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https://theconversation.com/self-censorship-and-the-spiral-of-silence-why-americans-are-less-likely-to-publicly-voice-their-opinions-on-political-issues-251979>
"For decades, Americans’ trust in one another has been on the decline,
according to the most recent General Social Survey.
A major factor in that downshift has been the concurrent rise in the
polarization between the two major political parties. Supporters of Republicans
and Democrats are far more likely than in the past to view the opposite side
with distrust.
That political polarization is so stark that many Americans are now unlikely to
have friendly social interactions, live nearby or congregate with people from
opposing camps, according to one recent study.
Social scientists often refer to this sort of animosity as “affective
polarization,” meaning that people not only hold conflicting views on many or
most political issues but also disdain fellow citizens who hold different
opinions. Over the past few decades, such affective polarization in the U.S.
has become commonplace.
Polarization undermines democracy by making the essential processes of
democratic deliberation – discussion, negotiation, compromise and bargaining
over public policies – difficult, if not impossible. Because polarization
extends so broadly and deeply, some people have become unwilling to express
their views until they’ve confirmed they’re speaking with someone who’s
like-minded.
I’m a political scientist, and I found that Americans were far less likely to
publicly voice their opinions than even during the height of the McCarthy-era
Red Scare."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
