Division is a feature of the U.S., not a bug

At night and at a distance, it all looks rather nice — not at all messy (Source: NASA acquired image, 2012)

America does not have, and has never had, a single unifying culture. Yes, we all love pizza, television, Tom Hanks, and ice cubes in our water. But, much as I love pop culture, it’s not identical to the deep cultural values that motivate our thoughts and political decisions. At that level, there are massive regional differences in the country that are like tectonic plates constantly smooshing together. The…