{"id":56871,"date":"2026-01-06T09:03:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/?p=56871"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:03:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:03:34","slug":"were-not-all-that-divided","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicsquaremag.org\/dialogue\/were-not-all-that-divided\/","title":{"rendered":"We\u2019re Not All That Divided: The Myth of a Nation Split in Half"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Americans have always been divided over politics, but the divide seems to be getting worse.\u00a0 Members of the two major political parties overwhelmingly see members of the other party as \u201cimmoral\u201d and \u201cdishonest,\u201d according to <\/span>Pew Research<\/span><\/a>. Approximately 11% of Americans are less likely to support a topic if they think there is bipartisan support for it, a <\/span>YouGov poll found.<\/span><\/a> For at least 11% of the electorate, not letting the other guy win is more important than winning.<\/span><\/p>\n

But focusing on the statistics of divisiveness too much can obscure a different truth: Americans are not as divided as they seem. In fact, there is near consensus among Americans on a range of important political issues. Americans need to begin to see the political spectrum not as two sides split down the middle, but as a large block of consensus with extreme ideas at the ends of the opinion spectrum. Approaching political controversies from a perspective of unity rather than division is the first step to resolve the urgent political challenges we face today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Americans are not as divided as they seem.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>How did we arrive at our current state? Many factors contribute, but one of the most important is a media environment that profits from division. Most modern media outlets focus on messaging that is designed to divide. Individuals and corporations have found that outrage and division sell, and they enrich themselves through contention. Naturally, \u201cthey,\u201d our political enemies, are painted in apocalyptic terms, while \u201cwe\u201d are simply trying to do what is obviously good and right.\u00a0 But as author <\/span>Arthur Brooks points out<\/span><\/a>, divisive framing serves the interests of the outrage artists: \u201cAs satisfying as it can feel to hear that your foes are irredeemable, stupid and deviant, remember: When you find yourself hating something, someone is making money or winning elections or getting more famous and powerful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Media biases are well documented by groups like <\/span>Ad Fontes <\/span><\/a>and others that study media biases. Many modern media conglomerates combine incomplete facts with biases to present a cultivated reality, as several organizations have shown. When outlets are so skewed, the citizenry splits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

President Dallin H. Oaks has also spoken of the dangers of division. In a <\/span>2023 address at the University of Virginia<\/span><\/a>, he observed, \u201cExtreme voices influence popular opinion, but they polarize and sow resentment as they seek to dominate their opponents and achieve absolute victory. Such outcomes are rarely sustainable or even attainable, and they are never preferable to living together in mutual understanding and peace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The result of this manufactured contention is division among Americans. <\/span>Pew\u2019s repeated values index <\/span><\/a>shows the share of Americans at the ideological \u201ctails\u201d of the political spectrum roughly doubled from 1994 to the mid-2010s, with shrinking overlap between parties. The public is sorted more by party identity and values than in the 1990s, people feel colder toward the out-party than before, and elected officials vote in more unified, polarized blocs. Not only are politicians unwilling to work to achieve bipartisan successes, but prominent political leaders and media demonize their opponents.<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, <\/span>President Russell M. Nelson repeatedly called upon us<\/span><\/a> to be peacemakers:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToo many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another\u2019s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!\u00a0 . . . Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Are Americans really as divided on the issues as we are led to believe? No! Though this may come as a surprise, there is unity and consensus in America if we are willing to look for it. Some of the hottest political topics this year enjoy agreement from the overwhelming majority of the country. For example, 91% of Americans agree that protecting the right to vote is \u201cextremely important,\u201d according to a <\/span>recent YouGov poll<\/span><\/a>. Americans also overwhelmingly <\/span>agree<\/span><\/a> on establishing terms limits for Congress, capping annual out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, increasing federal funding to improve cybersecurity, and many other issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

In spite of broad agreement among the electorate, political topics are often politicized, and the electorate and its representatives become divided. Yet the majority of both major parties agree on at least 109 policy proposals, according to a <\/span>recent YouGov poll<\/span><\/a>. In many cases the government actively works against the will of the people by neglecting this consensus.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>few examples<\/span><\/a> of the 109 areas of agreement include:<\/span><\/p>\n