The Pick-up & the Prius
One can barely take a breath without be ing bombarded with reminders that the United States is a country divided. Socioeconomically,educationally, professionally, informationally, we are a populous that is unable (or unwilling) to reach across barriers. The American flag itself has become a symbol of division and not of unity.
The upcoming presidential election may well test the limits of this political experiment in representative democracy called the US. Democracy, by design, is dependent upon consensus.
Can we adapt to a way of life that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions even if we cannot agree on global warming? Can we compensate for the correlation between wealth and race even if we are at odds over its causation? Can we fix the fact that America is a first world superpower yet most American public school students live in poverty without letting these very kids get caught in partisan crossfire?
Is American ideology a zero sum game, or can Beyoncé and Taylor Swift peaceably coexist? Can the pickup and the Prius be friends?
Brand Strategy | Marketing Effectiveness | Comms Planning | Consumer Insights
9yJames White, good points all, and worthy of a well-considered response. Thx for the thoughtful comments. I will respond in my next post.
All worthy questions and worth considering
Executive Director at The Baffler
9yI'm not sure this is really true - I don't have a long enough perspective on American society to understand. Are labor protections worse today than in 1890? Is the economy more one-sided than in 1976? As a nation, we're certainly less divided than in 1862. I think it's true that the increasing pace of information extenuates some conflict and cocoons fragile egos among those like-minded. But who knows? Maybe we'll find in 2025 that 2015 when was a time when seeds were sown for a more inclusive and harmonious society. There has been tremendous progress in LGBTQ civil rights, and it's inevitable that patriarchy and white privilege will be diluted in years to come.
Commercial Strategy @ The New York Times, Wirecutter
9yOur best bet is a coup.
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9yI say we've miles to go before we sleep...