A few months ago, I heard CNN analyst Jim Acosta say, “Republicans are living in a different reality.” As a Republican, my immediate response to this comment was to take offense. However, after more thought, I concluded that Acosta was correct! Maybe not with his intent, but with his overarching analysis.
I thought back to polling data I read several months ago during the protests and riots over the murder of George Floyd. Perception of what was happening in American cities was divided but sharply divided among partisan polling results.
For example, an Ipsos poll from August 2020 asked the following questions:
Do White People have an advantage over people of color in America? Ipsos August 2020
Democrats | Republicans | |||
Yes | 87% | 29% | ||
No | 13% | 71% |
America is not a racist country?
Democrats | Republicans | |
Agree | 11% | 63% |
Racism is built into American Police Departments?
Democrats | Republicans | |
Agree | 82% | 18% |
This is where I began thinking about Acosta’s comments; Americans live in two completely different realities. The sharpness of these results highlights the fact that this isn’t simply a preference but a sincerely held belief among two very different groups of Americans.
In yet another Ipsos Poll in March of 2021, questions with regard to the ‘Defund the Police’ movement were asked. While the plurality of both Republicans and Democrats oppose the campaign, the partisan breakdown is stunning.
Do you Support the Defund the Police Movement? Ipsos Poll March 4th, 2021
Democrats | Republicans | |
Support | 34% | 4% |
Oppose | 39% | 84% |
In another example of a question based more on reality than opinion, Pew research asked, “Is Illegal Immigration a big problem in the United States?” The results found that while 71% of Democrats believe it is not, nearly the same percentage of Republicans (72%) believe that it is.
Democrats | Republicans | |
Yes | 29% | 72% |
No | 71% | 28% |
The facts surrounding illegal immigration definitively prove only one side of the argument is correct in their opinion regarding high crime rates, lowering wages, the exploitation of migrant children and young women, and more. But yet again, two different realities are at play here.
Another example comes from Pew Research on March 11th, 2021. Pew asks, “View of Joe Biden: Is he mentally sharp?”. Now frankly, there is only one correct answer here. The President is either Mentally Sharp, or he is not, and opinions have no impact. However, take a look at these results:
Views on Joe Biden: Mentally Sharp? Pew Research March 11th, 2021
Democrats | Republicans | |
Yes | 86% | 16% |
No | 14% | 84% |
While 86% of Democrats believe President Biden is ‘mentally sharp’, roughly the same percentage of Republicans believe he is not.
While support for President Biden and these individual policy issues are likely a significant factor in these results, the nearly unanimous support or opposition based upon partisan lines is relatively new.
While political parties are notorious for their division on social and fiscal issues, never has there been a time when Republicans and Democrats have been farther apart on fundamental views, principles, and worldviews. Even fundamental issues such as the national support of Israel are quickly moving towards the split partisan divide.
According to Gallup, 75% of Americans ‘strongly’ or ‘mostly’ support the state of Israel. When broken down into partisan and ideological categories, the results are, once again, starkly different. “Long term, net sympathy for Israel has declined among both groups of Democrats, while it has increased among conservative as well as moderate/liberal Republicans.”
Democrats | Republicans | |
Net Support of Israel | 3% | 68% |
The bottom line is, Americans are, as Acosta said, living in two different realities. Partisan differences used to be on taxes, abortion, jobs, education, etc. Now the divides have nearly no room for differences of opinion within respective parties. Furthermore, when people see their opinion as reality, it makes it extremely difficult to comprehend the opposition; thus, intense polarization that we see across America today ensues. Consumption of media information plays a large role in the views of the American public. In a world of social media, where all opinions are freely accessible, Americans’ views on issues are changing rapidly.
It is very easy to become consumed by an echo chamber of opinion that becomes a reality for both sides of the political spectrum. For the good of our country, Americans need to take a step back, try to understand each other, and base opinions on fact.