With the political assassination of 1 of 3 doctors in the country still willing to perform legal late-term abortions, it's not long before we reach the point I've been predicting since before the election (and almost jokingly during the 2006 election): another civil war. It's not that we haven't had something this extreme before. Our history in America is full of assassinations, inflammatory/inciteful political statements, and extremist militias. However, we do not have a long-standing history of cable television, easy access to information/forums all around the world, essentially the ability to say and hear whatever we want, whenever we want. Not meaning to place all the blame on Fox News (though I believe it absolutely deserves plenty), its entire history is filled with ways to grab viewers through extreme statements, and now oversaturation of such has resulted in an assassination of a doctor, not even a political official. To be fair, on the other side, George W. Bush had an attempted assassination attempt using a failed grenade.
Now let's look at the factor of partisanship. At this point, the metaphorical battle lines have been drawn. Look at the political discussions made during the last 2 elections of 2008 and 2006. While political attacks of our earliest days were far more personal, these days the messages have been much more catastrophic. At the same time, we have messages that suggest the opposing side will bring about the end of America/Earth and messages which exist purely to incite rage among citizens, often racism. President George W. Bush signed vigilantism into legal law, making federal police unnecessary and making it easier for militant groups to impose their own laws. At least one state (Alaska, to my knowledge) has actually rejected federal money almost purely because the governor is politically opposed to the president, not to mention her own political ambitions for 2012. The governor of Texas has threatened on at least 2 occasions now to secede from the union, which literally is a civil war in that there's no way America would peacefully lose a state. It's fairly obvious that rational discussion has seen itself go as far as it can possibly go and the country is practically in a deadlock. Only two things can occur when a debate becomes stagnant. 1) The status quo can continue and each side can only hope that each generation will gradually move closer to their side. 2) Violence is used to impose a winner by force.
That's all I really have the energy to talk about at the moment, because I've been writing this while eating, watching news, and talking to my roommate. This whole thing is basically a very long-winded statement of "I told you so." I am both terrified and elated at where this country is now. Personally, I think we as a country have failed and it's time we just divide ourselves into all our own states. I'm sure many states don't believe in even the Bill of Rights 100%. The problem is that this will never occur. The best we'll get is a liberal nation and a conservative one, and we would constantly be at each others throats. Should one side win, this whole thing will end up repeating because every place has their own conservatives and liberals throughout all time and space. All I know is this: If and when Obama repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I will sign up to protect the Constitution of the United States of America.
Now let's look at the factor of partisanship. At this point, the metaphorical battle lines have been drawn. Look at the political discussions made during the last 2 elections of 2008 and 2006. While political attacks of our earliest days were far more personal, these days the messages have been much more catastrophic. At the same time, we have messages that suggest the opposing side will bring about the end of America/Earth and messages which exist purely to incite rage among citizens, often racism. President George W. Bush signed vigilantism into legal law, making federal police unnecessary and making it easier for militant groups to impose their own laws. At least one state (Alaska, to my knowledge) has actually rejected federal money almost purely because the governor is politically opposed to the president, not to mention her own political ambitions for 2012. The governor of Texas has threatened on at least 2 occasions now to secede from the union, which literally is a civil war in that there's no way America would peacefully lose a state. It's fairly obvious that rational discussion has seen itself go as far as it can possibly go and the country is practically in a deadlock. Only two things can occur when a debate becomes stagnant. 1) The status quo can continue and each side can only hope that each generation will gradually move closer to their side. 2) Violence is used to impose a winner by force.
That's all I really have the energy to talk about at the moment, because I've been writing this while eating, watching news, and talking to my roommate. This whole thing is basically a very long-winded statement of "I told you so." I am both terrified and elated at where this country is now. Personally, I think we as a country have failed and it's time we just divide ourselves into all our own states. I'm sure many states don't believe in even the Bill of Rights 100%. The problem is that this will never occur. The best we'll get is a liberal nation and a conservative one, and we would constantly be at each others throats. Should one side win, this whole thing will end up repeating because every place has their own conservatives and liberals throughout all time and space. All I know is this: If and when Obama repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I will sign up to protect the Constitution of the United States of America.
