The+Two+Americas

=**GUIDING QUESTIONS/FUTURE ESSAY(S)?**=
 * Is America truly divided? If so, how? If not, why not?
 * What explains the trends seen in the red state/blue state basics charts/graphs?
 * Why are some people liberal, some people conservative, and others moderate/independent?

=RED STATE/BLUE STATE BASICS= [|Red & Blue States] & Purple states????!!!! [|The Divide (look @ 2008 election demographic charts)] [|2004 Election Demographics] [|2008 Election Demographics] *Be sure to click on "size bars according to share of electorate" on the left hand side under "Height of Bars."

2004 Election Results by County (and Population)

=FUN FACTS (CONTRADICTIONS?)= = =
 * (THERE ARE __MANY__ EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL STATEMENTS BELOW)
 * **REGULATIONS**
 * REPUBLICANS //tend to// support gov't regulations in social issues (e.g. no gay marriage) while not supporting gov't regulations/involvement in the economy (lower taxes, fewer gov't programs)
 * DEMOCRATS //tend to// support gov't regulations/involvement in the economy (taxes are necessary, more gov't programs) while not supporting gov't regulations/involvement in social issues (e.g. "pro choice" on abortion)
 * **DEATH**
 * REPUBLICANS //tend to// support military campaigns while opposing abortion
 * DEMOCRATS //tend to// not support military action while favoring a woman's ability to have an abortion

=A DEEPER LOOK= 1.  "The Blue Wall" -- States/groups that typically vote for the Democrats. 2. [|Interview w/author Boris Shor on "Red State/Blue State"] 3. [|America: Diverse but Not Divided] In business at least (if not more), this author argues that the U.S. is not as divided as it is often made out to be. 4. (see below) Look closer at the numbers at this chart: What percentage of all Democrats think that abortion should be legal in all or most cases? What about Republicans? Does that help prove or disprove the Red/Blue state theory? Which of the following is the most important factor (percentage-wise) in SUPPORTING abortion: Protestantism, Catholicism, or no religion? What about age, race, or gender? Why do you think that is? 5. [|'Why I am a Conservative' blog] (One person's opinion, not necessarily representative of all conservatives) 6. [|'Why I am a Liberal' blog] (One person's opinion, not necessarily representative of all liberals) 7. [|'Why I am a Moderate' blog] (One person's opinion, not necessarily representative of all moderates)

=A DIVIDED MEDIA= The media is often openly biased. Certain tv and radio stations/programs are left-leaning while others are right-leaning. Of the TV stations, MSNBC frequently supports Democrats while Fox News frequently supports Republicans. Here is one example: [|Fox v. MSNBC on Michelle Obama's Speech]

Extra:
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Educational_attainment.jpg width="407" height="433" caption="U.S. educational growth, 1947-2003"]] ||
 * U.S. educational growth, 1947-2003 ||