A Question For Americans.

How does it feel to know that barely over half the population ever gets the president they choose.
I mean, the actual numeric vote margin is usually only about two percent in favour of the victor in a presidential election.
Is this dire disparity visible in every day american society?

I dunno…the majority of the people on the planet get no choice in leaders. I guess I’ll take 55%.

The question I really want answering is the last sentence.

Is that division visible in everyday society?

Not really.

Oh, the last part is easy. Everyone hates the President, no matter if they voted for him or not.

Heh. Phaedrus is correct there, it is merely a matter of degree.

As for how polarized America is, it is worth noting that across regions I would say that the polarization is incredibly apparent, but within the regions not-so-much. That is why people talk about ‘red states’ and ‘blue states’ as well as ‘towns’ vs. ‘cities’, as well as the larger regions like Northwest, Northeast, South, Bible Belt, Great Lakes, Southwest, California, and so on. The size of the American landmass can’t be dismissed lightly. I had greater culture shock moving from Wisconsin to Indiana than I did moving from Wisconsin to Germany.

I’m canadian, we don’t get to choose our leaders at all.

then again, the “american way of things” in that depeartment consists of suits feeding the populationg shovels full of manure from the shit trough.

In order to make sure the masses don’t vote communist or something crazy, the government keeps the population poor, stupid, unhealthy, and all around dependant. Thus they are easier manipulated and placed into theiryour proper place for good and all.

The government is a bunch of fruedian fear mongers.

The revolution is comming.

Hrmm…that sounds very familiar…

And in answer to the OP, I’d say the divide isn’t very noticeable unless the specific subject is being talked about. People can coexists without many disagreements unless the subject arises. But in the U.S., it’s not “politically correct” to talk about politics in the public sphere.

Your last sentence.
Have you really found that to be true?

Politics is great sport in the US. For the most part, you don’t even notice a change in presidents unless they’re exceptionally good or incredibly bad, like our current lame duck, GWB. But every four to eight years, we switch sides and the other group gets to do everything they complained the old party was doing. It’s great fun. For instance, for eight years the radical right bashed Clinton- the guy couldn’t wipe his ass without smacking a conservative blogger in the nose. Then the left got their turn to do the exact same thing and the right went apeshit. Now guys like Impenitent and Rush can wheel out the vitriol again; for all their protestations, the radicals are secretly much happier when the opposition is in. It’s a lot easier to piss, moan and agitate than it is to create meaningful change.

Excellent point.

Yes the disparity is evident in daily life. We live in a politically polarized society. The media plays up the theme. But they don’t invent it. It’s there on the street. Right now the so-called liberal side is ascendent. But the folks on the right are already unhappy with Obama and he hasn’t even taken office. For his part Obama is actually following through on his centrist promises. He’s very much unlike Bush in that respect.

Sadly, many people only come into daily contact with people who think just like them. Other than the workplace, or school, etc. where you don’t really come into contact with others in any meaningful sense anyway.

No, because we have individual rights - “we” don’t really give a shit what “they” think or do. There really isn’t a sense of “we” and all this united/divided stuff is just fluffy bullshit.

and then when the other guy wins, well then you just hate the government more than you normally do, not so much the people who voted him in.

because really, if you are like me, you sorta hated those stupid dipshits already.