The current divisions and strife created by those divisions have roots that extend deep into history. People of like minds now have the technology to cluster into echo chambers and limit communications to only those who agree with them. One poignant example of a long festering animosity and resentment that has had current and dire consequences is felt by rural and upstate New Yorks toward those in New York City. Nearly every county in New York State voted for Donald Trump, except a few counties in and around New York City. And yet Hilary Clinton carried the state.
One could conclude that NYC voters saved the state from supporting Trump and there is nothing to be concerned about. From the rural New York voter perspective, the 2016 election was just another example of their votes not counting. In New York politics what NYC wants NYC gets. What started as a rural New York issue has spread to small and medium sized cities and to surrounding states. And that’s how Trump became President of the United States with less than half of the voters supporting him and to the initial dismay his own party.
The four very well researched and written articles by Suzanne Spellen listed below explain the long and deep roots of the resentment that has elected Donald Trump president. His presidency should not be our greatest concern or main focus, however.
Unless and until we as a nation learn to communicate and empathize with those in other echo chambers, things will not get better. We will not have a government capable of solving the problems we all face.
The 2016 election has taught we a hard lessen. One that I hate to admit. We must learn to be tolerant of the intolerant. To listen long enough to understand and empathize with the pain of others.
Beating our foes and then ignoring their needs destroys civilizations. We learned not to do that with our former enemies after World War II. We should certainly not be doing it to our fellow Americans.