The Big Sort

How the Big Sort and similar approaches are changing the political landscape.  And some thoughts on reversing the change.  




http://www.thebigsort.com/home.php  




This really introduces the idea.  That like has moved to like.  Politically, culturally, religiously etc.  It is a fascinating idea, and they do an excellent job of breaking it down, and backing it up.  




http://zipskinny.com/  




This is a very interesting web site, with some very interesting information.  It really breaks things down, and while it can lead to people following the trend of the moving where similar people are.  It also might help people who want to move somewhere 'different'.  




The thing is that this Big Sort can lead to the kind of self feeding, single issue, one party system that we saw in the old 'Solid South'.  And single party politics is bad for a community in the long run.  Because it leads to demagoguery.  When everyone pretty much agrees on the issues it falls to smaller issues and character issues, and in the Old South the tendency of politicians to "out N*****r each other'.  And while it is hoped that race isn't the same calling card it once was, there are other simplistic hot button issues that could be treated the same way.  We see this here in El Paso county with Doug Bruce and his anti-tax demagoguery.  

So what can be done, if anything, about this?  I think that one of Obama's ideas, that of national service for College tuition credit, might help.  While it might not force some integration of the wealthier folk it would help with young people who use this as an opportunity to get an education.  And along the way there would be a chance to see and become a part of different communities.  I know that I feel richer having lived in the South for 3 years (2 in Mississippi, 1 in North Carolina).  Even though I returned to my home town, that exposure broadened my horizons, exposing me to people different (and not so different) from what I saw at home.  For the 'Greatest generation' there was military service, both in WW 2 and later Korea.  Even if people returned to their home towns, they had still seen things, places and people that they were never going to be exposed to at home.  And this encouraged a sense of diversity in thought.