Guy Ciarrocchi: Different goals, different values, and different facts

The divide is wider, deeper, and much more of a problem than many realize.

Democrats and Republican voters disagree with each other not merely because of partisan labels, but because of huge disagreements over conflicting — if not opposite — priorities, values, and goals for America (and our communities and schools).

It’s why I’m now a single-issue voter: You either see that America is a great (albeit imperfect) nation whose values, principles, history, and vision need to be protected, promoted, and built on; or you see America and Americans as deeply flawed — whose founding, Constitution, economy, and culture is based on “sinful” behavior and values, requiring “radical transformation.”

In short, either America is an exceptional nation and its culture needs to be preserved, promoted and pulled together, or you are willing, if not anxious, to pull it apart because America demands radical transformation. And any economic, cultural, and legal upheaval that occurs is acceptable, if not necessary.

More challenging, the path to bridging that gap — to compile a clear majority of Americans — is perilous. We disagree on facts and factual touchstones — the “experts” to settle the debate. In fact, we have a disdain for the “other side’s” experts — be they thought leaders, commentators, or institutions.

We used to argue the timeless line: you’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. But due to cyber-analytics and personal preferences, some of us never see, read, or hear about our counterpart’s reality. When some do, they are either stunned to learn it, and they often reject the information and its source almost immediately.

In 1992, there was a best-selling book:“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” It was an analysis of the communication challenges that many men and women faced because each sex is wired differently — different emotional and practical priorities, and preferred styles of communication. The author hoped that by highlighting these differences, he could help the two sexes communicate more effectively, leading to stronger, healthier relationships. (This analysis alone would be radical to parts of American society today…)

Relating to today’s politics; Republicans are from the Milky Way Galaxy and Democrats are from a galaxy, far far away.

The two parties’ bases may never understand, appreciate, or even respect each other in my lifetime. My objective is to explain to the relatively small remainder of American society why bridging the divide is so difficult.

I’ve written in the past that as CEO of the Chester County Chamber — and as someone who had attended similar events over my lifetime — it had been common for the emcee to recognize local politicians and observe: “It’s so nice that Senator Smith (Democrat) could join us today along with Representative Jones (Republican) — because both parties want the same thing for us; they just disagree on how best to do it.”

No Chamber president or civic leader says that anymore — and hasn’t for years. Why? Because we know it’s not true anymore. Yet, many wonder why they “can’t get along” in Congress, or Harrisburg.

Let’s start with the split over a cornerstone of America — capitalism. Democrats prefer socialism (66 percent have a positive view; only 42 percent think positively of capitalism). When pollsters read descriptions of the two systems, 74 percent of Democrats said that “democratic socialism” comes closest to their views — versus only 16 percent for capitalism.

If one party’s goal is to move America’s economy from capitalism to socialism, how do you bridge that divide? This isn’t a debate merely over tax rates. What’s the compromise? Socialism on the weekends?

On the subject of a climate “crisis” — that it’s man-made: 82 percent of Democrats believe some version of that, while only 16 percent of Republicans do. If 82 percent of one party wants to ban fossil fuels — or supports policies that mandate this, and the other party sees the energy affordability crisis and says “drill baby drill,” where’s the compromise?

The culture war battle of the last few years stemmed from the new idea that there are multiple genders: a value upheld by a majority of Democrats, with over 80 percent of Republicans recognizing that there are only two. How do we set policies over the workforce, education, sports — even science — if we have those diametrically opposed views?

Different priorities, goals and realities. Plus differing “experts.”

Faith in legacy media is at an all time low. Republicans have almost no faith. They question not only the accuracy but the bias on what is published, what is focused on, and what is ignored.

Progressives cite the New York Times, Dr. Fauci and studies from Ivy League universities like an Evangelical preacher citing the Gospel of John. Republicans hear that a “fact” is from an Ivy League professor and are torn between smirking and contempt.

This started long before President Trump. Former Vice President Al Gore started his “climate crisis crusade” decades ago — predicting death and despair and demanding radical economic and energy changes. President and Michele Obama often talked passionately about the need to “radically transform the United States of America.”

Trump is the leader of “stop it!” Instead, let’s make America great again.

To heal, we need a bipartisan common sense coalition that has agreed upon goals for America based on agreed upon facts. Any takers?

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. A Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.