Why is this country so divided?
912573
Blessed:  That is a good question.  I often wonder the same thing.  The comments others have made here identify differences.  But I too wonder how this country can split so evenly in most elections.  It is rare for most candidates to win more than 55% of the votes.\n\nI would add to the list of factors:  many Americans are poorly informed about issues and how our economy works.  They are easily misled by perverse campaign strategies that focus on issues with little impact on the average citizen's life.
364677
during the civil war many of the stated split into two.  Half of the state joined the Union, and the other half the Confederacy.
835247
America is an amazing country and the rest of the world hates us for it. We have more guns than people, every race, religion and language spoken in the world right here in one spot and we don't have the problems these other countries have (think about that). We have the capability to completely destroy each other and we don't. Somehow Americans get along much better with each other then the rest of the world. Sure we have racism and disagreements but no civil war/massive riots(France). Why? Other countries speak the same language and have the same religion yet they are blowing up markets, burning each other and cutting of heads (notice no guns are used in those crimes). I'm not sure why we are different but we are and I wish the rest of the world would give us some credit for how we (the citizens-not our government) conduct ourselves.
1163807
Good question.  Keep the pressure on the politicians.  There are millions that feel as you do, you are not alone. In fact this may be the one issue that brings US citizens together.  This issue crosses all parties and most are mad as hell.
448489
We are the land of the free. The USA is not an evil place. It's just we have the wrong people running this country. There priorities are messed up. If we can all come together and take care of our own problems first then worry about someone else's problems, we wouldn't be considered evil.
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.
231430
umm... well, theres a democratic republic.. that IS our government, we dont really have more than one government in America. but, each states has its own government, though not as powerful in some areas as the national government, and you also have county, city, and community governments
976633
No no no no no! Every country should be it's own, and be seperate. Countries shouldn't be mixed together. If they are, people lose their convictions that set them apart in the first place. (i.e. "nutrality". btw, nutrality is the first step towards humanism and a Godless nation)\nIf cultures are swirled together, it  leaves a mellow, confused country that is fighting itself because of citizen unrest.
605850
Only reason is cause, this is a "internal" problem. But that's how it is with dividing cities. Poors (in this case: illegal aliens), move to cities, than the middle to upper class move to the suburbs.\n\nIn conclusion, I don't think this will really stir much division of the U.S., because it's not like the Civil War. The illegal immigrationists aren't being used by the people who support them.\n\nAmericans will come to their senses, and support NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!
1048430
We have many cultures and traditions. But the one thing that can be said of most of us is we are rebelous. If the trend is to be extreamly fat then half of us will take it to the extream the other way and become fitness fanatics. \n\nLook at politics here the more conservative half of the population is the more extream the other half goes liberal. \n\nWe divide and argue about everything, coke/pepsi\nChevy/Ford, city/country.\n\nWe are diverse but united in being rebelous. It is in our history. We drink coffee because you all drink tea. We race horses the opposet direction as you do, just to rebel. We even drive on the different side of the road, just to rebel. \n\nWe are a country of contradictions and we would not have it any other way.
574113
Actually, in addition to Montenegro voting to separate from Serbia, Spain is having issues with separatism in its regions.  The Basque country has long wanted an independent state that would take territory from Spain and France.  Catalonia has recently moved towards greater autonomy, and the other regions jealously want to ensure that they receive similar rights vis a vis the central government.  While the UK is not separating, the devolution movement has been strong there in recent history, and Wales and Scotland will probably continue to push for greater autonomy within the UK framework.  History suggests that change alone is constant.
628957
Largely because too many people feel that they not only have the right to determine how they live, but how everyone else around them lives as well.\n\nThat's the biggest source of conflict, different groups trying to impose their wills on others.
393411
Because the US is too busy trying to tell people how to live thier life. The world will never be unified until they all have the freedom they deserve.
480654
No other presidency has served to drive a wedge between Americans this badly since the Viet-Nam War; and we were pretty divided before the war (debacle) in Iraq started. The administration has made it so much worse that now people are starting to unite again in their disapproval of Bush and his cronies. The day an angry mob drags that man out of the white house will be one of my happiest. So to sum up I would say that we were divided, but are becoming united once again.
620001
I believe that "Politics" is the root cause for the tensions between the two countries. The politicians these days are conveniently using the "Divide and Rule policy" to fill their vote bank. Flushing dirty politics down the dran would be the first step towards good relationship between the two countries and that would not happen unless "Well educated, young, energetic" folks take interest in politics.
548343
Dear Friend,\n\nThat's a very interesting question.  \n\nPart of the problem is that the peoples of different nations believe many different things.  The religions of one nation condemn the religions of their neighbors.  The way of life in Nation A can be repugnant to everyone in Nation B.  As long as ideas are at war, people will be at war.\n\nIn addition to the culture clash, there's the general sense of people everywhere that political control should be local.  The feeling is that decisions concerning our lives shouldn't be made by people "over there" who don't have the sense of how our day to day life progresses.  \n\nLastly, there's a philosophical shift that we'd have to make between being a citizen of our nation and a citizen of the world.  It's in the works -- witness the EU -- but slowly, and with much resistance.  And that's normal.  Big changes take time.\n\nYour Friend,\nFrancesois
401841
This is an unfortunate question. The USA is a country of opportunity and freedom. It may not be 'perfect' and our situation with the War in Iraq has cost us some allies however, compare us to Ethiopia, Haiti, or countries in the middle east and we have more freedom and more opportunity than any of them. Our government affords us the lifestyles we choose and the political freedom to voice our opinions.