America is more divided than ever before. Is it only a matter of time?

[Lynarii]

I think the possibility of a revolution is way higher than that of a civil war. The problem with civil war is that there aren't clear lines to split upon. Texas has a lot of Democrats, and California has a lot of Republicans, and there's no easy way to tell who is who. And in the case of a civil war, the US military would /HAVE/ to get involved, and the majority of it is likely to side with whatever group of people didn't start firing first. Plus the rallying points are weak at the moment. Democrats may have voted for Clinton, but none I know liked her enough to die for her. And while there's a very very loud group of diehard Trump fans, there's a whole lot of Republicans who aren't too keen on him either and wouldn't follow him into a civil war.

Poor vs rich is a more plausible scenario. The military is harder to predict in that case, a LOT of the military comes from poorer families, and they're not going to be eager to shoot their own parents or siblings. Much of it would probably just sit it out, since it's a no-win scenario for them. But even then, for that to happen there has to be enough people who believe that the future for their families is /so/ bleak that dying for the chance at better is acceptable. The quality of life for most of the poor in the US simply isn't that horrible yet in most places. It's been headed that direction perhaps, but it'd still take a fairly major trigger event to push it over the edge.

[Kokolums]

More divided than during the Independence War? More divided than during the Civil war? More divided than during the days of McCarthyism? More divided than during governmental racism in 60-s? Come on now.

Actually right now, the seething hatred between democrats and republicans is much stronger than racism.

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I think the possibility of a revolution is way higher than that of a civil war. The problem with civil war is that there aren't clear lines to split upon. Texas has a lot of Democrats, and California has a lot of Republicans, and there's no easy way to tell who is who. And in the case of a civil war, the US military would /HAVE/ to get involved, and the majority of it is likely to side with whatever group of people didn't start firing first. Plus the rallying points are weak at the moment. Democrats may have voted for Clinton, but none I know liked her enough to die for her. And while there's a very very loud group of diehard Trump fans, there's a whole lot of Republicans who aren't too keen on him either and wouldn't follow him into a civil war.

Here is the most likely scenario.

Right now, 0% of republicans trust the mainstream media. Its at zero. This is unprecedented. Even during the vietnam war, a majority of republicans trusted the media. There has been a slow decline in trust for decades and it finally collapsed in 2016. So they've tuned out. The republicans now get the their news from alt-right sources. Of course, democrats mock the alt-right and consider it discredited, but the republicans find it credible. So let's say eventually the democrats build a case in the mainstream press to impeach and remove Trump. The mainstream press thinks its very strong. Democrats in congress are all for it. Republicans in congress decide to go along with it too because they feel the pressure.

Trump gets removed. THEN you get civil unrest and civil war breaks out.

Republicans will be in shock at his removal because the media THEY trust said the reasons to remove him are NOT credible. So to republicans, the system has FAILED. They feel totally disenfranchised. Their vote doesn't count. So screw the system, they get the rifles out and mobilize. Republicans feel they have nothing to lose because they just had their vote taken away. Civil war erupts. And it all goes to hell from there.

Trump wouldn't be leading a civil war. The republican party would fall apart after Trump's removal and some right-wing radical will pick up the banner and call to shoot and kill all democrats.

If you think of how the USSR emerged, at first they tried to establish a moderate government in Russia with a guy named Kerensky. But he got removed. It was the people AFTER Kerensky that were the radicals. Kerensky got usurped by Lenin and Stalin. Trump is the Kerensky.

For democrats, they would go from elation and joy that Trump has been removed to horror at what follows him.

[Faylinn]

....I'll pass lmao.

[Daelak]

Is it time for America to become two? I dont wanna say those two nasty words, but do you think it's time?

And if so, would you pick up arms to fight for your side? I personally think this is so scary.

Well the US right wing / conservatives have wanted to secede since ratification. Their views are antithetical to liberal democracy. Failure to execute high ranking confederate military and political officials and post-war reconstruction in the 1800's are why these authoritarian views are alive in the US.

[zenkai]

Is it time for America to become two? I dont wanna say those two nasty words, but do you think it's time?

