US media: The solidarity index is at a low level, and the degree of division in the United States is "worse"

The US "New York Times" July 27th article, original topic: measuring the division of the United States: It has become worse. Two scholars have tried to calculate the degree of polarization of the United States in the past 40 years and the level of division.

The lowest index during Trump's ruling period

At present, in the United States, the disturbing political violence is staged from time to time. The debate about state and federal power is becoming increasingly fierce. Some people even talk about whether another civil war will break out. At this time, is there any way to calculate how divided the United States is?

Two scholars at the University of Vanderburg tried to make more accurate estimates. They proposed a new indicator, namely Van Detburg's solidarity index to quantify the degree of unity or differentiation of the United States in the past 40 years.

"Unsurprisingly, the situation becomes worse." Said John Gill, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Van Dandeburg University, John Gill, Public Opinion Survey of Vanderburg Public Opinion.

The value range of the Van Detburg unity index is 0 to 100, and 0 means that there is no unity, and 100 means completely unity. Most of the time, the United States is between 50-70.

Gill pointed out that the chart produced by the research team showed that the trend line reached the peak of 60-70 in 1981, and then slowly declined during the Trump administration.

Gil and researchers used 5 indicators to form the index, namely the presidential support rate, ideological extremist investigation, public attitude investigation, the voting of Congress, and the frequency of the polls on protests and folk riots.

Peak and trough alternately

Data show that the solidarity index has many peaks and troughs in 40 years.

The lowest point of the index (only 35) appeared after the "united right wing" rally after the white supremacy group of Charlottesville, Virginia. The rally stirred up his opposition to Trump because he supported the participants, saying that there were some "very good people" among them.

High points often appear at the moment when Americans are united in the geopolitical crisis, including the "September 11" incident and the First Gulf War.

When Biden announced in 2019 to compete for the White House, he said that he was largely "stimulated" by Trump's support of the Sherrozville rally and combat the theme of its campaign.

He promised to unite the United States and have indeed passed some noteworthy two -party legislation, including a $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill and a gentle gun control bill.

Gil said that the index showed "a little evidence" that Biden could promote unity, because during his presidency, the extreme polarization phenomenon decreased. However, the governance satisfaction of Biden still makes the overall index level low.

Another main researcher at the project, Mary Catherine Sharvin, a doctoral student at the University of Van Detburg, pointed out that 1994 was a turning point, and the decline in the unity index became steep. That year, Republicans took the help of Congress, which had been held by Democrats for decades. Georgia's Newt Kinsic became the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his tough style fundamentally changed US politics.

Social media exaggerate contradictions

Gil said: "From the perspective of American history, the United States during the war can be said to be an abnormal." At that time, the public had little choice in consumer news, and reporters were often unwilling to dig out official information or government officials. personal behavior.

About 30 years between the end of the war and the civil rights movement, the so -called peaceful era caused millions of Americans to be excluded from the political process -whether through discriminatory voting method, or through the practice of depriving black voters rights rights. Essence

However, there are also their disadvantages of news consumption selectivity. Now, people can understand political news and views at any time. Gill pointed out that on the platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, people's mobile phones record the ideas and views of the party and activists in real time, and the reliable and reliable "objective and truthful reporting channels" between the government and the public act as a filter is greatly great reduce.

Shatin said that this may mislead the Americans and make them think that most people are blaming each other for Trump's latest remarks or senators Joe Manchin's recent position. In fact, the vast number of middle voters hold more consensus.

She said, "Perhaps social media let us think that we are not united than reality."

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