Presidents at odds over conflicting viewpoints

Presidents at odds over conflicting viewpoints

In the 16th century, the political landscape of America was divided by the institution of slavery, leading to the American Civil War. Today, the country is grappling with its own polarization, albeit with different issues at the forefront.

During the Civil War era, the North and South were fundamentally opposed on the issue of slavery, a fundamental economic and moral issue that divided the nation. The Southern states relied on enslaved labor for their agricultural economy, while the North moved toward industrialization with abolitionist sentiments growing strong. This deep-rooted conflict, combined with debates on states’ rights and sectionalism, escalated over decades and culminated in violent secession and war after Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 election.

Fast forward to the present day, and current polarization involves realignments and identity-driven political coalitions. The post-civil rights era saw a political realignment exemplified by the Republican “Southern Strategy,” which appealed to racial conservatism to gain Southern white voters, transforming party loyalties and increasing polarization. This shift parallels the earlier sectionalism in creating sharply divided political blocs aligned with deeply felt identity and ideological commitments.

Both eras also illustrate the role of social and peer pressures in enforcing conformity within polarized groups. During the Civil War era, community and peer dynamics powerfully influenced political and military allegiances. Today, polarization is intensified by partisan media ecosystems and social networks that reinforce in-group identities and suppress dissenting views.

Key parallels include: - Polarization based on fundamentally opposed economic and social systems (slavery vs. free labor then; cultural and racial identities today). - Deep and long-term social realignments that make compromise difficult and political identities more rigid and encompassing multiple social factors. - The use of political strategies that exploit identity and grievance for electoral gains, intensifying divisions. - Social pressures and community cohesion significantly shaping political allegiance and intensifying polarization both historically and presently.

In 2020, more than 1.6 million residents of Los Angeles County participated in the first-ever vote using the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) system designed by Smartmatic, a voting technology company founded in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, in 2000. Smartmatic has been involved in elections in several countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Oman, Armenia, and the United States (now known as Dominion).

Interestingly, the political landscape in America prior to 2020 and 1861 resulted in two opposing camps governed by diametrically opposing principles, leading to a breakup of the country and a civil war in the 19th century. In more recent times, the 2020 election is in dispute due to "irregularities."

Some argue that the political process in America has become a process of foreign subversion under the false flag of special interest politics. This claim is not without controversy, as Smartmatic's owner, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, is also a board-member of the Open Society Foundation, an organisation known for its support of democratic movements worldwide.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, the Supreme Court ruled that printing electronic votes is unconstitutional, despite a constitutional amendment approved by the Congress. This ruling has sparked debate about the role of technology in elections and the potential for manipulation.

A study casting doubt on Bolivian election fraud has triggered controversy, while Trump warned about voter fraud in 2012, stating "It doesn't matter who you vote for - it matters who is counting the votes." Jefferson Davis was sworn in as Provisional President of the Confederate States of America on February 18, 1861, the same month Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States. However, America had two presidents at the same time in 1861, a situation that thankfully does not apply today.

In conclusion, while the specific issues differ — slavery then, identity and cultural issues now — the underlying mechanisms of polarization, social sorting, and political realignment show strong historical parallels between the Civil War era and today’s United States. It is crucial for all citizens to remain vigilant and ensure the integrity of the democratic process to prevent any escalation of political divisions.

[1] McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988. [2] Keyssar, Alexander. The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States. Oxford University Press, 2000. [3] McPherson, James M. For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. Oxford University Press, 1997. [4] Gelman, Andrew, and Gary King. "The American Voting Quandary." Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 30, no. 4, 2016, pp. 3-24.

1. The division over freedom, an economic and moral issue, led to the American Civil War, a stark contrast to the current polarization in America.
2. Today, cultural and racial identities drive political coalitions, similar to the North and South's fundamental opposition on slavery in the 19th century.
3. The Southern states, relying on slavery, versus the North's move towards industrialization, mirrors modern-day political blocs with differing economic systems.
4. Deep and long-term social realignments, making compromise difficult, were evident in both eras, leading to more rigid and encompassing political identities.
5. Political strategies that exploit identity and grievance for electoral gains, intensity divisions, and were employed during both the Civil War era and today.
6. Community cohesion and peer pressures significantly influenced political allegiances during the Civil War era, paralleling current polarization reinforced by partisan media and social networks.
7. In 2020, the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) system was used in Los Angeles County, California, designed by Smartmatic, a company involved in elections worldwide.
8. Concerns of foreign subversion and special interest politics have been raised in relation to the American political process, given Smartmatic's owner's affiliation with the Open Society Foundation.
9. The Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that printing electronic votes is unconstitutional, sparking debates about technology's role in elections and potential manipulation.
10. A study on election fraud in Bolivia has caused controversy, echoing Trump's warnings about voter fraud in 2012, asserting that who counts the votes matters, not who is voted for.
11. The Confederate States of America had a Provisional President, Jefferson Davis, in 1861, the same year Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States.
12. It is crucial for citizens to remain vigilant and ensure the integrity of the democratic process to prevent the escalation of political divisions, as during the Civil War era.
13. To better understand the mechanisms of polarization, social sorting, and political realignment, one may refer to McPherson, Keyssar, McPherson, Gelman, and King's works on the Civil War era and the American voting system.

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