And if so, would you pick up arms to fight for your side? I personally think this is so scary.

40% of registered voters didn't vote, we can't be that divided.

[Deleted]

Yeah, man. The differences between fans of Coke and fans of Pepsi are just irreconcilable and it's best if we went our separate ways.

No such things as fans of pepsi. Just people for who pepsi is or is not okay for in the absence of coke.

[Deleted]

All of those celebrities paid to endorse the product would seem to disagree.

Also I see that you undied.

Heroes never die

And if those celebrities actually LIKED pepsi, maybe they wouldn't need to be paid to endorse it! Hmmm! Hmm!!!!!

[Dug]

The country isn't that divided. Don't let fear mongering from the left or right fool you about that. Shits just politics as usual its all just a lot louder because of how prevalent the internet is nowadays.

[Daelak]

The country isn't that divided. Don't let fear mongering from the left or right fool you about that. Shits just politics as usual its all just a lot louder because of how prevalent the internet is nowadays.

Conservative ideology has never wanted a unified country, they have always maintained that they want to dismantle and nullify federal authority so they can further their interests in the states.

[cuafpr]

Hypothetically what's the chance on the American military splitting to support their favoured side in a civil war as citizen's are prone to do? Alternatively what's the chance of American Soldiers stealing equipment and defecting to an defined "opposing side" in a civil war if they feel that the full use of military against the people they are meant to protect goes against their moral obligations and passion for their country?

it would come down to which side was seen as acting right under the constitution, there is a reason why we swore to it vs a person. In theory if the gov't started acting against the constitution (i'm talking obvious here not the obama / trump is violating this or that), the military would support the people rising up against the gov't.

As for a hard left / right political split the majority of the military tends to be right leaning so i'd say if some how it happened then yes the majority of the military would support the right.

[Deleted]

How could americans voted him?

[Docturphil]

HAHA, no. We're still way to comfortable to ever consider it. /thread.

Yep. That's pretty much all there is to it.

[dextersmith]

When has America agreed on anything? Why stop at its bisection? Rich to the west and poor to the east? Black vs. white? Gays vs. straights? What about religion and everything in between?

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I know! Assimilate into Mexico!

[Hiricine]

I doubt there would be much of a fight.

You know I don't agree with it completely, but Louis CK once had a great line about divorce in general I think applies here

"Divorce is always good news. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true because no good marriage has ever ended in divorce … That would be sad. If two people were married and they were really and they just had a great thing and then they got divorced, that would be really sad. But that has happened zero times."

If the US were to break up in a nonviolent and agreeable fashion, I think people would look back in 50 years with no regrets, and actually wonder why the country bothered staying together when it meant having to tolerate vastly different regional ideologies in the favor of togetherness. Just about no one ever had less people in charge of them and complained about it.

[Daelak]

If the US were to break up in a nonviolent and agreeable fashion, I think people would look back in 50 years with no regrets, and actually wonder why the country bothered staying together when it meant having to tolerate vastly different regional ideologies in the favor of togetherness. Just about no one ever had less people in charge of them and complained about it.

Regional ideology? US conservative ideology has always been against the constitution and democratic ideals held in the constitution. Modern conservatism is neo-confederate, wanting to nullify federal power to ensure their moneyed interests in their states wouldn't be questioned. Look at conservative states currently, they suppress civic engagement, imprison more of their citizens, have higher inequality, and actively work against issues that would benefit their citizens. This is exactly what Deep Southern and Tidewater regions of the US looked like pre-civil war.

[Nadiru]

The ancient greeks were against electoral democracy because it encouraged:
elitism / nepotism / political families (Clinton),
dangerous demagogues and populists (Trump),
and civil war...

Food for thought.

The ancient Greeks were also against universal franchises.

[turboether]

It's almost as if humans don't all think the same thing and in fact have wide and diverse sets of beliefs

[Zandalarian Paladin]

The tension raised and then it fell down. I'd say the US are going to be just fine.

[Dellis0991]

Divided because of a cheeto?

[Theodarzna]

Give it a generation or two.