Two Americas: The Game Is About to Begin

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, officially appointed by their parties, have begun the last two-month round of battle for the White House.

The motto of the country, coined by Franklin and Jefferson — E pluribus unum (one from many) — is being forgotten. Two different Americas, two different ideologies, cultures and even lifestyles are squaring up to each other.

As usual, both coasts — New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts on the east and California and Washington on the west — are dominated by Democrats, while in the interior, principally Texas, Louisiana and Missouri, Republicans rule. But the level of disagreement, emotional levels and insults differs from a usual election. America has become more radical. It is no longer voters who confront one another, but believers — even in the literal sense.

Romney, a Mormon, accuses Democrats of ignoring and even renouncing God. It’s hostile propaganda, but the fact is that Obama has a 46 percent advantage over Romney among those who declare themselves unbelievers. The Democrats in turn, even religious ones, are afraid of Romney who was brought up in a rigid, intolerant doctrine, reluctant to enter into dialogue.

The next huge difference is the division of national income. The Democrats are worried about record-breaking economic inequalities. They would rather support the Indignants Movement and the slogan: “We are the 99 percent” (to differentiate from 1 percent who accumulated considerable wealth). Romney, undaunted, stubbornly refused to disclose his tax returns, implying indirectly that the rich don’t have to support the government. The Republicans bandy about slogans of restraint as well as tax reductions so that the “truly American” spirit of the western films era wins — entrepreneurs should create their future by themselves. The Democrats are afraid that hardly anyone will take care of the poor — those who have less chance for success. As a matter of fact, Romney can miscalculate by criticizing the health insurance system — Obama’s flagship project, especially in one of the key states, Florida — a state of senior citizens.

Both camps have different opinions on almost everything: attitude to education, workers’ rights and human rights. A careful observer will distinguish a Republican voter from a Democrat one even by the way of clothing. During the conventions a market research company, Scarborough Research, reminded us of the lifestyle differences. Golf is more a sport of Republicans while Democrats prefer basketball (Obama himself played quite well). Among Republicans there are three times more hunters. Almost in the same proportion, Democrats are more interested in nature conservation. Not to mention skin color: Republicans are, in a huge majority, a party of the white people, while more and more Democrats are non-white.

It will be a sharp dispute, fuelled by record expenditures on propaganda. Well-known conservative political scientist Dinesh d’Souza directed a movie, “2016: Obama’s America,” that is a spiteful but intelligent attack on the president — like Michael Moore’s style, but the other way round. There’s no denying that Obama is right in his warning that the election will be “the clearest choice of any time in a generation.”