You are right, pdq, that the divided nature of America has not happened by accident, but is intentional.

The easiest way for a shadow government of huge finanical interests to disempower the general public is to set them at each other's throats through divisive partisan politics and divisive issues of all kinds. It also provides a good excuse for heightening domestic surveillance, increasing police powers, and reducing civil rights.

The shadow government I am referring to controls both the Democratic and the Republican parties (through the power of lobbying and funding), and they use those 2 parties to keep the public's attention diverted...and divided. Meanwhile, the real game goes on behind the scenes, and the real game is all about money.