As America’s economy has weakened, its political spectrum has widened. This year’s presidential election shows its furthest expansion yet. Without a release of economic pressure, America’s historically “cool” politics can be expected to grow hotter still.
American politics has long been sui generis. Nowhere has it been more unlike other western democracies than its political spectrum’s narrowness.
Despite the two major parties’ attempted labeling of their opponent, America’s politics has lacked other democracies’ extremes. Rather than their “hot” political conflicts, for generations America has had “cool” ones waged within narrow confines by two marginally right- and left-of-center political parties.
This unique political climate is hardly surprising, considering America’s equally unique economic one. Its prosperity has been unparalleled. The economy averaged real GDP growth of 3.3 percent from 1946 to 2000, creating far and away the world’s largest and strongest economy.
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