"divide and conquer" is the basic strategy of the ruling class, and has been since the days of colonialism, when dividing a populace made it much more vulnerable to outside rule. A populace fighting itself is less likely to perceive outside control, and less likely to notice that their wealth is being drained before their eyes.

If u keep people emotional and fighting, they won't think.
Emotion is the antagonist to reason.

I think it's also just that we're in the midst of great technological and sociological change.and it's due to the internet mostly.

if you lived in a small conservative town pre-internet, It was far more likely that you'd either never say anything, or succumb to peer pressure when it comes to voicing any dissent. Any views of alternative thinking always came from someone outside that town, so it was easier to dismiss or ignore. But when the internet puts you in touch with everyone else on the planet and it's far harder to deny thinking that runs contrary to how you think or at the very least, harder to drown it out.

We're also on the verge of some huge changes like medical technology getting better and better. Instead of relying "old wives tales" to cure what ails you. We're on the verge of massive transportation changes...the slow death of the internal combustion engine, we're not that far away from cars that will drive themselves. We also have to think more about the environment.

It's a time of HUGE change, and the people who are in power don't always like change. Even people who are not in power can often get distraught and upset at change.

Sorry, but the whole "we were all in it together during the depression" thing is bullshit. Sure, everyone banded together and looked after each other.... unless you were black, gay, Irish, Jewish or even female.

He's totally right about wage repression though.

Also,I'd point out that his list of resentments: the poor, black people, immigrants, unions, intellectuals and government; that's a list of resentments of the right.

Sorry, but this isn't some vast idealogical gulf between fringes. It's a gap between a centre-right party (the democrats) and insane people.

It struck me that when he says "Americans", he really means WASPs for the most part.

Throwing up a graphic (1:00) with Rachel Maddow sandwiched between Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reily creates a false equivalency.

There were no "good old days". We never were "All" in it together. It may be comforting to look back on the past with nostalgia but that's all it is.

Reich is an idiot. This country is divided because that is how Obama plays it.

Thanks for clearly illustrating that false equivalency for us @lantern53 Not sure it could have been done any clearer.

*controversy

Adding video to channels (Controversy) - requested by MrFisk.

One is a president, the other is a well respected professor. What do you contribute to society?

I say it's because Capitalism nears its end when there are fewer and fewer countries to abuse through market manipulation and force.

And @ChaosEngine, I think Gays, Blacks, Etc, all banded together as well. It became more group all around, just smaller groups, and that naturally means more exclusion (Any time you have people come together some other group must distance.)

I also don't think that the application to exclusion of minorities fully applies to the right. It is an economic issue really. Successful blacks take jobs (As should be their rights.) In fact, a great jump in equality came as a result of blacks joining white Unions for a common cause rather than blacks being used for cheap labors to destroy Union's powers. And did you know, Irish were considered dirty "black" as well? Dirty little Irish wanting jobs. Look at our hatred of Mexicants? Job grabbers.

Now Irish and Jews responded for the most part in positive ways. Many blacks; however, fell for a convenient trap. Easier I guess, in some respects. (Unjust in all--and I am speaking of the cultural traps, not black culture.)

Gays, well they are bad because insurance would be more expensive.

Economics. Abortion became immoral because of it...