There's been opposition to everything that's ever happened in this country, good or bad.
786788
My USA citizen countrymen/women. The USA is a melting pot of many colors and nationalities. I hope all of us would defend each other against outside forces or entities. We should not allow other people to divide us by bringing up issues in the past that they use to stir up past ills. The past is and should remain there, in the past. Issues of today are issues of today. We all had our good and bad pasts, they are over with. Today we should look at each other as AMERICAN compatriots.
708976
Absolutely not.  The powerful elite, who don't want change to occur in society, will always find new ways to try to divide people.  Whether it be based on skin color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual preference - "divide and conquer" is the oldest and most effective military strategy in the world.  As long as the disenfranchised can be kept at each others throats instead of working together for equality and fairness, we will continue to fail in our struggles.
511617
Nope. The laws in our country protect us from absolute authority... there have been a few ammendments added but for the most part, it's all we the people. Not just one person signs a bill around here... The declaration of Independance has multiple signatures on it.\n\n(would someone just tell that to our current President?)\n\nThe consititution is the closest thing we have to a "book of rules". Even that was put together and signed by multiple people from 12 different states:\n\nGEO WASHINGTON-- 1st Presidt. \n[Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.] \nJohn Langdon\nNicholas Gilman \nGeo. Read\nGunning Bedford jun\nJohn Dickinson\nRichard Bassett\nJacob Broom \nNathaniel Gorham\nRufus King \nJames MCHenry\nDan. of St. Thos. Jenifer\nDanl. Carroll \nWm. Saml. Johnson\nRoger Sherman \nAlexander Hamilton \nJohn Blair--\nJames Madison Jr. \nWil. Livingston\nDavid Brearley.\nWm. Paterson.\nJona. Dayton \nWm. Blount\nRichd. Dobbs Spaight.\nHu Williamson \nB. Franklin\nThomas Mifflin\nRobt. Morris\nGeo. Clymer\nThos. FitzSimons\nJared Ingersoll\nJames Wilson\nGouv Morris \nJ. Rutledge\nCharles Cotesworth Pinckney\nCharles Pinckney\nPierce Butler \nWilliam Few\nAbr Baldwin \nWilliam Jackson, Secretary
1153076
it is everything that you said. the way that America was set up made it so that it could last through the times with only slight changes. if you look at the constitution you can see that they have only made clarifications with all of the amendments but as a whole it hasn't changed for the 200+ years that it has been in place. we also offer many basic freedoms that many countries take away from people.  when you think about it when this country was formed with the government and all there had to be someone behind all of the process some God like being behind it all trying to help it all form correctly and to be able to run smoothly.
385086
We can only hope that the American people can see what having the current, corrupt politicians in control has done to this country...the list of wrongs is far too great to go into.  Never has this country been so divided since the civil war.  Its time people stopped voting for officials because they are a member of their party and started voting for those who will turn this country back around and get it headed in the right direction.  They are taking away the very rights our forefathers died to give us.  Come on people, be realistic here, unjustified wars, all time record high deficit, high unemployment, China basically owns this country and we're worried about abortion?  Can't you see that is just a ploy to keep your mind off the real injustices in this country?  Step outside your party and think for yourself because if you don't, you may end up being told what to think or being a victim of full birth abortion in a war in which you get drafted.
802280
we sure are....our country is divided as a whole....i wonder if this just a different type of civil war.....will we find common ground....i honestly dont know....reps and dems right now simply hate each other and it has unfortunately become a tit for tat struggle instead of focussing on what matters....our country...the American people are tired that is for sure and it is just a matter of time what unfolds
1022258
Interesting that most people have said Nationalism, thats probably true if you're an American since we think we are so great. However in a global scale I think religion is more dividing than nationalism.
139395
Yes I do, and so did the founding fathers.  It's all a part of our separation of powers in the US Government.