PART 3
There is little debate over the fact that America is polarized/deeply divided. I believe not only by red/blue but by rural/urban as well. That also speaks to an even harsher reality...that of the racial divide and nowhere is that more clearly drawn than between the cities of America and the rural countryside. The former consisting largely by people of color (since when is white not a color) and the latter being predominately caucasian...not just white but largely non-hispanic white. The urban areas tend to be far closer to the poverty line, tend to need a far greater portion of tax revenue, while the rural residents see this as an affront and feel aggrieved that they are being forced to pay more for less, by helping the more disadvantaged city dwellers to be able to survive.
They see urban residents having and using large mass transit systems they don't have access to, far larger school systems, better shopping facilities, often in their minds far better roads and better access to rail and airports. The fact that for many in the big cities, the roads are not that great and mass transit has its disadvantages too is a reality but rural residents often don't see that side of it.
Non-urban voters also tend on average to be older and frequently less educated and less skilled. This also creates resentment against what they see as a class of people not as good as they but getting more than their share. Whether any or all of this is true or not, this is the perception.
Then you have the northern-southern maginot line if you will. The northern half of the country likes the south for its weather but also feels like those who call the south home are far more whiny and far less tolerant than they while the southerners hold in disdain their northern neighbors for what they see as rampant racial hypocrisy and let's not forget. Many still hold a grudge, believe it or not, that they lost the (hardly) Civil War. Obviously short memory span is NOT one of their problems.
So, all that a given? The age-old question is...NOW WHAT?
Enter former Vice-President Joe Biden as opposed to current POTUS Donald Trump. We see only too well what Trump has and has NOT done, but what about Biden?
First of all, Biden is far more even tempered and has a reputation for tolerant bi-partisanship that Trump is known for NOT having. He is also a firm believer in unifying the country which is the EXACT OPPOSITE of Trump's divisiveness. Biden lives in the reality of NOW, not some reality show version of it. Another CRUCIAL component of Biden's character (and what is SORELY LACKING in Trump's), is empathy. TRUE EMPATHY. Over and over and over, Trump has PROVEN that he has NO empathy for ANYONE. Not even his closest family and friends. You don't have to look very far to see Biden's empathy in operation and it is EMPATHY that will need to set the stage for what hopefully comes next. What America NEEDS to come next. Healing and unifying from the worst four years in the history of the American Presidency. Biden comes across as truly wanting to be POTUS for ALL America while Trump never did. Biden is a people person, Trump is a Trump person and that is the stark contrast in their characters.
No question, the next stage in our history needs to quickly get a handle on things going forward. Bring the country together as much and as fast as possible while then we TOGETHER begin to tackle and solve our collective problems. COVID-19, the economy, racial divisions, climate issues, immigration, infrastructure, and resolving the divides that are crippling us, and which Trump has constantly and relentlessly used as a weapon against ALL of us.
NOW WHAT?
Part 4
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