4 ms·

A slightly bit off topic, but as a European I would love to hear some intelligent, well thought, non provoking theories on why is America going through so much

A slightly bit off topic, but as a European I would love to hear some intelligent, well thought, non provoking theories on why is America going through so much turmoil and polarization the last few years. Or has it always been like this?

gedy 9y ago
> “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.” ― H.L. Mencken, 1918
johncole 9y ago
Historically these groups and thoughts ebb and flow, along with demographic and economic changes. And historicaly speaking, right now, the level of political violence in the US is quite low. Compared to other periods like the 10s the 30s and the 60s this is super mild. This is how a healthy democracy works. We talk, we fight politically, we write articles in the Atlantic, we move forward.
contergan 9y ago
HN is a terrible place for such discussions, as opinions that go against popular narrative are often censored. You are probably better off searching for answers elsewhere.
usibam 9y ago
HN is a terrible place to have such discussions, as opinions that go against the popular narrative are censored and the poster shadowbanned. You're better off searching for answers elsewhere.
- liberte82 9y ago
  There is plenty of voice for the alt-right on this forum, the top rated comment in this thread for example. Stop playing victim.
dmitrygr 9y ago
Two party political systems almost always eventually lead to extreme polarization. There's been multiple studies showing this. Once polarization happens, the center quickly fades and fringes collect more and more of the populace. You're seeing the end stages of this trend now.
pjc50 9y ago
Far too many factors playing together, really. Failure of the war in the Middle East? Economic hollowing out of rural/middle America? Property prices? Russian influence? Far-right propaganda media organisations? Some of today's issues are simply re-opening of issues that were never really properly settled at the civil war. Black people have never really been given the same level of equality and freedom that nonblack people have in America, and every generation has a go at doing something about it. One of my childhood memories is (from the UK) watching a burning city on TV with the sound off, assuming it somewhere in the middle east, and later getting home and discovering that it was Los Angeles. Rodney King riots.

gedy 9y ago

> “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.” ― H.L. Mencken, 1918

johncole 9y ago

Historically these groups and thoughts ebb and flow, along with demographic and economic changes. And historicaly speaking, right now, the level of political violence in the US is quite low. Compared to other periods like the 10s the 30s and the 60s this is super mild. This is how a healthy democracy works. We talk, we fight politically, we write articles in the Atlantic, we move forward.

contergan 9y ago

HN is a terrible place for such discussions, as opinions that go against popular narrative are often censored. You are probably better off searching for answers elsewhere.

usibam 9y ago

HN is a terrible place to have such discussions, as opinions that go against the popular narrative are censored and the poster shadowbanned. You're better off searching for answers elsewhere.

liberte82 9y ago
There is plenty of voice for the alt-right on this forum, the top rated comment in this thread for example. Stop playing victim.

dmitrygr 9y ago

Two party political systems almost always eventually lead to extreme polarization. There's been multiple studies showing this. Once polarization happens, the center quickly fades and fringes collect more and more of the populace. You're seeing the end stages of this trend now.

pjc50 9y ago

Far too many factors playing together, really. Failure of the war in the Middle East? Economic hollowing out of rural/middle America? Property prices? Russian influence? Far-right propaganda media organisations? Some of today's issues are simply re-opening of issues that were never really properly settled at the civil war. Black people have never really been given the same level of equality and freedom that nonblack people have in America, and every generation has a go at doing something about it. One of my childhood memories is (from the UK) watching a burning city on TV with the sound off, assuming it somewhere in the middle east, and later getting home and discovering that it was Los Angeles. Rodney King riots.