Is there really a "right" and "left" in America I wonder? Don't forget to separate real polarisation from perceived ones. For example the left plays almost no role in American politics, policies or decision making. Culturally it looks a bit different I admit particularly when you're looking at certain artistic circles and a few groups out there. But I have yet to see a famous democrat that really shares my values as a leftist out there, like the nationalisation of Facebook or Google for example or seizing the means of production. And even Hollywood, which is known for driving multiculturalism, leftist values and so on as some say is much more about money and sales. I mean com on it always was. They are not pushing for diversity because of some moral or ethical obligation they do it because their business model changed because the American market is not the largest growing market for entertainment anymore. They want to sell movies in Asia, South America, Russia, India and so on. Markets with billions of people out there. And that simply doesn't work that well when every movie is about
AMERICA! FUCK YEAH COMING TO SAVE THE MOTHERFUCKING DAY YEAH! Money, most importantly trough investors from China decides for the most part what goes on in Hollywood these days. And that's hardly a secret.
Don't get me wrong. There are for sure topics where Americans and the population are divided, no doubts about it. But when we look at some issues the opinions are not that far apart here as it might seem. Not with guns for example. Depending on who you ask and what poll you have the range between the answers can be huge. Then you take a different poll and they can be very close together. For example if you asked people if semiautomatic rifles with high capacity magazines should be banned or if you ask if people with mental issues should have access to guns. I am pretty sure the first question will show a very wide range of different answers and the second one will have a large majority of people agreeing that some people shouldn't have access to weapons. Like those with severe mental issues or those with criminal records. However when you look at it some have a real benefit from this "there are two sides here!" thinking. Like those that sell guns. Gun sales often spike after each mass shooting. And not just with pro-gun citizens. It happens with a lot of groups actually. After the massacre in a gay club the number of LGBTQ groups which bought weapons skyrocketed. Is it really so far fetched to believe that some companies out there profiteer from this polarisation and rather contribute to it than actually advocate for more reasoning, less panicking and sensible solutions?
And this is the thing with gun debates in politics. I feel we hear for the most part only the fringe positions, the extremes and they are held up like the dominant opinions or that this is a case with a clear black and white scenario, like are you pro or anti slavery! Decide! Are you for or against fascism! Decide! But when you talk about guns, gun culture, gun laws and regulations this isn't necessarily an issue that can be described in such a simplistic manner. Even without the issue of mass shootings which is after all a relatively new occurrence. Sadly this is way to often forgotten in such debates.