CHICAGO — You’ve likely heard this before, or felt it in your bones, but it’s horrifying, debilitating and worth repeating, especially right now, as we head into a political season: At least half of this country hates the other half. According to the Pew Research Center, 75% of Democrats think of Republicans as close-minded. And 64% of Republicans feel the same way about Democrats. Nearly 50% of Republicans think Democrats are lazy. And nearly 40% of Democrats think Republicans are idiots. Majorities in both parties believe the other does not share its goals. Worse, a study by the advocacy group More in Common found one’s education did not hugely affect those assumptions.
Is this any way to run a democracy?
The good news — according to another Pew study released last month — is nearly 60% of all Americans agree ... our democracy is not working as it was supposed to.
