November 18, 2025: We Can Do Better

You want to know one of the main reasons why we’re so polarized? We choose to view the worst in the groups that we’re not a part of. In our own groups, we understand our nuances, differences, and similarities. We acknowledge that there are thousands of shades of grey, rather than just black and white. We know that there are individuals in our groups who agree with us on some things, but disagree with us on other things. However, we fail to apply this same logic to groups that we’re not a part of, especially those that we view as directly opposite of us. We try to rationalize our seemingly fundamental differences with other groups by only acknowledging their worst and our best. Liberals view all conservatives as MAGA-crazed Trump lovers who would ignore the worst things he’s done (hypothetically, if he were to be involved with an infamous pedophile, pardon violent criminals, or fire those who release factual information which he does not like). Likewise, conservatives view all liberals as delusional, virtue-signaling lunatics who burn the American flag and celebrate the murder of those they disagree with (hypothetically, if they were to rejoice in the assassination of a popular conservative figure). The problem is that what we believe about the “other” is not true. For example, following the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, a Sep. 11 survey by YouGov found that only 10% of people who identified themselves as “Liberal” agreed that it was acceptable for someone to be happy about the death of a public figure who they oppose. Additionally, 24% of self-identified “Very liberal” folks agreed that it was acceptable to be happy in the aforementioned scenario. These numbers represent a small minority of the overwhelming consensus among left-leaning individuals who believe that violence is not the answer. In a 2024 YouGov survey commissioned by Protect Democracy United, 59% of Republicans disagreed with pardoning January 6 participants for using a dangerous or deadly weapon. On both sides of the political aisle, the majority of everyday citizens agree on what’s morally wrong, yet when we conjure up images of the people across from us, we fail to recognize this common ground. We’re really not all that different, and there’s a good argument to be had that much of the blame for this polarization should be placed on people and corporations in power who fuel our division. Instead, we tend to allow ourselves to become pitted against one another, when in reality many working Americans just want stability and the opportunity to improve their situation. It’s high time for all of us to recognize individuality, to think critically about what we’re supporting, and to do better.