>>>No, I don't think the term causes the voting. His point, with which I agree, was that the terminology causes us to feel more different from each other than we actually are, and thus causes more discord. We should all be looking for what we have in common rather than the opposite.
>>>
>>
>>You may be projecting your POV onto me. I view these voting patterns as a fact of life, not a way to seek divisions.
>
>well I'd say you're both right.
>They are a fact, at least as at the last election.
>But categorizing states as red or blue is only one MORE factor towrds division of the population. Politicians especially make such divisions by design, to fragment the populace...
>liberal (now as bad as a 4-letter word) versus conservative
>stay the course versus cut and run
>pro life versus pro womens' rights
>tax cuts versus tax and spend
>pro stem-cell (killing children) versus pro life
>globalization (free trade) versus protectionism
>pro war (on terror) versus liberal (chicken-heart talkers)
>etc, etc etc.

Right, Jim, that was my kid's point. (I'd love to know how I raised someone so wise.)

Tamar