lurkette

I'm fascinated by the conservative-liberal divide in the U.S. It seems more and more like there are actually TWO countries, superimposed on top of each other. And I find myself wondering whether the issue is that the two "camps" actually have different visions for the country, or if we simply have different ideas of what is the best way to achieve those visions. For example, I think most everyone would agree that it would be great for everyone to have health care; the key divide is that liberals think the government ought to ensure that it's provided, and conservatives think that businesses and individuals should take care of it themselves. The key difference in emphasis seems to be one of values, of what the best endpoint is: universal health care vs. government nonintervention.

I think it probably varies from issue to issue, but generally it seems like there is a "culture war" over the identity of the U.S. that bleeds into public policy. I'd like to find out what your perceptions are. Anyone who's read my posts knows I lean so far to the left I'm practically lying down, but I'm open to being educated by my conservative and libertarian colleagues.

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France